To be struggling to think of well known books or films featuring homosexuality

[haphazardbystarlight]

Can only think of Oranges.

I'm sure there must be others - any others??

Cheese hasn't been back to comment though so maybe she doesn't mind you calling her ignorant because she mentioned Dumbledore

Omnipotent - I think we'll have to agree to disagree but two things:

1. I called the post ignorant not the poster and
2. It wasn't because she mentioned Dumbledore. It was the assumption that if homosexuality wasn't a central line of the plot then it didn't need to be mentioned.

There's a very likeable kick ass (did I really say that, have spent too much time on Walking Dead fan sites)lesbian couple in this. It's the middle of a zombie trilogy.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1444709089/ref=pd_aw_sims_1?pi=SY115&simLd=1

1. lol
2. she didn't say that did she? it was a very short post. "As someone has already said if their sexuality isn't focused on then how do we know they are gay? Like dumbledor, there are plenty of characters whose sexuality is never mentioned."

But yes happy to agree to disagree. Just think it's a bad sad when someone says something as innocuous as that and someone jumps in and calls them their post ignorant which is a really really strong insult.

Anyhoo.

To me that's the key message really, and very important for all children (well to adults too really). Be yourself and that's OK.

Strong message from the Imitation Game too (we went to see it last night, both of my kids were very strongly affected - couldn't believe that being homosexual was a crime such a short time ago).

There are many film/TV shows that have gay characters most are stereotypical sadly few are not

Giovanni's Room is to some a homosexual love story, it's a story about many things desperation, shame, lost love, fear it's a great book

You're right Jeanne, it was only Marlowe who wrote Edward II. I had some doubt so I put him and Shakespoke to hedge my bets! I studied a bit of Jacobean Drama at Uni, but it was about a million years ago.

I watched a good prog the other night which said there's no proof that either Edward II or Gaviston were gay. The king was just extremely fond of him and this caused probs with the overt favouritism.

'Mrs Brown's Boys Da Film' features her gay son Rory and his partner Dino.

Was it a good film nooka?

Reminds me of the whole retrospective pardon they gave him and as was pointed out so strongly from so many parties, retrospective pardons should be given to everyone not just those who find fame down the line. Some men criminalised by those laws are still alive.

It was an excellent film. Kim yes we know that's it's a crime and people are persecuted in other countries, but a bit different to see in your own home country I think.

I agree on the pardons.

Heinlein writes chatacters who 'happen' to be gay / in non-traditional boy meets girls scenarios (such as in Friday).
Mccaffrey (truly boring to me) but she tends to include gay characters but they really require reading between the lines.
There are also the Anne Rice books (very repetitive, save time, read only 2 ;-) )

mytartanscarf I haven't read any Harry Potter books but I don't see what there was in Cheese's comment to call her or it "ignorant"

It is perfectly possible for a character to give no hints as to their sexuality. If the character is attractive and engaging this permits the reader or viewer to project their own interpretation. I mentioned The Walking Dead - by the end of 4 seasons fans were still speculating whether Daryl was straight or gay.

Boy I wouldn't encourage anyone to read Heinlein he is incredibly sexist!

dd is very unimpressed with JKR and her retrospectively making Albus gay. There was plenty of opportunity to make other characters be gay, after all there was a whole school of people to play with, and obviously some of them would have been gay.

A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie. Two of the characters are middle-aged women who live together and are very attached. It's a moot point whether they were actually partners or not, but I think it's no great stretch to assume that's what the relationship was.

I think it is quite unusual for their to be no mention of a characters sexuality - most characters have romantic/marital relations with other characters in most genres.

Struggling to think of a novel where this isn't the case - unless the subject matter is very very young.

So I can see why that post read as ignorant and I have to admit I do think it was, a little bit. It read a bit like 'oh you don't need to go on about it' - sure that wasn't the intention but still.

Sylvia Engdahl's Heritage of the Star, which is a great book for young people anyway, she's a fab writer - I remember reading this as a young teen and being quite "oh!" when one of the main (male) characters suddenly tells another (male) character that he loves him - probably the first time I ever came across homosexuality in a book. It's an unrequited love, but it is dealt with so calmly and gently and normally that it's quite brilliant.

Also a character in Dune (it's been so long since I read it I think it's one of the Harkonnen lot but I can't remember) was definitely implied to be gay but not actively described as such.

Friends has Ross' ex wife and her partner
Even the Archers has got Adam and Ian

Boy in a Dress was on over Xmas, is the right age range and is also a book. It's about cross dressing rather than homosexuality but ends with a message of tolerance of difference. Should still be on iplayer if you want to try it?

Boy in a Dress is on at 10 past one today on BBC 1. Just over an hour's time.

Anything by Val McDermid

Over in the fantasy genre, Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series has plenty of characters who just happen to be gay. Made a big impression on me as a teen growing up in a very conservative town and never having met anyone who was gay in RL.

It's surprising, given her own very odd views on it.

Plenty of "just happen to be gay, not a big deal" in many of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar novels too.

I'd be more likely in your position haphazard to buy a couple of auto/biographies of real life gay role models like Will young, Gareth Thomas, Tom Daley and read them myself. Your DS is bound to come to his own sensible conclusions as you sound like a lovely, supportive family but when he sees you 'giving your approval' to whichever celebrity he'll feel secure.

Characters in literature are tempestuous, can lack consistency and are created for drama whereas real life celebrities want (for the most part) young people to identify with them and see them in a positive light.

Plus, they're less likely to air their dirty laundry so if DS picks up the book/s it will be safer reading for a 7 year old.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a very good book and movie, though maybe a tiny bit too old for a 7 year old (depending on reading level and maturity, obviously. The movie would probably be fine).
Has a couple of characters who are gay, but are not the main focus.

The Wrong Boy by Willy Russell