A Question of Language - LGBTQ

* Please note there is adult language in this post.

I've been thinking a lot about reviewing and what language to use - both in terms of mentioning content issues, but also plot and character issues.  In this post I want to deal specifically with language associated with: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer.

Now, while I know, and have known, several people who fall into these categories, I don't know any of them well enough to have a conversation about which label they prefer when talking about communities.  In other words, as with most people, I don't feel comfortable talking with friends and acquaintances about things that are none of my business, namely their sexuality and how they define their sexuality in a larger context.  But when I review books I sometimes need to use a category to give a more accurate explanation of who the characters are.

Why, you ask?  That's a good question.  Why should a character's sexuality end up in the review?  What relevance does it have to the plot?  Possibly none, possibly a huge relevance.  Ultimately, whether I mention the character's sexuality or not, I've still wondered how I SHOULD mention it, if I choose to.

And one reason to mention it, is that unlike other elements in a book that can often be gleaned from the dust jacket [like setting (on a boat), subgenre (steampunk, post-apocalyptic), character type (angels) - the things I use when creating my reading lists and endcaps], quite often sexual orientation isn't mentioned.  Which made it hard for me to do my LGBTQ reading list last year (I still intend to finish that, now that I've read more and done more research).  Ultimately, for that list I needed to either read the books and know they included such characters, or hear from others who had.

So mentioning them in book reviews is one way for people who want books with LGBTQ characters to find them.  Of course, it also allows people who aren't interested in reading about different sexualities the chance to avoid them.

But I'm concerned with how it looks when I point out that there is LGBTQ content.  Despite my reasoning, it can be perceived as being homophobic.

And that brings me to language.  I used to use the expression 'that's gay', before I learned that the word 'gay' had more connotations than 'lame' or 'stupid'.  A co-worker asked me not to use it because she found it offensive because by this time 'gay' and 'homosexual' were more aligned. 

I find it rather awkward to call people 'gay' because of how I've always used the word, and I don't consider people with different sexualities than mine 'lame' or 'stupid' or any other meaning I associated with the word 'gay'.  And the word 'queer' gives me the same knee jerk, gut sinking reaction that 'nigger' does.  I'm not quite sure why, as I take that word to mean 'strange' or 'odd'.  Yes, I don't think people should have to identify as 'strange' or 'odd' with regards to their sexuality, but I'm not sure why that particular word causes such a visceral reaction for me.  At any rate, I don't like the idea of using it.  Lesbian, as a word, has no negative connotations for me, so I'm fine using it, though 'dike' leaves me uneasy.

So my default word has been 'homosexual'.

Imagine my dismay when I read this blog post by Malinda Lo (I found her excellent blog via an interview she did for the Querring SFF series on Tor.com).  She mentions several words used to describe the LGBTQ communities, and how those words are perceived BY those communities.  Here's what she says about 'homosexual'.  "homosexual – These days, this word has distinct homophobic connotations due to the word’s medical history and usage by the anti-gay right. See this article for more info."

Damn.

Several of the terms she advocates using, like pansexual instead of bisexual, were new to me, so I thank her for mentioning them.  I especially liked her ending, "None of these words are wrong, but they do have histories. It’s your job as a writer to take that history into account."  Ultimately, it's the histories of words that carry the pain of them - both the histories people know and everyone's personal histories (like my personal dislike of the word 'queer').

Ultimately, whether I'm comfortable with the word or not, the word that seems to be used by the communities to describe themselves, is queer.  So if I don't want to offend people - and I don't - it looks like I'll have to start using that as my describing word.

That still begs the question of whether I should mention LGBTQ content in reviews or not.  I'll leave that up to you, my readers.  My poll on content issues is over, and I'm still considering the results, so here's your new poll.  Content issues aside, would you like me to mention if there are LGBTQ characters in the books I review?

Should Book Reviews Mention Content Issues?

As an adult I've often been forced to examine my beliefs and preconceptions.  You know, those things you assume are true because they were taught to you as a child and which you've never questioned, even though you should have.

Someone pointed out one of my blind spots yesterday.  I've written a review and posted another in which I mentioned the lesbian content of the books.  This person pointed out - respectfully - that these portions of my reviews could be misconstrued as stating that lesbian content is negative or 'different' and therefore needs to be pointed out to readers (for those who want to avoid such content as much as for those who actively look for it or don't care if it's there or not).

I'd not considered that my comments could be taken this way, but once seen I can't deny that they have those meanings - unintentional or not.

With Trouble and Her Friends my thought when reviewing the book was that it was fantastic and it would be a shame if people, learning it was a Lambda Award winner, might pass on it because it has lesbian content.  I wanted to show that the content is unobjectionable and doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the book.

Reading my own thoughts on why I added that to the review, I can't help but wonder why I felt people might pass on reading the book due to content issues.  Are we not adults?  Are we not mature enough to deal with sexuality of all kinds when reading?  Do I need to point out that something in this book is different, and why oh why do I even consider it different at all?

It's hard to see our own biases sometimes and I apologize if I've offended anyone with my review remarks in the past.  Now that I understand myself - and this problem - better, I'll be able to deal with it.

And it's not just sexual content.  I've got two book reviews in the wings wherein the books both mention the 'n' word.  I've got a post planned on the impact of words for when I post those reviews, but again, is pointing this out something you want in a review?  I mentioned it in my reviews because I know the word is disturbing to a lot of people and forewarned is forearmed.  But that supposes readers want to be forewarned about content issues, which may not be the case. 

I find there is value in pointing out content issues with children/teen books when it comes to language, sexual content and violence.  I will be keeping my 'for parents' segment in those reviews and perhaps making them more comprehensive.

So here's a question for you.  Should I a) leave out content issues in adult book reviews entirely, b) mention them if they're gratuitous, or c) mention everything (for example, with sexuality mention: heterosexual encounters, homosexual encounters, threesomes, rape, S&M activities etc.).  In other words, as readers of my reviews, do you appreciate my mentioning content issues or do you consider that not a reviewers job?  I also understand that if I start to mention all content issues, I've got to be comprehensive, mentioning ALL content issues, not just ones that bother me or ones that I assume (right or wrongly) will bother other people.  Everyone has different tolerances when it comes to violence and sexuality (for example I'm not a fan of the idea of threesomes while others find that idea titillating).

So I'm putting up a survey on the side of my site to see what you, as my review readers, want.  If you're reading this on a feed, please click through and vote so I can better tailor my reviews to your needs.

Comments are welcome.