GLEE_BookLounge's Blog

Who Says You Can't Judge a Book By Its Cover?

 

...or by its title? From the blog Living Out Loud with Darian:

 

"On May 13th the release of author and former MTV executive Terrance Dean's memoir Hiding In Hip Hop: On The Down Low in the Entertainment Industry from Music to Hollywood, is sure to cause a firestorm of controversy and spark a discussion about hip-hop artists who have built careers on their hyper-masculine and thuggish image while secretly leading double lives."

 

This reminded us of a funny piece we recently stumbled across on Cracked.com titled, The 11 Most Unintentionally Gay Rap Lyrics Ever. 50 Cent scores 3 of the 11!

 

Okay, so how long before the Religious Right comes out and starts burning this book in the streets? We're taking bets! Of course, this book will most likely fall into the hands (or should we say paws?) of people who are already explaining gay relationships to their children. What do you think about children's books that treat being gay as a non-issue...instead focusing on the more realistic concerns of kids'...from a kid's perspective? Who cares who my uncle is marrying...is it going to affect our play time? That's what kids are concerned about.

Of course, as they grow older, is this tolerance tested by other kids who grew up being taught that being gay is wrong and something to abhor? You can treat being gay as a non-issue, but when it comes to being accepted by their peers, how do parents, gay and straight, help their kids manage the tumultuous world of playground politics?

 

 

Despite the legal and legislative wrangling over same-sex marriage, gay weddings happen. A new children's picture book gently focuses on how the niece of one of the grooms deals with the news. Cute guinea pigs stand in for humans in this sensitive story in which Chloe is not concerned that her favorite uncle is marrying another male, only about how it will affect her close relationship with Uncle Bobby.

 

Read the rest of the SF Chronicle review here...

The 107 finalists for the Lambda Literary Awards have been announced. The awards will be given out in West Hollywood on May 29th.