Henry Bowers gay?

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AnnaMarie

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Feb 16, 2012
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I always wondered if that was part of the reason for his self-hatred. It certainly was implied in the scene with Patrick Hockstetter. As a gay man myself (but not self-hating, heh), it occurred to me that might be the case. Thoughts?

I completely agree. I always assumed he was gay and hated that about himself. And when a person spends their entire life hating something about themself they are going to be mean and nasty to everyone.
 

carrie's younger brother

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I always wondered if that was part of the reason for his self-hatred. It certainly was implied in the scene with Patrick Hockstetter. As a gay man myself (but not self-hating, heh), it occurred to me that might be the case. Thoughts?
Yes, I too always thought that Henry Bowers was gay. Unfortunately, he's just one in a string of negative gay male characters SK has written. He's been better as of late though.
 

carrie's younger brother

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Splain, please ..
I know my argument will look week because I don't have any concrete examples to give you right now, but much of SK's early writing is populated with peripheral male characters who are either questionably gay or outright gay and the way he writes them is not very nice. They are usually perverts, weak or criminals. Also, words like "f****t" are liberally used in his earlier writings. All I know is that having read SK since pretty much the beginning, there are many times as a gay male I had to cringe at the way he wrote gay males. I will try to find some definite examples, but you'll have to give me time.
 
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GNTLGNT

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I know my argument will look week because I don't have any concrete examples to give you right now, but much of SK's early writing is populated with peripheral male characters who are either questionably gay or outright gay and the way he writes them is not very nice. They are usually perverts, weak or criminals. Also, words like "f****t" are liberally used in his earlier writings. All I know is that having read SK since pretty much the beginning, there are many times as a gay male I had to cringe at the way he wrote gay males. I will try to find some definite examples, but you'll have to give me time.
-Bill McGovern in Insomnia
-
Uncle Tommy in The Talisman
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Tom McCourt in Cell...to name but a few, and King seems to have been less harsh and more supportive of lesbian characters in his writings...possibly due to his daughter being gay?...kinda curious if he will incorporate a transgender/transsexual in any way, shape or form as a lead character...
 

carrie's younger brother

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-Bill McGovern in Insomnia
-
Uncle Tommy in The Talisman
-
Tom McCourt in Cell...to name but a few, and King seems to have been less harsh and more supportive of lesbian characters in his writings...possibly due to his daughter being gay?...kinda curious if he will incorporate a transgender/transsexual in any way, shape or form as a lead character...
Thanks GNT. It's been my personal experience (and it no way am I saying this is a universal truth) that straight men are more comfortable with lesbians since they pose no "threat" to them.

And just to be clear, SK has written favorable gay male characters. Again, it's just been my personal experience that much of his earlier writing was peppered with negative gay stereotypes and derogatory language towards gays. I'm still with SK almost 40 years after I first read him, so obviously I am able to distance myself from it.
 
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Thanks GNT. It's been my personal experience (and it no way am I saying this is a universal truth) that straight men are more comfortable with lesbians since they pose no "threat" to them.

LOL, I don't think the idea of lesbians posing a threat even occurs to most men. I will never understand why straight men are turned on by girl on girl action :)
 

Walter Oobleck

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I think arguing that Henry is gay based on the evidence in the book is like arguing that President Obama is a Republican because he was recently voted/found/polled fiscally responsible. I think Henry's self-hatred lies in the analogy of the branch...as it is bent so shall it grow. Some places are colder than others.
 

kingricefan

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Thanks GNT. It's been my personal experience (and it no way am I saying this is a universal truth) that straight men are more comfortable with lesbians since they pose no "threat" to them.

And just to be clear, SK has written favorable gay male characters. Again, it's just been my personal experience that much of his earlier writing was peppered with negative gay stereotypes and derogatory language towards gays. I'm still with SK almost 40 years after I first read him, so obviously I am able to distance myself from it.
As you may know, we share the same sexual preference. I also used to feel like you did/are, but at least 15 years ago I realized that King uses his writings as a mirror to reflect on our society. When he wrote those earlier books he was using them to reflect what our society's morals/mindset were. Gay folk were not looked upon very positively or compassionately 'back in the day'. I honestly don't think that King has any type of maliciousness in him that is directed towards gays or lesbians, etc. Maybe he did 'back in the day', and if he did it was because of where/when he grew up but I think, if he ever did, he has become more mature and open minded and worldly in the last 20 years.
 

HollyGolightly

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LOL, I don't think the idea of lesbians posing a threat even occurs to most men. I will never understand why straight men are turned on by girl on girl action :)
4 boobs are better than 2 boobs, that's all.

I'm very much like you - I thought I was dating someone in college - we went everywhere together, had the best time, I thought he was just taking it slow. And then he kissed his boyfriend in front of me and introduced him. Classic. How'd I miss that?
 

kingricefan

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4 boobs are better than 2 boobs, that's all.

I'm very much like you - I thought I was dating someone in college - we went everywhere together, had the best time, I thought he was just taking it slow. And then he kissed his boyfriend in front of me and introduced him. Classic. How'd I miss that?
:lol: Sorry, not to make light of your pain you must have felt then, but this is funny! Do you still see him around town?
 

HollyGolightly

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:lol: Sorry, not to make light of your pain you must have felt then, but this is funny! Do you still see him around town?
We were friends for a long time after that - he was very kind about my humiliation - it was only a couple weeks into my infatuation when I learned. But they moved away and I got married and had kids- it was about 25 years ago. It was funny - I thought I finally had a real gentleman - and I kind of did. Just in a different way. :love_heart:
 

kingricefan

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We were friends for a long time after that - he was very kind about my humiliation - it was only a couple weeks into my infatuation when I learned. But they moved away and I got married and had kids- it was about 25 years ago. It was funny - I thought I finally had a real gentleman - and I kind of did. Just in a different way. :love_heart:
Have you tried looking him up on Facebook? Maybe you could rekindle a special friendship with him?
 

carrie's younger brother

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As you may know, we share the same sexual preference. I also used to feel like you did/are, but at least 15 years ago I realized that King uses his writings as a mirror to reflect on our society. When he wrote those earlier books he was using them to reflect what our society's morals/mindset were. Gay folk were not looked upon very positively or compassionately 'back in the day'. I honestly don't think that King has any type of maliciousness in him that is directed towards gays or lesbians, etc. Maybe he did 'back in the day', and if he did it was because of where/when he grew up but I think, if he ever did, he has become more mature and open minded and worldly in the last 20 years.
I respect that and of course my rational mind knows "he was using [the negative gay characters] to reflect what our society's morals/mindset were" but Anne Rice started publishing around the same time as SK and while many of her gay male characters are bloodsucking, murdering vampires, at least they are portrayed affectionately. :rolleyes:
 

kingricefan

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Jul 11, 2006
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I respect that and of course my rational mind knows "he was using [the negative gay characters] to reflect what our society's morals/mindset were" but Anne Rice started publishing around the same time as SK and while many of her gay male characters are bloodsucking, murdering vampires, at least they are portrayed affectionately. :rolleyes:
This is true. When Anne wrote Interview With The Vampire she had been living in the San Fransisco area for quite some time, thus being exposed to the gay counter-culture that was prospering there at that time. She was also trying to shed the 'shackles' of her religious upbringing. She has always been a rebel in life. She has had a very different background than King has had. She also has a gay son, Christopher, who is a fine writer in his own regard. I don't think she could have written as many of the vampire novels as she has without portraying them affectionately.