Why We Need a (Gay) Superhero

This past spring, when looking for a YA novel to fit the GLBTQ genre, I was quite honestly overwhelmed with the list of really good choices. I went to the Stonewall Awards list from the ALA and the Lambda Literary Awards, too.

I would look titles up on amazon and then see where the “you might like” links too me . . . it was a really tough decision. I was torn between some titles, including Perry Moore’s Hero.

Ultimately, I went with The God Box by Alex Sanchez. In the book, Manuel, who is openly gay, pulls Bible verses that show that God and Jesus did not outright say homosexuality is a sin. I hoped my students would like the book, and they did.

However, still interested in Hero, I broke down and bought it (although I have 100+ books I have paid for and not yet read) and LOVED it.

Here’s the summary from Moore’s website:

Thom Creed is used to being on his own. Even as a high school basketball star, he has to keep his distance because of his father. Hal Creed had once been one of the greatest and most beloved superheroes of The League-until the Wilson Towers incident. After that Thom's mother disappeared and his proud father became an outcast.

The last thing in the world Thom would ever want is to disappoint his father. So Thom keeps two secrets from him: First is that he's gay. The second is that he has the power to heal people. Initially, Thom had trouble controlling his powers. But with trial and error he improves, until he gets so good that he catches the attention of the League and is asked to join. Even though he knows it would kill his dad, Thom can't resist. When he joins the League, he meets a motley crew of other heroes, including tough-talking Scarlett, who has the power of fire from growing up near a nuclear power plant; Typhoid Larry, who makes everyone sick by touching them, but is actually a really sweet guy; and wise Ruth, who has the power to see the future. Together these unlikely heroes become friends and begin to uncover a plot to kill the superheroes. Along the way, Thom falls in love, and discovers the difficult truth about his parents' past.

What a great, and might I say, much needed concept and what a complex book to use with students. What I loved most about the book is that the main focus is not that the main character is gay (although I think it is very important that he is) but the emphasis on keeping secrets (can secrets also be lies?) and how that impacts the people around us. Thom has his secrets; so does his dad; so does his mom (what a way Moore introduces her later in the book). Those around him, the other heroes, all have their secrets too. Eventually, the secrets have to come out, but there is a price. Yet, in the end, what Thom feared most (and he had good reason to because of the prejudice and threats), that being gay would ruin him with not only his father but the public, never happened. We need (gay) heroes like Thom Creed for our students, especially those who are GLBTQ. Judging by how many times I still hear “that’s so gay” or “homo” or “faggot” in school hallways, GLBTQ kids must not feel like the heroes they are.

There are many opportunities for discussion with this book and I encourage you to read it for yourself. On a side note, started after he read about how women were treated (abused and killed off) in comics, on his website, Moore has compiled a list of gay comic book heroes!!!