Young people sometimes ask what it was like “before.” This is where Seh Goodnight’s journey begins, in a world of cis-gendered gay and bisexual guys, a large, active subculture before gay activism arose, before AIDS, before Pride, before the emergence of lgbt+.
In Stupid Old Man, set in the mid-1960s, Uncle John and Candy are handsome “room mates” living together in the same closet. Seh, captivated by Candy’s flirting, imagines their lifestyle for himself, perhaps his first realization that he is gay. In Pop Songs, he fantasizes about the perfect boyfriend who hasn’t yet materialized, and later in the same story, reminisces with another 60s classic soundtrack about the perfect one who did show up, however briefly.
As Seh’s gay world evolves, frequent casual sex becomes almost a requirement, often delightful and sometimes dangerous, as he discovers in a “hippy love nest” in Barry in Absentia and in the creepy Hôtel des Anges. In She’s Making Pancakes, gay clubs and hookup bars have appeared. Slave masters have dungeons in their suburban basements. Cliff and Rico do manage to maintain a long-term relationship, although one wonders how, in Happy New Year!, where we also meet the adorable gay-but-not-quite-out-yet pupcake, sweet Brian Sweet.
Seh’s gay world has its not-so-gay side as well. In David Starr and The Fallen Seh’s friend, David, is a victim of horrific religious persecution. Internalized homophobia is central to Gone to Mars, where Seh has a frustrating relationship with a mysterious bisexual hunk and an anonymous, closeted telephone caller. Then there is bi-curious Eward in Blueberry Fields, and the sexually-active Arthur who doesn’t realize he is dead. But Arthur does get a happy ending, just not the kind he had in mind!
Seh’s gay world has its not-so-gay side as well. In David Starr and The Fallen Seh’s friend, David, is a victim of horrific religious persecution. Internalized homophobia is central to Gone to Mars, where Seh has a frustrating relationship with a mysterious bisexual hunk and an anonymous, closeted telephone caller. Then there is bi-curious Eward in Blueberry Fields, and the sexually-active Arthur who doesn’t realize he is dead. But Arthur does get a happy ending, just not the kind he had in mind!
