How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"It's not that I don't like girls," James says. "I do."
"Which girls?" I ask, reviewing the ones who told me to tell him hi. None of them deserve to sleep with James.
"Just generic girls. That's why I have no idea if I'm gay."
"Does Link like girls?"
"You know, we make a big point of not talking about them," James says. "Girls don't interest me compared with Link. But compared with Link, men don't interest me either. All in all, though, girls are… girls have interesting qualities." (6.36-40)
There are so many terms today that help define where people fall on the spectrum in regards to sexual identity. James seems to identify with bisexuality, or even pansexuality (the attraction to someone with no regard for their gender identification). What makes him so interesting here, though, is that he's not in a hurry to declare a label for himself in any way.
Quote #8
"So you're not gay?" I ask, meaning, compared to Link am I enough?
"Not any more than I ever was," James says.
I get that the thing that matters to him is what he can have with somebody. Be it a girl, a boy, a man, or a woman. Right now I am the someone he has. This doesn't make him straight, but it doesn't make him gay either. We leave it unsaid. Not because it is to be avoided, but because it is obvious. (10.33-35)
Ellen gets it, we think, and it's great that she is able to view things from James's perspective. But has she given any thought to whether James likes her because she's so much like Link? And is that important?
Quote #9
Let me guess," James asks. "They're still afraid you're gay."
So that's what it is. Fear. Dad's afraid Link's gay, and Mom's afraid Dad will be or already is handling it badly. It's not that either of them knows. They can't know anything for sure about Link. But the fear is everywhere. I do admire Mom, but I love James for saying clearly and fearlessly what is going on. I look to Link, who does not love clear and fearless speech nearly as much. (14.62-63)
Why is there so much fear involved? Would it really be so bad if Link is gay? And if it is, is that because of what society will do with that information, or are they scared about their own responses? And don't these people know that the only thing they have to fear is fear itself? Rip the band-aid off, already.