How could straight women feel that they have the authority to write gay romance? Because they’ve been told so by a culture that has long treated gay men as a neutered, fetishized object of curiosity. I may not be a gay man, but I know appropriation when I see it. The first time I noticed this, I flipped the book over in my hands, back and forth, looking at the ultra-gay cover art, and then the author’s photo on the back. Straight, white women who, in their “about the author” sections, talked about their husbands, children, cats, chickens, and love of artisanal cured meats.
![hot gay men love hot gay men love](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/7d/0b/94/7d0b94bd1a2e5e7d1ff1f68cf0567a93.jpg)
The vast majority of gay romances are written by women. I was surprised to find that some LGBTQ-focused stories were reflecting not me, but a straight person’s imagination of me. But I was surprised to find that some LGBTQ-focused stories were reflecting not me, but a straight person’s imagination of me. As a queer, trans reader, I looked forward to seeing myself in their pages. But outside the industry, these distinctions are elided, and most people think of all male-male romance novels as “gay.”) I was excited to see more indie presses focusing on LGBTQ stories and choosing romances that were complex, interesting, and dealt with issues like domestic violence or adoption.
![hot gay men love hot gay men love](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/08/1a/bf/081abff03b7f99c4f33be8318815e750.jpg)
(Technically what I’m talking about is called “male/male romance” “gay romance” is written by gay men for gay men, may not focus on a romantic relationship, and doesn’t guarantee a happily-ever-after.
![hot gay men love hot gay men love](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e6/0d/d3/e60dd335abba76389039af4aed4be88d.jpg)
When I started working as a book reviewer in 2009, gay romance was exploding as a popular romance genre. In gay romance novels, it’s both, and straight women writers are responsible. So often, though, for queer people, the options are either super whitewashed or rooted in hurtful stereotypes. Seeing yourself, whether it’s on the screen or on the page, is a powerful experience. Sign up for our newsletter to get submission announcements and stay on top of our best work.