This Book is Gay

This Book Is Gay is a 2014 young adult self-help book written by Juno Dawson to help teenagers understand the world of LGBTQ+ identities. Dawson is a prolific author, writing both fiction and nonfiction for a young-adult audience. This Book Is Gay also addresses parents and cisgender heterosexual teenagers with LGBTQ+ friends and loved ones, providing support with a variety of resources. The book faced censorship in Alaska in 2015 for its sexual education material. Dawson came out as a transgender woman in 2015 and wrote a follow-up book about her experiences as a transgender woman. This book is titled What’s the T? and serves as a companion piece to This Book Is Gay that explores gender identity.

Dawson uses humor in This Book Is Gay to communicate complex and stigmatized ideas to people who don’t fully understand what it means to be LGBTQ+. Illustrations by Spike Gerrell convey complex information through infographics and support Dawson’s humorous tone. Each chapter is interspersed with survey responses from LGBTQ+ people across the globe; these anecdotes and testimony give a wider view into each topic than one person could achieve on their own.

Dawson stresses self-acceptance as a key factor in coming of age as an LGBTQ+ person. Dawson uses anatomical illustrations and anecdotes to educate and give transparency to topics that are often hidden from adolescents. Her goal is to help future generations protect their sexual health and combat stigma by providing resources that older generations of LGBTQ+ people did not have at a young age.

Content Warning: This Book Is Gay addresses the following topics: anti-LGBTQ+ biases, anti-LGBTQ+ slurs, rape, suicide, self-harm, drug use, and racism.

Summary

This Book Is Gay is divided into an introduction, 12 chapters, and several sections of back matter filled with resources. Dawson first explores the variety of identities covered by the LGBTQ+ umbrella term. She then explains theories of the biological basis for LGBTQ+ identity and uses these ideas to tackle dealing with anti-LGBTQ+ bias. After establishing terms, arguments, and confidence in the authenticity of LGBTQ+ identities, Dawson examines social life in the LGBTQ+ community. She looks at the landscape of LGBTQ+ physical spaces, how to meet other LGBTQ+ people, and how LGBTQ+ sex works. She ends the book with a brief look into lifelong LGBTQ+ romantic/sexual partnerships. She stresses the fluidity of identity and the validity of changing identities. Readers are left with a short list of LGBTQ+ icons and media to research further, along with contact information for various LGBTQ+ organizations.

Chapter 1 (“Welcome to the Member’s Club”) is an introduction to the “members club” of LGBTQ+ identity/community. Dawson establishes her humorous tone and irreverent writing style. She examines the difficulty of coming to terms with being LGBTQ+ in a world that assumes being cisgender and heterosexual is the default, which necessitates a self-help book like hers.

Chapter 2 (“The Name Game”) outlines several common identities covered by the LGBTQ+ acronym, what they mean, and how to determine one’s identity. Dawson believes that there are three things one can do when they realize that they might be LGBTQ+: They can ignore these feelings, they can accept them and not label the feelings, or they can accept the feelings and select a label (or labels). The third and last option is where identity, or “the name game,” starts.

Chapter 3 (“You Can’t Mistake our Biology”) explores several theories for the biological basis for LGBTQ+ identities. These range from a discussion of epigenetics to prenatal hormones in the womb. Dawson believes that biological root causes aren’t necessary to validate LGBTQ+ identities.

Chapter 4 (“Stereotypes Are Poo”) examines and debunks many stereotypes about the LGBTQ+ community. Dawson explains that some stereotypes are rooted in a nugget of truth and create LGBTQ+ identities within the larger community (such as “twink” and “bear” identities among gay men).

Chapter 5 (“The Fear”) addresses the fear of coming out of the closet and the anti-LGBTQ+ bias one might face. Dawson gives a brief history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic as well as advice on what to do when facing discrimination.

Chapter 6 (“Haterz Gon’ Hate”) continues Chapter 5’s exploration of anti-LGBTQ+ biases. Dawson lays out the global state of LGBTQ+ rights and which countries are unsafe to visit. Dawson examines several religions and gives the reader counterarguments against religious-based anti-LGBTQ+ bias, with a particular focus on Christianity.

Chapter 7 (“Coming Out”) deals with coming out in high school. Dawson covers the dos and don’ts of coming out and gives a few scripts for coming out to both friends and family.

Chapter 8 (“Where to Meet People Like You”) helps readers navigate the LGBTQ+ social scene. Dawson covers social spaces including LGBTQ+ bars, dating apps, and apps specifically designed for finding sexual partners.

Chapter 9 (“The Ins and Outs of Gay Sex”) gives detailed advice on approaching LGBTQ+ sex, how to deal with other people’s bodies, and safe sex practices.

Chapter 10 (“Nesting”) looks at long-term partnerships for LGBTQ+ people. Dawson explores the possibility of having children and discusses the LGBTQ+ community’s relationship with monogamy and polyamory.

Chapter 11 (“Hats”) stresses the fluidity of identities. Dawson uses intersectionality to explain that LGBTQ+ identities are a small part of a whole person.

Chapter 12 (“A Guide to Recognizing your Gay Saints”) is a short, alphabetized chapter that lists famous LGBTQ+ people and LGBTQ+ inclusive media. The reader is encouraged to research these figures and works to include more LGBTQ+ representation in their lives.

The Backmatter contains a list of terms and definitions, a short guide for parents, and internet resources with which LGBTQ+ teenagers can connect.