And while, on one level, the book is a wild (if at times problematic) window into an era of gay culture 40 years in the past, it also felt like it had a lot to say about gay culture today. Yet, when AIDS hit a few years later, the same words of warning sounded almost prophetic.
Upon publication, Faggots was dismissed by many as puritanical and self-loathing for its criticism of gay men's obsession with vanity, promiscuity and recreational drug use. We have the ultimate in freedom – we have absolutely no responsibilities! – and we're abusing it. Following a man in his late 30s (based on Kramer himself) who is seeking out a loving, long-term relationship in a sea of hedonism, the novel has a clear message: gay men need to start loving each other instead of being so obsessed with getting fucked up and (literally and figuratively) fucking each other. I spent a few quiet afternoons reading his 1978 debut novel Faggots, a satirical (yet clearly autobiographical) look at the lives of gay men in 1970s New York City that he wrote just before AIDS made him a figurehead of American activism. However, the ghost of Larry Kramer very much remained in my own head as I made my way through a Pride month unlike any other.
If you’re reading this, we’re going to assume you know what a meme is. Clueless straight people What are gay memes?
Whenever a pop diva does something wild or a hσmσphσbic politician embarrasses themselves, it creates a whole new set of memes like coal turns to diamonds!Ģ4. After all, we experience the world a lot differently than our straight peers, so naturally, we have our own brand of humor that gets put into gay memes. And that especially can be found in the gay groups online. Sharing funny memes has become a vital part of how friends and strangers communicate online. Wouldn’t the Internet be a dark, scary place if it weren’t for memes? And yet, it's still a place of love, acceptance, and inclusivity – where people of marginalized groups can find each other and make connections. “Check this one out!” Seby called out holding up his phone to show off a picture of SpongeBob SquarePants holding up his limp wrist with a caption, “Is he…you know?”…Cue both of us giggling like schoolgirls. It was 4am, and here we are, the two of us on our phones, scrolling through our Twitter and Instagram feeds, chuckling away at hilarious gay memes.