Novelist S.E. Hinton spent Monday night rebuffing fans who questioned the sexuality of her characters in her iconic young adult novel The Outsiders.
What began as Hinton responding to a fan who wondered whether there is anything romantic between characters Johnny and Dallas quickly escalated into an online debate over the characters’ sexuality.
Hinton first responded to Twitter user VVAnn‘s question by asking for text to support an interpretation of same-sex attraction between Johnny and Dallas. Hinton then rebuked the user for saying a same-sex relationship in her book would be “cute.” Wrote Hinton, “ask someone in the ’60’s how “cute” it was to be gay.
. I have many friends I love & do not want to sleep with.”
No. Where is the text backing this?
— S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 17, 2016
ask someone in the '60's how "cute" it was to be gay.
. I have many friends I love & do not want to sleep with.— S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 17, 2016
also, you said I was a little girl, and I'm in high school. And I was just asking a question, don't get so salty
— VVAnn (@MrCadeWinston) October 18, 2016
Hinton couldn’t seem to let go of the “cute” remark as others began to weigh in.
Hinton also said that calling a gay relationship cute is “insulting” to LGBT people and not a thought an “adult” would have.
why should they? Back it up with text. idea that it's "cute" is insulting to LGBT people.I hope that is literally enough 4 U
— S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016
Oh, I think it would be cute is not coming from an adult.
— S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016
Of the backlash she began to receive, Hinton responded, “I have no problem with anyone being gay. Long time supporter of LGBT rights.have a problem with little girls thinking my characters are gay.”
This comment received some rather predictable backlash, to which Hinton responded thusly:
Hinton also said, “I have many gay friends. If you ask me if my characters are gay I will tell you they are not. It is not homophobic.”
I have many gay friends. If you ask me if my characters are gay I will tell you they are not. It is not homophobic. https://t.co/OTzEXkPnvv
— S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016
Hinton then changed tacks by saying she accepts other interpretations of the text while maintaining that there exist no queer narratives within it.
I am not stopping them. If they ask me if I wrote the characters that way I will say no, I did not.
— S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016
I said I did not write the characters that way. I apologize for nothing. https://t.co/pjfagS2P7i
— S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016
Think what you wish. I am not the thought police.
I did not write them that way,— S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016
I have no problem with interpretation. But (can't believe I am still saying this) I did not write the characters as gay.
— S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016
Hinton told one Twitter user that gay kids can “identify” with The Outsiders without the characters in the novel being gay.
Young gay kids can identify with the book without me saying the characters are gay.
I never ever set out to make anyone feel safe. https://t.co/mLO8jYturY— S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016
Hinton seemed to suggest that because she did not know any LGBT people when she wrote the book, she could not have created LGBT characters. “I wrote the Outsiders when I was in high school in 1965,” Hinton said. “I did not know any LGBT people. I did know plenty of guys.”
I wrote the Outsiders when I was in high school in 1965. I did not know any LGBT people. I did know plenty of guys. https://t.co/8NDcmF53jc
— S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016
In defense of her characters’ heterosexuality she added, “Dallas was a womanizer. Johnny got excited when 2 Soc girls asked him to sit with them.”
Dallas was a womanizer. Johnny got excited when 2 Soc girls asked him to sit with them. So, yeah, technically I did. https://t.co/8NDcmF53jc
— S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016
Hinton began blocking users who engaged in conintuous back-and-forths with her on Twitter and whose responses she seemingly disapproved of.
[h/t ONTD]
