It's GAY... not Q*eer: My preferred terminology as the author
Today’s blog, since it is Pride Month, is more of a statement or miniature thesis on my identity, the identity of my characters, and the identity of my books. Every person has the right to choose how they are identified and that same right should extend to how my characters and books are identified. They are, after all, a direct extension of me and anywhere and everywhere both I and my books are mentioned I will likely find out and end up reading about it. I therefore feel the need to be VERY clear on my position regarding labels. For the past year... or possibly longer... there has been a very odd shift in the terminology that gets used online when it comes to gay men. Ten years ago it was not uncommon to "say gay" when that is what you mean. Which made sense: this has been the label that most of us have been comfortable with and that has been in use within the community for decades. The better half of the last century in fact! But recently it has become increasingly rare to...