Why is Casidhe gay? To me, this is a funny question. I mean, why not? I am fully aware that there is a portion of the population who still thinks homosexuality isn’t right. I am not going to address their feelings, prejudices or beliefs. I can’t. No one can. I believe, the only way their hearts and minds will ever change is when someone they know, and love comes out and they are forced to find some level of acceptance. As a gay woman, I am continually looking for strong woman characters who also love women. I don’t mean they hate men. I know I don’t. I was married to two men and I loved them both. I have two sons whom I adore. I have brothers and uncles and cousins who are men. I love them all. I had a psychologist explain to me once that most women are homoemotional–meaning they relate more naturally emotionally to women then to men. The word homo in Greek, simply means same. One can be homointellectual–meaning to connect intellectually better within your gender. It just so happens, some people are also homosexual. It is not something you chose, it’s just in your DNA. Besides, there is much more to Casidhe than being gay, but I will say, her relationship, just like yours and mine, is an integral part of her growth, her choices, and her life. The tide is turning in media–movies, TV shows and literature. Gentleman Jack, Supergirl, Lost Girl, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Batwoman and countless other movies, shows and books are changing the narrative and giving girls a wider range of characters that reflect who they feel they are inside. Since the suicide rate in gay youth is double that of straight, seeing these examples in media is not only affirming, it could potentially save someone’s life. I don’t want all characters to be gay. I just think there should be more. Equality. And bytheway, gay people come in as many shapes, sizes and personalities as straight people. Please don’t assume you know what we look like, feel like or act like. The diversity of humanity didn’t skip over homosexuals. Sunbury Press, my publisher, has received some “interesting” phone calls and messages since Wolf’s release. It’s a small independent press with very few titles that host gay characters (Tough Girl in the Jam by Larry Loebell is another), so this response was fairly new to them. I have to give Lawrence Knorr, Sunbury’s owner, credit for the way he is handling it. In my mind, if you don’t want to read something like Wolf, don’t. There are millions of other choices out there and hundreds more from Sunbury Press to choose from. I don’t like a lot of books published, but I never wrote a hateful email to tell them about how their books offended me. I simply chose another. I didn’t know I had so much to say on this subject until I sat to write. Let me end with what one of my favorite writer/directors, Joss Whedon (Serenity, Buffy, Avengers, Justice League) said when he was asked, why he writes about strong women. “Because you are still asking me the question.” I agree with him. Note: If you don’t agree with me, or in any way find this blog offensive, feel free to unsubscribe. Please don’t send me an email to voice your dissent.
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