This Book is Gay

How do the illustrations by Spike Gerrell shape the contents and meaning of Dawson’s writing? Cite specific examples and explore how they change the surrounding text.

Would the tone and content of the book be different if it were illustrated by another artist? Choose another illustrated book and explore how specific moments in This Book Is Gay would be different if illustrated by that artist.

What advantage does Dawson’s survey give to her writing? How does it shape her authority and legitimacy as an expert on the topics at hand?

Dawson uses lots of similes and metaphors to explain complex topics, such as likening identities to hats or coming out to a butterfly’s metamorphosis. Which simile or metaphor helped you understand a particular concept or idea? How did it help?

How did Dawson’s presentation of the chapter’s materials help you understand its key concepts? You can include rhetorical strategies like stylized text, tone, and illustrations.

Why does Dawson include Chapter 3 despite not being persuaded by scientific explanations for LGBTQ+ identity? What are some common anti-LGBTQ+ arguments that she might be trying to debunk with this chapter?

Find an organization that Dawson lists within the “Helpful Numbers” section and research the organization. What does this organization do? How do they help LGBTQ+ people? Why might Dawson have included them?

This Book Is Gay is often criticized for excluding transgender experiences when discussing LGBTQ+ community life. Why might that be? Cite a specific passage and analyze how Dawson’s framing can be exclusionary to people who are not cisgender. Can this passage be rewritten to be more inclusive?