Our Intern Aaron's LGBTQ Teen Manga Review Wrap-Up

Our Amazing Intern Aaron

Read on, Manga Fans!!!

Hey there! I can’t believe my internship with the coolest blog ever has come to an end! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read what I had to say, and thank you to Lee for sharing this incredible space with me. It was a blast!

I firmly believe that stories have the power to change lives. The manga series I read are full of moments that I’ll never forget- Haruna taking Chika to her quiet place by the lake in First Love Sisters; Subaru holding Seichiro on the Rainbow Bridge in X/1999; Letty breaking the mystical bonds that chain Tsumugi to her temple prison in The Caged Miko and the Whimsical Witch; Nakagama and Yokota holding each other in their first apartment in Same Cell Organism, praying their bond will last forever… These memories are a part of me and fill me with romantic fervor as I embark on new journeys in life. They remind me that healthy relationships are rooted in respect, compassion, and mutual-sacrifice; that people need to accept themselves honestly before they can fully embrace others; and that love is beautiful and precious and worth fighting for, no matter what.

Have fun exploring love in manga, literature, and the real world. From what I can tell, that’s what life is all about.

Peace!

Aaron

Here are the 20 manga titles Aaron reviewed:

Tokyo Babylon - A Gay Teen Supernatural Manga

First Love Sisters - A Lesbian Teen Manga Love Story

Ranma 1/2 - An Action-Romance-Fighting Manga that Plays With Gender

Voiceful - Two Teen Girls Overcome Tragedy and Find Love... With Each Other

Silver Diamond - A Fantasy-Action Manga With A Gay Romance

Cardcaptor Sakura - A Lady Hero Manga with Lots of Rainbow Love

The Cain Saga and Godchild - Gothic Mystery Mangas with a Misery-Laden Gay Love Affair

Hero Heel - A Raw Exploration of Desperation, Objectifying Others, and Losing Oneself

Maiden Rose - An Unsettling Study of Power, War and Sexual Assault

Rin! - A Gay Romance on the High School Archery Team

X/1999 - Hope that the World is Still Worth Saving, and that (Queer) Love Will Save It

Off Beat - A Manga in Which a Boy Genius Spies on The Dark-Eyed Boy Next Door

Same Cell Organism - Heartwarming Gay and Trans Manga Love Stories

Meeting You - Manga Stories of Gay Passion

Girl Friends - The Manga Story of a Friendship That Blossoms Into True Love

I Give To You - A Manga Wherein Two Lost Souls Learn To Love Again

The Caged Miko and the Whimsical Witch - A Manga of Magical Lesbian Romance

The Day I Became A Butterfly - Dreamy Queer Manga  Love Stories

Stop Bullying Me! - A Manga Where A Boy Falls for His Brother's (Not-So-Nice) Best Friend

Sailor Moon - A Manga Where Teenage Superheroes (Some of them Queer) Fight To Save Our World!


If you're just meeting our latest intern Aaron Walsh for the first time, you can go here to read his "Hello" post, from back in March.

Thank you for all the wonderful reviews, Aaron!

Sailor Moon - A Manga Where Teenage Superheroes (Some of them Queer) Fight To Save Our World!

Usagi (Sailor Moon)

Haruka (Sailor Uranus)

Michiru (Sailor Neptune)

Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi

Sailor Moon is the classic story of Usagi Tsukino, a teenage superhero with a child-like spirit who leads a team of young women to protect the Earth from forces bent on destruction. Drawing power from the planets and their own hearts, the Sailor Soldiers stand firm as the champions of love and justice. Through epic battles and quiet moments of daily living, this manga explores the rich relationships of the characters, their moral struggles and conflicts, and their dreams for their futures and their world.

It is a personal honor for me to write a review of Sailor Moon. This was the first manga I ever read. At first, I was drawn by promises of magical powers and suspenseful action, but I quickly found myself falling in love with the characters. Of particular note are Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune, whose names are Haruka Tenoh and Michiru Kaioh. Haruka is a bold race car driver and identifies as both a man and a woman. Haruka’s girlfriend, Michiru, is an artist and a master violinist. This super-powered queer couple enters the scene during the manga’s third story arc. They are completely dedicated to their mission and carry each other through the overwhelming burdens of their duties and ethical dilemmas.

When I first read Sailor Moon, I had deeply internalized personal beliefs that made me see love between people of the same gender as broken, unhealthy, and wrong. Watching the tender affection and loyalty between Haruka and Michiru moved me deeply and forced me to question the authenticity of my beliefs. These characters opened my eyes to the beauty, diversity, and reality of love and launched me on a journey that would change my life. To them and to their creator, I will be forever grateful.

It is also interesting to note three new Sailor Soldiers who join the manga during the fifth and final story arc. These Sailor Starlights, Seiya, Taiki, and Yaten, come from another planet to find and protect their missing princess. They are women while transformed into soldiers but present as men while undercover as members of a pop idol boy band. Their easy transitions between genders break down the myth of a static male-female binary and speak to an understanding of gender that is fluid, complex, and personal.

I’d also like to note that I am deeply inspired by the egalitarian relationship between Usagi and her chief love-interest, Mamoru. Many boy-girl love stories are steeped in unhealthy and unjust power dynamics that reinforce disempowering gender roles. Happily for us, Usagi and Mamoru break down these barriers, protect one another from harm, and fight side by side for the common good. They are an inspiration to all those who seek stories of two people coming together as individuals to build a relationship based on mutual respect and shared purpose.

Sailor Moon is currently being re-published in twelve volumes and two collections of short stories. There is some fantasy violence and brief moments of nudity. I would have felt comfortable reading this manga when I was thirteen years old.

The author of this manga, Naoko Takeuchi, is my hero. Learn more about her here:


Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Sailor Moon" in comments!

Stop Bullying Me! - A Manga Where A Boy Falls For His Brother's (Not-So-Nice) Best Friend

Stop Bullying Me! by Natsuho Shino

In Stop Bullying Me!, simple and straight-forward Tomo can’t help but love his kind and popular older brother, Ei. Tomo follows Ei wherever he goes but is constantly harassed by Ei’s best friend, Izumi. Despite Izumi’s belittling words and light physical assaults, Tomo eventually realizes he has feelings for Izumi and must discover if love can blossom from their mutual animosity.

At first glance, this manga is a sweet and simple love story. There are many heart-warming romantic moments and deep reflections on how family relationships grow and change when people start new relationships. Perhaps the most compelling element of this manga is the faithful brotherly relationship between Tomo and Ei. Not many stories authentically portray a happy sibling dynamic, but Tomo and Ei’s loyal love for each other is real, precious, and inspiring.

My one concern with this manga is the light-hearted approach it takes with the very serious issue of bullying. (Get ready… I’m about to step on my soap box and rant for a while!) Being harassed as a young person or adult can result in significant damage to a person’s physical, emotional, and mental health. Like Tomo, some real-life victims of bullying develop confused feelings of attraction for their tormentors. In addition, many try to change themselves so as to become invisible or please those who hurt them. These painful realities often result in significant damage to self-esteem and can harm a person’s ability to engage in fulfilling relationships with others. I fear that stories like this manga, if taken too seriously, might reinforce rather than challenge a disempowering response to harassment. I don’t want to be too harsh- this manga was indeed a cute story! But rather than read about someone who falls in love with his abuser and lives happily ever after, I want a story where a victim of bullying finds the strength in himself to survive hardship, cultivate the support of allies, and create a safe space for himself where he can build love with someone who treats him with the respect he deserves.

Stop Bullying Me! is complete in one volume.  The book contains some suggestive language and I would have felt comfortable reading it when I was fourteen.

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Stop Bullying Me!" in comments!

The Day I Became A Butterfly: Dreamy Queer Manga Love Stories

The Day I Became a Butterfly by Sumomo Yumeka

The Day I Became a Butterfly is a powerful collection of queer love stories containing unforgettable gay, trans, and bi characters. The title story builds around themes of mortality and rebirth as the seriously ill transwoman Uka finds peace in the gruff honesty and surprising gentleness of her beloved, Mimi. Other stories reveal characters seeking healing through art, forgiveness, and love for one another.

This book has a unique and undeniable voice. I hesitate to give too many plot descriptions because while the stories are rooted in the real world, they hold a whimsical and romantic spirit that makes the manga read more like poetry than prose. Suffice it to say that the various stories delve into themes of claiming one’s own identity, power, and freedom, overcoming fear, and embracing intimacy without losing one’s inner strength.


This manga is complete in one volume.  Some stories include sexual scenes between characters who genuinely love each other. I would have felt comfortable reading this book when I was sixteen-years-old.



Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "The Day I Became A Butterfly" in comments!

Girl Friends: The Manga Story of a Friendship that Blossoms into True Love

Girl Friends by Milk Morinaga

In Girl Friends, studious and shy Mariko spends her lunch breaks reading by herself and her afternoons with school work until carefree and whimsical Akko reaches out and befriends her. Suddenly, Mariko’s life thrums with laughing, shopping, talking, and connecting with her new best friend. Over time, the girls learn each others’ secrets and Mariko’s feelings deepen until she wonders, and then hopes, if the connection they share can be more than friendship.

This manga is adorable and emotionally compelling. Mariko’s story is alive with those magical discoveries that bloom at the beginning of a relationship. She almost can’t believe how much her new friend likes and cares about her, and she grows up slowly before the readers’ eyes. Akko and Mariko are consistently supportive of each other, encouraging each other to stand up for themselves and live life to the fullest.

In gentle ways, this manga addresses serious issues. Both Akko and Mariko face pressure to date boys even though they have little interest in doing so. In addition, both young women struggle with body image and decide to go on a diet together. It is sad to watch two healthy teenagers worry about their weight. In addition, Mariko faces realistic fears about growing apart from her friends, and she is at first confused and troubled by her growing romantic attraction to Akko. Her journey through friendship into love is real, moving, and inspiring!

Girl Friends is complete in two expanded volumes.  The story includes underage drinking, sensuality, and some nude shots of ladies taking baths. I would have felt comfortable reading this manga at the age of sixteen.

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Girl Friends" in comments!

Meeting You: Manga Stories of Gay Passion

Meeting You by Mio Tennohiji

Meeting You contains three short stories of intense attraction between men. In the title story, sweet and naïve Touru falls for Himeshiro, a promiscuous jerk with secret insecurities.

Next comes How to Find a Gentle Kiss where old friends Senken and Sakuma rediscover each other after years of separation and explode in passion in an empty office board room.

In Mornings at the Bus Stop, Sunpei cherishes the moments he shares chatting with Kaoru before work while the two of them are waiting for the bus, and he dreams of the day they can grow into more than casual friends.

These stories revolve around carnal attraction and emotional infatuation. Some scenes reinforce unhealthy relationship dynamics by romanticizing submission and over-dependence. For example, when talking about his crush, one character literally says, “I don’t mind being his dog.” Such sentiments make me sad, as does the fact that in the stories, there is no consequence for men who exert extreme pressure on partners for sex. In addition, I always have a problem with stories that espouse the myth that cruel men will change if you love them. People can change if they choose to, but latching onto a bad boy with hopes that someday he’ll treat you right is a recipe for heartbreak and even violence.

Despite these concerns, there are some moving and romantic moments in this manga, For example, there is a poignant scene about the importance of being honest and expressing oneself in a relationship. These moments humanize the characters and add some depth to an otherwise purely erotic collection.

Meeting You is complete in one book.  There is a great deal of explicit sexual content, so I would like to have been at least eighteen-years-old before reading it.

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Meeting You" in comments!

Same Cell Organism: Heartwarming Gay and Trans Manga Love Stories

Same Cell Organism by Sumomo Yumeka

Same Cell Organism is an inspiring collection of queer love stories. In the title story, deep-thinking and angsty Nakagama falls in love with his enthusiastic and open-hearted classmate, Yokota. The two learn in time that despite their differences on the surface, at their cores, they are the same. As they graduate high school and enter the real world together, they pray that they may grow together and that their love can last another day.

In another story, Kana and Yuji discover that they share a secret place in their school’s attic. Over time, they build a connection that transcends the rigid boundaries and expectations they are forced to endure every day. In yet another story, Sakaki wishes to be a princess and fall in love with a beautiful man, but the world labels Sakaki as a boy and calls her dreams impossible. Yuki, a mysterious angel boy, leaves heaven to be by Sakaki’s side as her prince and soul mate.

These gripping stories have many important things to say about love. Characters deal with realistic fears and issues, wondering whether love can last forever or how to deal with changing relationships as one builds a new family with someone else. But the various couples face these challenges together and give each other hope. They learn that it takes faith to make a relationship last, and that true love is worth the risk of loss.

Same Cell Organism is complete in one volume.  There is some sexual content shared between characters deeply in love. In my opinion, these scenes are drawn subtly and tastefully, and they add meaning and depth to the stories. I would have felt comfortable reading this manga when I was sixteen years old.

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Same Cell Organism" in comments!

Off Beat: A Manga in Which a Boy Genius Spies on the Dark-Eyed Boy Next Door

Off Beat by Jen Lee Quick

In Off Beat, nerdy and brilliant Tory Blake lives with his mom in New York and leads a boring every-day-high-school life until the mysterious Colin Stephens moves in across the street. Colin lives with a non-relative guardian and commutes to St. Peter’s Academy, a distant Catholic prep school.

Fascinated by his new neighbor and suspicious that Colin is hiding something, Tory begs his mom to enroll him at St. Peter’s so he can launch an investigation. As the mystery of Colin Stephens unfolds, Tory must eventually ask himself why he is so curious about this other boy, a boy who makes him blush whenever they cross paths.

This manga is a suspenseful page-turner and a compelling teen drama. All the characters are authentic, complex, and hilarious. At the heart of the story is Tory and Colin’s multi-layered and slowly-built relationship. In addition, scenes with fully-realized side characters make this manga really come to life. For example, due to stress and fatigue, Tory and his single mom live under a never-ending sense of tension that erupts in occasional fights. Despite this, they share quiet moments of tenderness, and Tory subtly expresses desire for a better relationship with his mother. In addition, Tory’s college-student neighbor routinely comes begging for food, and the two boys have a tempestuous, bickering friendship. Once in a while, however, the two young men show concern for one another, but of course they remain too prideful to overtly acknowledge that they care how the other feels. (Oh, how I detest the painful and isolating realities of masculine culture!) The nuances of Tory’s various relationships are revealed with sensitivity, depth, and realistic detail, making each scene a relevant and meaningful read.

Off Beat is composed of three volumes. This manga is delightful and I would have felt comfortable reading it at any age.

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of any or all of the volumes of "Off Beat" in comments!

Hero Heel - A Raw Exploration of Desperation, Objectifying Others, and Losing Oneself

Hero Heel by Makoto Tateno

At the beginning of Hero Heel, Minami Masaki is a young actor who lands his first lead role as a superhero on a children’s television show. At first, he feels far too cool for the part, but he soon finds himself trying his best to impress Sawada Kauomi, the experienced actor who plays the villain. Minami soon discovers that Sawada is secretly gay and spends his nights with various lovers. Over time, Minami becomes more aware of his own sexual orientation and grows more and more obsessed with Sawada. The story follows the two men as they alternate between hurting and clinging to each other in a twisted game of attraction and rejection.

This manga is very painful to read. Both Minami and Sawada hurt each other and themselves as they struggle with haunting desires and internal brokenness. Minami lacks the self-esteem to pursue a relationship where he is treated with tenderness and affection. Rather, he acts out of desperation, begging and threatening Sawada into providing scraps of attention that lack any real intimacy.

There is little of anything having to do with love in this manga. Rather, it is a sad portrait of the suffering that results when we lose respect for ourselves and others, when sex becomes something we do to feel good rather than show love, and when people are seen as objects for our satisfaction rather than human beings of infinite value. Minami and Sawada’s relationship is marked by insults, judgment, intimidation, and violence. The idea that these characters are playing out their dysfunctional relationship while acting in a children’s t.v. show highlights Minami’s continual loss of innocence. This story is tragic and awful and, saddest of all, incredibly real. It lays out almost everything one should avoid in a romantic relationship and proves that it’s worth waiting for the right person to come along, because no love is better than bad love.

Hero Heel is composed of three volumes. The series contains lots of explicit and graphic sexual content. In her liner notes, Makoto very clearly states that she wrote this manga for adults. I would not have felt comfortable reading it before being eighteen-years-old.

Review by Aaron Walsh. Add your review of "Hero Heel" in comments!

Voiceful - Two Teen Girls Overcome Tragedy and Find Love... With Each Other

Voiceful by Nawako

Voiceful tells the story of Kanae, a painfully shy high school girl who finally finds the strength to leave her house by listening to the heartbreaking music of the mysterious Hina. No one has ever heard Hina sing in person, but one day, Kanae meets her by chance on the street. They begin a friendship that inspires both of them to face the pain of the past. Over time, their relationship deepens and challenges the two young women to overcome the fears and insecurities that keep them from fully living.

This manga points to the hope that always shines through suffering. Kanae and Hina endure tragedy by carrying each other’s secrets and finding new happiness together. Every moment of the story is heavy with emotion as the characters grow, heal, and encounter one another in love.

The story is complete in one volume which also includes several short stories. It is amazing how much intensity is written into so few pages.

There is no explicit sexual content at all, but there are implications of child abuse and other heavy thematic elements. I would have felt ready to read this manga when I was fourteen-years-old.

Voiceful was written by Nawako. It’s difficult to find information about this author online, so I challenge all of you internet-geniuses to put your detective skills to use and find out more about her!

Review by Aaron Walsh.  Add your review of "Voiceful" in comments!

Ranma ½ - An Action-Romance-Fighting Manga that Plays with Gender

Ranma ½ was written by the famous manga artist Rumiko Takahashi.

Ranma is a teenage martial artist betrothed against his will to the feisty and powerful Akane, whose family runs a dojo in Tokyo. When training in China, Ranma fell into a well which “cursed” him with the power to become female when covered with cold water and male when covered with hot water. This manga explores many interesting aspects of gender. It often challenges the world’s strict man-woman binary but sometimes subtly reinforces conformity to certain stereotypes. Clearly, the entire concept boldly plays with the idea of gender and argues that being male or female is not a static condition. In addition, despite the fact that Akane is pressured to act traditionally feminine, to fight less and date more boys, she stubbornly refuses. She is a strong woman dedicated to living life as she chooses.

That said, there are bland homophobic comments made once in a while. For example, people assume that Ranma cannot be engaged to Akane when Ranma is a woman. However, a subtle romance builds between Ranma and Akane, and key moments in the growth of their relationship take place during times when Ranma is both a boy and a girl. In addition, Ranma often expresses how he prefers being male to being female, which might reinforce a culture that values masculinity over femininity. However, a more queer-positive perspective is that this aspect of Ranma’s character reveals the frustration that comes with living in a body that does not conform to one’s gender identity. Ultimately, whether male or female, Ranma is always Ranma - strong, bull-headed, confident, and protective of loved ones. All of the characters are deep, loveable and fully-realized people that transcend static gender roles, ultimately making this manga an empowering achievement.

The series is composed of thirty-eight volumes. There is no explicit sexual content, but there are plenty of nude shots exposing Ranma’s body in both male and female form. In addition, there is light sexual humor, such as lecherous men sneaking peeks at women’s underwear. (My feminist impulses are screaming in rage!). All things considered, I would have wanted to be fourteen or older when I first read this manga.

Here are a few more Ranma ½ covers:

 

Review by Aaron.  Add your review of any (or all) of the volumes in "Ranma ½" in comments!

First Love Sisters - A Lesbian Teen Manga Love Story

First Love Sisters' art was drawn by Mizuo Shinonome, the concept created by Mako Komao, and the design done by Reine Hibiki.

First Love Sisters is a gentle love story set at the prestigious Tsunokamizaka Girl’s Academy. From the moment they meet, sweet and enthusiastic Chika Matsuzato falls for beautiful and mysterious upperclasswoman Haruna Kizaki. Secrets and insecurities quickly arise to keep them apart, but Chika remains hopeful as she dreams of growing closer to her first love.

This manga is uplifting and adorable. It explores various relationships between women - sisterhood, friendship, rivalry, and romance - by revealing the depth of quiet moments in daily life. Chika is endearing and relatable. She courageously faces her fears about seeming childish and unlovable as she pursues Haruna. A notable element of this manga is that, at least in the first volume, the story isn’t about issues surrounding the discernment or revelation of one’s sexual identity. It is a pure story about two people fighting through their brokenness to find each other. It’s about love, plain and simple.

The series is composed of three volumes. The remaining two volumes have not been officially released in English. (Who wants to start a letter-writing campaign?) Fear not, for the first volume closes in a satisfying way.

I do not understand why the publisher suggests this manga for readers sixteen and up. So far, the characters do nothing more physical than holding hands and kissing. Honestly, when I have children, I plan on reading this manga to them as a bedtime story.

Review by Aaron Walsh. Add your review of "First Love Sisters" in comments!

Tokyo Babylon - A Gay Teen Supernatural Manga

Tokyo Babylon written and illustrated by CLAMP

CLAMP’s classic drama, Tokyo Babylon, follows sixteen-year-old onmyoji (exorcist) Subaru Sumeragi as he helps tortured spirits find peace amid the suffering and destruction of modern life. From the beginning, Subaru is pursued by another man, Seishiro Sakurazuka, a seemingly kind-hearted veterinarian with spiritual powers who often shows up to save Subaru from certain death. At first, Subaru’s shyness and strict demeanor make him reluctant to accept Seishiro’s affections, but Subaru’s rambunctious twin sister, Hokuto, constantly encourages him to open his heart to Sei-chan. Over time, as Subaru discovers his true feelings, mystery builds around Seishiro’s dark side, which always lurks just beneath the surface. This series is deep, emotionally-compelling, and heart-breaking. It explores the purpose of life, the nature of love, and the struggle of maintaining one’s ideals in an oftentimes harsh and broken world. The characters are so real that they haunt the reader long after the last page is turned. Thankfully, their story doesn’t truly end here, for they return years later in CLAMP’s X/1999.

My one hesitation in suggesting this manga is that I’m afraid for some, it may romanticize violent or abusive relationships. As we discover the depths of Seishiro’s depravity, the reader is led to hope for his redemption, to dream that he and Subaru can find a way to be together. In the world of manga, fervent dreams of unconditional love and forgiveness are wonderful. But in real life, this kind of thinking can lead to social isolation, black eyes, and murder. Remember that Tokyo Babylon is ultimately a tragedy, not a map for living one’s life. If you’re a romantic like me, then by all means, never give up hoping for Seishiro’s salvation, but also hope that Subaru finds the strength to let him go and find love someday in a healthy relationship. Remember that sociopaths never make good boyfriends. Trust me on this one.

Tokyo Babylon is composed of seven volumes. This series has no explicit sexual content, but there is plenty of violence and creepy occult goings-on. I didn’t read Tokyo Babylon until I was over sixteen. If I had tried it at a younger age, there’s a good chance I would have been plagued with nightmares and general trauma.

The team of authors, who name themselves CLAMP, are a fascinating and prolific team of manga artists. To learn more about these four incredible women, check out their Wikipedia site here.

Here are the other covers:

Review by Aaron Walsh. Add your review of "Tokyo Babylon" (any or all of the books in the series) in comments!

Our New Intern Aaron Will Explore LGBTQ Teen Manga!

Aaron raises one eyebrow in true Manga style to say, "hello."

Hello, everybody! My name is Aaron and I am thrilled to be reviewing manga as a guest intern. Good manga is like poetry - every word and image is heavy with meaning and beauty, and each story has the power to save your life. I spent all of my adolescence and young adulthood trying to deny and hide the truth that I was gay. But over time, simple love stories between people of the same or non-conforming genders kept finding me in the pages of Japanese comics and young adult novels. These stories opened my eyes to the truth that love is always deep and meaningful and sacred, and it can happen to anyone, even someone as goofy and weird as me. In case you’re curious, when I’m not reading manga or teen lit, I can be found teaching little ones (so cute… and so funny!), social working (I still can’t really explain what a social worker does, even though I am one), playing drums (poorly), or walking in the forest (while searching for werewolves).

Here’s a list of the titles we’ll be exploring together:

Tokyo Babylon by CLAMP

First Love Sisters by Mizuo Shinonome, Mako Komao, and Reine Hibiki

Ranma ½ by Rumiko Takahashi

Voiceful by Nawako

Silver Diamond by Shiho Sugiura

Cardcaptor Sakura by CLAMP

Cain Saga by Kaori Yuki

Hero Heel by Makoto Tateno

Maiden Rose by Fusanosuke Inariya

Rin! by Satoru Kannagi

X/1999 by CLAMP

Off beat by Jen Lee Quick

Same Cell Organism by Sumomo Yumeka

Meeting You by Tennouji Mio

Girl Friends by Morinaga

I Give to You by Maki Ebishi

The Caged Miko and the Whimsical Witch by Fujieda Miyabi

Stop Bullying Me! by Natsuho Shino

The Day I Became a Butterfly by Sumomo Yumeka

Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi

I’m super excited! See you soon!

Aaron Walsh's posts will run most Wednesdays, so keep an eye out for his wonderful reviews of LGBTQ teen Manga stories!

Check In With Our 2011 Intern Soraya: The Facebook Status Debate

I heard recently from our amazing 2011 summer intern Soraya (she did a great job with establishing this blog's GLBTQ Biography and Memoir Bookshelf)

Soraya's off at college now, and told me about The Facebook Status Debate...

Here's what happened, in her words:

I don’t usually engage in political or religious arguments on Facebook. I prefer looking at pictures of puppies or talking to my friends about new music we’ve discovered. A few days ago, however, I was saddened to have seen a status update from a younger friend of mine in San Diego who is openly gay. His status read, “I'm not going to apologize for this. This is just a warning: If you feel the need to chastise me for my beliefs, don't do it on the Internet. Do it in person. Where you're actually responsible for the repercussions. Calling my beliefs false is not very ‘Christian’ of you. I put up with your b******t, the least you can do is ignore me if you don't like me. Thank you very much.” I asked him what exactly had transpired, and he told me that it centered on his church’s gay pride day. He held up a sign that asked, “what if Jesus was gay?” and he received a lot of flack for it. But the judgment of his sign soon led to judgment of his sexual orientation and how his sexuality affected his religion.

This was an issue for which I could no longer stand idly by. I had to get involved, and I had to do it in the nicest, most honest way possible. My first comment questioned why this whole ordeal was going on. Christianity, I continued, and all religions were based around a group of people coming together, with love and acceptance, to find hope in a bleak situation. I always thought the point of a lot of religions were to support one another and the people within it. Even though I am an atheist, I’ve never had a problem with other peoples’ religions. The problems only arise when people try to use religion to ostracize others.

The “Facebook Status Debate” went on for about an hour. Quite a lot transpired in that hour, and I saw a lot of maddening ignorance. However, I’m extremely proud of myself. I never once offended the other side’s religious beliefs. I only forced them to question their own. And honestly, this would not have gone so well if I did not have a great education and a love for knowledge. I’ve read a lot of the Bible and know a lot about the parts I haven’t read, so I knew what to expect from the opposition. I also used a lot of science that I learned in my physics, chemistry, and biology classes to point out why certain inferences were incorrect. And thanks to the debate classes I took long ago in middle school, I made connections between all the things the opposition said to point out how contradictory their own statements were.

By the end of the night, I received many texts from friends and Facebook messages from people I didn’t know, all of whom thanked me and congratulated me for sticking to my beliefs and standing up for a friend, without worrying about how I would be judged by others. I’ll also point out that I was pretty excited to see that most of my comments had received on average, 25 likes. That’s a lot of support. I just felt really good after the whole thing. I was really happy to have defended such a good friend of mine and to have silenced the harsh words of others, even if the silence is only temporary. At the risk of sounding dogmatic, I really hope that many others continue to do the same. The effect may seem small, but if more people do it, it will feel bigger and bigger. It is truly an amazing feeling to know that you have made people feel loved while at the same time getting their attackers to question themselves. It is definitely good to pick and choose one’s battles, but the less bystanders we have in this world, the better.

"The less bystanders we have in this world, the better."

YES!

Thanks Soraya!  I'm proud of you!

Namaste,
Lee

2011 Summer Intern Wrap-Up! And the 13 Titles In The GLBTQ Biography and Memoir Bookshelf!

So it's the end of our 2011 summer internship, and here's a note from Soraya!

Dear Readers:
Sadly enough, my internship has come to a close with the end of the summer. I wanted to start off by thanking Lee so very much for giving me this opportunity. I’m extremely grateful that he put up with my awkward and confusing schedule, and that he trusted me to read and review all these wonderful books! I had a wonderful experience reading about all these people and learning from them. All of these stories were fantastic, from Patti Smith’s book to David Sedaris’. I learned many valuable lessons, but the one I think is the most important is to embrace everyone’s differences. Of course, as people, we’re all the same in so many ways. Most people use their differences against each other, but I think our differences are something that can bring everyone closer together. Somebody might have a weird family situation, but that is by no means a bad thing. Somebody else might have a religious view that they do not share with anybody, but that does not make him or her a bad person. In fact, everyone on Earth is part of a greater machine. I don’t mean that in a religious or conspiracy-theory way, I’m just using a machine as a metaphor. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, but that’s why we’re all here together. To help each other and support our differences. You can’t build a chair with just legs. So I want everyone to love what makes them different, and to love what makes everyone else different. That’s at least what I learned. Once again, I had the most wonderful experience, and I’ll really miss it. Thank you all so much!
With much love,
Soraya (Summer Intern 2011)

I'm so pleased with her main take-away:

"...I want everyone to love what makes them different, and to love what makes everyone else different."

YES! She put that so well!

And here, thanks to Soraya, is our GLBTQ Biography and Memoir Bookshelf. These links will also be live on the left-hand book list column of this blog from today on!

• "Deflowered: My Life In Pansy Division" by Jon Ginoli
• "Ellen: The Real Story of Ellen DeGeneres" by Kathleen Tracy
• "Just Kids" by Patti Smith
• "Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer" by Chely Wright
• "Man In The Middle" by John Amaechi
• "Mayor of Castro Street, The: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk" by Randy Shilts
• "Me" by Ricky Martin
• "My Two Wives And Three Husbands: A True Love Story" by S. Stanley Gordon
• "Naked" by David Sedaris
• "Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist, and Sexual Renegade" by Justin Spring
• "The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas" by Gertrude Stein
• "Transition: The Story Of How I Became A Man" by Chaz Bono
• "Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain" by Portia De Rossi

Thanks so much for all your hard work and these great reviews, Soraya!

Namaste,
Lee

"Man In The Middle" by John Amaechi

Last year, I had the immense pleasure of hearing John Amaechi speak at my school’s “Diversity Day.” He was the very last speaker at the end of a very long day, and most people expected his speech to drag on forever. However, everyone was extremely intrigued by what he had to say. Amaechi ended up being the school favorite, and not just because of his fantastic British accent.

That being said, I loved his biography, Man In The Middle. Amaechi has a distinctive literary voice that’s quite a pleasure to read. His writing style is very British. It is very factual and straightforward, but laced with little witticisms here and there. One of my favorite lines of his is when he says how he’s “experienced plenty of endorphin surges after an intense workout, but [he] must say [he’s] had better highs from a cup of Earl Grey tea.” And of course that line sounds even better when you hear it in your head in a British accent.

I really appreciate the honesty and authenticity that Amaechi brings forth in his stories and feelings. Though he was an NBA player, he admits that he hated sports and anything that made him sweat. And later in the book, he talks about how he felt that the whole locker-room situation in the NBA seemed more “gay” than he himself was. His upbringing also seems like quite a tough ordeal. He dealt with an emotionally abusive father who caused the rest of the Amaechi’s to run away to England. He even followed them there, only to threaten the young John’s mother. Much of his childhood worry is a mystery though, even to him, as his mother never divulged all the facts of her relationship with their father.

This book is definitely a great read for anybody with an interest in sports, or even literature and psychology. It’s an easy, fast read, but there are a few f-bombs thrown about and a bit of sexual imagery. Amaechi’s intelligence really shows in his style of writing, and I also greatly appreciated his use of gender-neutral pronouns.

One of the main messages I picked up from his autobiography was that not everyone fits into their stereotype. Would most people expect a 6’8” NBA player to be gay? Probably not. And in the same way, would somebody guess that the girl in the pink party dress with the bows in her hair is a lesbian? Maybe not. Somebody doesn’t have to look a certain way to be a certain way. And that’s more than okay. Amaechi got his start in basketball because somebody recruited him based on his height. He would have much rather been a psychologist, or even a doctor if he had the stomach for it. The way you are on the outside doesn’t always have something to do with who you are on the inside. It’s important to never judge somebody without getting to know them at first. Everyone should be given a chance to show who they are before somebody else gets to decide who they are.


Review by Soraya. Add your review of "Man In The Middle" in comments!

"Deflowered: My Life In Pansy Division" by Jon Ginoli

Being both a musician and a music enthusiast, I actually was not surprised that I hadn’t heard of The Pansy Division. If there’s any genre that has more bands than anyone can keep track of, it would definitely be punk. The name really only stuck out to me because of its closeness to the band name Joy Division, one of my favorite punk/post-punk bands. But I was also intrigued because the only openly gay rock star anyone really hears about is Freddy Mercury. I was definitely excited to delve into Jon Ginoli’s account of his life and music career.

The only thing that really shocked me about his book was his style. Most autobiographies are written in almost the exact same tone. Ginoli writes about whatever he feels like, and is completely unapologetic about the language he decides to use. When I read the book I felt as though I was listening to an audiotape. I could hear every “goddamn” and F bomb he decided to drop into his story. He goes into a little more detail about his sexual encounters than one would expect. Some would say a little too much detail, but it doesn’t really faze me. I, for one, really enjoyed the colloquial style of his memoir.

His story is also something that attracted me. All the bands he started out listening to or cites as his influences, such as Blondie, Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, and Patti Smith, are all artists that I currently listen to. Not only do I relate to his music tastes, but also in some forms of his teenage rebellion. His parents, being relatively cool with their rules are really similar to mine. Therefore, he had to rebel in small ways. He didn’t want to smile for his senior picture or wear a cap and gown for his graduation. I refuse to wear my retainer because I like my teeth slightly crooked, and I prefer wearing vintage boots to girly sandals. We also both share the same feeling about constantly being forced to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in schools. It was actually strange how relateable his story is to my own life.

My one criticism of his book is that he occasionally throws around words like “dyke” to just describe people he knew. I’ve always felt uncomfortable with people using words like that, whether they’re gay or not. I don’t believe that being a minority entitles someone to use a hurtful word outside of context just because it’s usually used to describe that person.

This book is once again for the more mature reader, only because the language he uses and the lack of censorship in many of his anecdotes would probably make a young kid uncomfortable to say the least.

What I liked most about his story is that he represents a change. There were very few, if any, openly gay punk musicians when the genre first started. People were afraid of being associated with that label, and the cost that association would bring them. But in starting the Pansy Division, an all-gay punk band, Ginoli and his band mates became the crossover artists for their genre. They proved that setting a precedent is totally doable. And even more so, it’s pretty awesome.

People shouldn’t be afraid to do what they want and be themselves at the same time. You never have to split your personality from your career. You just need to figure out your own way to go about doing it.


Review by Soraya. Add your review of "Deflowered: My Life In Pansy Division" in comments!

"My Two Wives and Three Husbands: A True Love Story" by S. Stanley Gordon

The first thing I will say is that S. Stanley Gordon seems like a much cooler, more fun person than most of my friends (no offense to any of my friends who read these reviews).

I was immediately drawn into the story. Gordon gets straight to the point, saying that though he has many experiences to write about, he’ll stick to the topic of love for this book. His story moves quickly, starting with his Russian upbringing in a large family. As a child, he dealt with a lot of anti-Semitism, so he learned to hide his homosexuality so that he wouldn’t be made fun of. He also dated women and married a woman initially. But he slept with men quite a lot. I won’t give away the rest of his story, but it moves quickly and is really intriguing.

From Gordon’s writing style, you’d assume that he was anywhere from 20-40 years old. With his use of exclamation points and sentences like “Let’s face it: I was a teenage slut!” it’s hard to believe he’s about 88 years old. He writes with much enthusiasm, and it feels as though he’s a good friend, just telling you some stories. His zest and honesty combine to make a great style. Usually I’m all for darker, moodier, quirkier writing styles, but I really enjoyed his fresh tone. His excitement made me excited to read his story.

At 281 pages, the book is a quick read. It goes by swiftly, and is far from complicated. I would only advise that people who can handle certain linguistic elements read the book. Gordon is not afraid to curse, and he is not afraid to talk about sex and masturbation either. However, he never goes into too much detail, probably for the better. Though honestly, I’d recommend this book to just about anyone. His enthusiasm is extremely contagious.

I also really appreciate that all Gordon wants is for everyone to love and be loved. He talks about this in not only the story, but also the preface and very end. Love, in his opinion, makes everyone happy. And all Gordon wants for everyone is happiness.

But I’ve learned that to love someone else, you have to love yourself first. If you can love yourself, your enthusiasm for life, like Gordon’s, can be extremely contagious. I, for one, am glad that somebody else believes that love can save the world. It may sound too idealistic, but Gordon is right. Money and success are really important, but life isn’t much fun without somebody to love who loves you back. So I guess I’d just say that we should be spreading the love, because bringing positivity to the world is bringing the world in the right direction.


Review by Soraya. Add your review of "My Two Wives and Three Husbands: A True Love Story" in comments!

"Ellen: The Real Story of Ellen DeGeneres" by Kathleen Tracy

I’ve always liked Ellen DeGeneres. As a kid, "Finding Nemo" was one of the greatest movies ever in my opinion. And of course, I loved watching her dance around on her talk show. Of course, my first impressions of her stuck with me the most. I never really took the time to know more about her though. The only other things I remembered about her were her public relationship with Anne Heche and her happy marriage to Portia de Rossi. I must say, I’m glad I delved into Kathleen Tracy’s biography about DeGeneres.

It was interesting to hear about DeGeneres’ Southern upbringing and the traditional values her family upheld. She wasn’t allowed to get vaccines as a child because her family members were devout Christian Scientists. She wasn’t even allowed to take science classes at school because of her parents’ religious beliefs. I was also incredibly shocked to hear that Ellen was molested by her stepfather as a teenage girl. Of course, Tracy writes about DeGeneres’ television shows, her adult relationships, and her family life. But I was most shocked to hear about Ellen’s first “real love.” I was only surprised because he was her high school boyfriend. Tracy makes the point to say that Ellen was not one of those lesbians who knew of her sexuality at an early age. She struggled with it quite a lot, and really repressed it until she went to college.

Tracy’s style is typical of any other biographer. She writes the story in order, and she writes with clarity. I have to say though, I was a bit confused about chronology because she would often jump forward in time, and then jump right back to where she was. I found it to be a little off-putting when she decided to explain things that seemed like such common knowledge. It felt almost condescending, as if Tracy was the only one who knew of common sense and that the rest of us readers have much to learn. For example, at one point she mentions that DeGeneres’ older brother Vance treated her like a nuisance, “as typical of older brothers.” Maybe I’m just being nitpicky again, but I think it’s a bit obvious that older brothers don’t quite appreciate their younger sisters like they should. Other than that though, I commend Tracy on the book's being so well researched. She makes sure to point out an error in a 1997 issue of People Magazine, which apparently miscounted the number of spouses Ellen DeGeneres’ mother had. This book is pretty appropriate in terms of subject matter. The details are quite tame, so I think that really anybody above the age of 13 can handle it.

What I liked most about the book is that the introduction very clearly spells out the messages Tracy hopes for the reader to walk away with. She wants the reader to understand how dumb it is to define a person by his or her sexuality. Ellen lost a lot of her audience when the media decided to define her by her sexuality. The world really forgot how talented she was because they became so wrapped up in who she is as a person. Tracy makes sure to include a really meaningful quote from DeGeneres that I think really summarizes the whole essence of the book.

“My whole career has been based on making people feel happy. That’s all I ever wanted to do—was make people laugh and make people happy.”

What’s the point of putting somebody down who spreads such a positive message? Having a positive attitude is really the only way to make sure that the world responds positively to you. A little bit of happiness never hurt anyone.

Review by Soraya. Add your review of "Ellen: The Real Story of Ellen DeGeneres" in comments!