The eNotes Blog Where the Queer Charactersat

Where the Queer Charactersat Im a character-driven reader: its the characters that suck me into the plot and make me want to keep turning the pages.   I especially love finding characters who resemble me in some way, from hair texture to musical inclinations. But what happens when you almost never see a key component of your identity mirrored in the characters you love? I identify as bisexual, and I want to know where the queer characters are in mainstream literature. To be clear, Im not talking about the characters you find in the LGBTQ+ section of the bookstore. I hate browsing in that section and feeling that I have to seek out these characters, and that when I do their narratives are only focused on their sexual orientation or gender identity.   I just want queer characters to exist organically in the books read by the mainstream public. In honor of Pride Month coming to a close I have composed a list my favorite books with LGBTQ+ characters, spanning several genres and each presenting a unique view of what it means to be LGBTQ+. Happy reading! *Warning:  all of these pieces of literature contain adult themes and content* 1.  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson A dark and disturbing mystery, The  Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a fantastic read that keeps the reader on the edge of his or her seat. One of the main characters is  Lisbeth Salander, an abrasive and unapologetic bisexual. What I like about her role in the novel is that her sexual orientation  isnt treated as a big deal (although it does play a role in subsequent novels). Salander simply does who she wants, when she wants, without Larsson making it a main plot point. 2. The Best Little Boy in the World by Andrew Tobias The Best Little Boy in the World is an oldie but goodie, a classic coming-out story. I really enjoy the honesty of this memoir. Tobias, originally writing under the pen name  John Reid, details discovering his sexuality without resorting to sensationalism. He quietly proves his point: gay people are just like everyone else. 3. Iron Council by  China Mià ©ville Iron Council  is a peculiar hybrid of western, steampunk, and fantasy genres. Much like the protagonist in  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the main character in Mià ©villes novel is  unobtrusively bisexual. This novel is a prime example of an LGBTQ+ character merely existing in literature; there is no fuss or hullabaloo because the character defies heteronormativity. 4.  Rubyfruit Jungle by  Rita Mae Brown Rubyfruit Jungle is another coming of age/out story. However, unlike The Best Little Boy in the World, it is told from the point of view of a lesbian. Although problematic in some of its portrayal of the lesbian community and its sub-sects, the novel is an important read as it paved the way for other lesbian coming-out stories. This list goes out to all the questioning readers who want to find themselves in literature.

Interesting Facts About Asian Americans

Interesting Facts About Asian Americans The United States has recognized May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month since 1992. In honor of the cultural observance, the U.S. Census Bureau has compiled a series of facts about the Asian American community. How much do you know about the diverse groups that make up this community? Test your knowledge with federal government statistics that bring the Asian American population into focus.​ Asians Across America Asian Americans make up 17.3 million, or 5.6 percent, of the U.S. population. Most Asian Americans reside in California, home to 5.6 million of this racial group. New York comes in next with 1.6 million Asian Americans. Hawaii, however, has the largest share of Asian Americans- 57 percent. The Asian American growth rate was higher than any other racial group from 2000 to 2010, according to the census. During that time, the Asian American population grew by 46 percent. Diversity in Numbers A wide range of ethnic groups makes up the Asian-Pacific American population. Chinese Americans stand out as the largest Asian ethnic group in the U.S with a population of 3.8 million. Filipinos come in second with 3.4 million. Indians (3.2 million), Vietnamese (1.7 million), Koreans (1.7 million) and Japanese (1.3 million) round out the major Asian ethnic groups in the U.S. Asian languages spoken in the U.S. mirror this trend. Nearly 3 million Americans speak Chinese (second to Spanish as the most popular non-English language in the U.S.). More than 1 million Americans speak Tagalog, Vietnamese and Korean, according to the census. Wealth Among Asian-Pacific Americans Household income among the Asian-Pacific American community varies widely. On average, those who identify as Asian American take in $67,022 yearly. But the Census Bureau found that income rates depend on the Asian group in question. While Indian Americans have a household income of $90,711, Bangladeshis bring in significantly less- $48,471 yearly. Moreover, those Americans who identify specifically as Pacific Islanders have household incomes of $52,776. Poverty rates also vary. The Asian American poverty rate is 12 percent, while the Pacific Islander poverty rate is 18.8 percent. Educational Attainment Among the APA Population An analysis of educational attainment among the Asian-Pacific American population reveals intra-racial disparities as well. While there’s no major difference between Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in high school graduation rates- 85 percent of the former and 87 percent of the latter have high school diplomas- there’s a huge gap in college graduation rates. Fifty percent of Asian Americans age 25 and up have graduated from college, nearly double the U.S. average of 28 percent. However, just 15 percent of Pacific Islanders have bachelor’s degrees. Asian Americans also outpace the general U.S. population and Pacific Islanders where graduate degrees are concerned. Twenty percent of Asian Americans age 25 and up have graduate degrees, compared to 10 percent of the general U.S. population and just four percent of Pacific Islanders. Advances in Business Both Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made headway in the business sector in recent years. Asian Americans owned 1.5 million U.S. businesses in 2007, a 40.4 percent rise from 2002. The number of businesses owned by Pacific Islanders also grew. In 2007, this population owned 37,687 businesses, a jump of 30.2 percent from 2002. Hawaii boasts the largest percentage of businesses started by people of both Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage. Hawaii is home to 47 percent of businesses owned by Asian Americans and nine percent of business owned by Pacific Islanders. Military Service Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders both have a long history of serving in the military. Historians have noted their exemplary service during World War II, when individuals of Japanese American heritage were vilified after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Today, there are 265,200 Asian American military veterans, a third of whom are age 65 and up. There are currently 27,800 military veterans of Pacific Islander background. Approximately 20 percent of such veterans are 65 and up. These numbers reveal that while Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have historically served in the armed forces, younger generations of the APA community continue to fight for their country.