Fictional literature offers endless possibilities when it comes to characters and storylines. Personally, I enjoy writing stories that feature LGBTQ characters, often as the main character. I like to include other LGBTQ characters in smaller roles as well, but I don't want all of my characters or storylines to revolve solely around being gay - that wouldn't feel realistic. Even though my writing is fiction, I strive to make it somewhat believable.
Take my novella, "Masked Identities," for example. This story contrasts a modern love story between a girl and a boy with a developing gay relationship in nineteenth-century London. Despite never having been to London, I made sure the historical backdrop of the Victorian gay relationship was accurate.
The novella is divided into two parts that intertwine seamlessly. In the Victorian storyline, the two men aren't portrayed as stereotypical gay characters but rather as typical heterosexual men on the surface. This is set in a time when same-sex relationships were illegal in London, punishable by hard labor in a work prison for a decade.
Another one of my books, "Naughty Gay Adult Bedtime Stories," is a collection of tales that explore various gay themes. One story, "First Time," follows a teenager navigating his coming-of-age journey. "Storm of Passion" falls under the MM Romance category, featuring two men whose relationship evolves from straight to gay. The final story, "Pulpit to Passion," follows a straight minister facing a moral dilemma that leads him to discover his hidden gay desires and true love. None of the gay characters in my stories are portrayed as stereotypical.
In the fourth book of the Shane Davison Chronicles Series, titled “Final Chapters,” Shane, the main character who happens to be gay, goes on a series of blind dates where he encounters various gay stereotypes. I intentionally made his blind dates stereotypical for comedic effect and to showcase the diversity within the gay community.
In the LGBTQ community, there are individuals who fit the swishy bottom and butch top stereotypes, but there are also nelly tops and masculine bottoms. Just like how the gay community is not one-size-fits-all, I believe my characters should reflect that diversity. Drawing from my own experiences as a gay man (I came out of the closet at 16 but knew I was different since I was 5), I strive to create authentic characters.
When reading an LGBTQ book, it's important to focus on the story rather than getting caught up in how "gay" the characters are. Imagine if Cinderella was a lesbian—the story would have a whole different twist! Who knows, maybe she would have rocked glass lace-up utility boots.
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Bestselling Fiction Author
Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist
corrupting readers since 2008
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