What LGBTQ+ Fiction Can Tell Us About Humanity
A fascinating truth about fiction is how deeply it allows us to know its characters—often far more intimately than real people. Consider Madame Bovary, the titular character of Flaubert’s 1856 novel. Through the insights fiction provides, we intimately understand her fantasies, frustrations, and the choices that lead to her undoing. Similarly, Shakespeare’s Macbeth reveals the corrosive effects of unchecked ambition, delving into psychological depths that no historical account of the actual Scottish king could match.
But what happens when fiction focuses on the lives and struggles of marginalized groups, such as LGBTQ+ individuals? The result is often a profound window into worlds that might otherwise remain unseen. LGBTQ+ fiction allows readers to empathize with its characters, challenges societal norms, and deepens our understanding of diverse human experiences.
Fiction as a Lens for Empathy
For example, Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime offers readers a glimpse into the perspective of a highly gifted autistic teenager. Or Amrou Al-Kadhi’s My Life as a Unicorn, a memoir-novel hybrid that immerses us in the life of a queer Arab boy grappling with a strict Islamic upbringing and finding liberation in drag. These works allow us to experience realities far removed from our own, expanding our capacity for empathy and understanding.
In a similar vein, Nicolas Shumway’s new coming-of-age and coming-out novel, The Education of Joshua Chastain: A Gay Mormon Memoir, provides a compelling look into the life of a gay teenager in the 1960s and 1970s. Through Josh Chastain, Shumway offers readers a deeply personal exploration of physical, intellectual, and spiritual development in a time and community that rejected his true self.
Journeying Through Josh’s World
Josh’s story begins in a small Mormon community in Northern Arizona, where he grows up aware of his attraction to men and the dangers of expressing his true identity. Fiction allows us to see his struggles intimately: the fear of being outed, the guilt instilled by his devout parents quoting Biblical condemnations of homosexuality, and the isolation of hiding his true self in the metaphorical “closet.”
Despite this, Josh finds support from unexpected sources, including a kind piano teacher and a sympathetic librarian. These moments of care stand in stark contrast to the bullying he endures, even from authority figures like his scoutmaster, who nicknames him “Q-B” for “queer boy.”
Through Shumway’s vivid storytelling, we feel Josh’s anguish as he’s sent to a live-in clinic designed to “cure” homosexuality through prayer, counseling, and aversion therapy. There, he meets Ronnie, another teenager undergoing the same “treatment.” Their clandestine nighttime conversations on a nearby golf course reveal their shared pain and hopes for a future beyond the confines of their upbringing.
A Story of Resilience
Josh’s journey takes him to Los Angeles, where he encounters hardship and hope. From an abusive relationship with a closeted Vietnam veteran to brief work as a prostitute, Josh’s experiences reflect the challenges faced by many LGBTQ+ individuals seeking acceptance and connection in a world that often rejects them. Yet even in these dark moments, Josh finds his “saints”—kind individuals who recognize his talents and potential. A college dean helps him enroll in UCLA as a scholarship student, while a church lady connects him with a paid singing position.
Through it all, Josh’s religious upbringing looms large. His excommunication from the LDS Church is a pivotal moment, forcing him to reconcile his faith with his identity. The novel’s exploration of these themes—faith, sexuality, rejection, and resilience—is a testament to the transformative power of fiction.
The Unique Power of LGBTQ+ Fiction
What makes LGBTQ+ fiction like The Education of Joshua Chastain so compelling is its ability to provide readers with an intimate look into the lives of its characters. These stories help us empathize with struggles we may never experience, challenge our assumptions, and broaden our perspectives. By immersing us in Josh’s world, Shumway tells a deeply personal story and invites us to reflect on universal themes of identity, acceptance, and the search for love and belonging.
Fiction offers a unique opportunity to envision and eavesdrop on lives unlike our own. Doing so fosters understanding and connection—qualities the world sorely needs. Through the lens of LGBTQ+ fiction, we are reminded that every story, no matter how different from our own, holds the potential to illuminate the shared humanity that binds us all.