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Entertainment Expert: 'I'm biased toward gay male authors - is that wrong?'

Q: As an accomplished author yourself and a person not afraid to express his own opinion, what’s your take on the seemingly proliferation of female writers writing gay fiction – especially erotic gay fiction? Personally, I’ve read a few (albeit without realizing the author was female) and in a very few cases, I’ve read follow-up stories by the same author.

Usually, if the book is so-so, I’ve dropped anything else by the (female) author from future consideration. I have to be honest, in cases where the author is male, I’m more inclined to give him a second chance after a so-so read. I realize a lot of people will consider me sexist in my reading habits, but I don’t really care. Am I alone in my thinking? – Michael, Alexandria VA

A: What have I ever written that gives you the impression I’m not afraid to express my opinions?

Okay, so maybe I do occasionally display opinion-diarrhea.

Speaking of which, I was all set to write, “The gender of an author is irrelevant! All that matters is the quality and truthfulness of the book, which should be judged entirely independent of the artist!”

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized this isn’t really true. Often my enjoyment of a novel depends on a feeling that I can relate to the author (and not just the characters). I can certainly relate to women, but everything being equal? I probably relate to gay men more. So just as you suggest, books by gay authors probably do get a little more “goodwill” from me.

Is this “sexist”? I don’t even think it comes close to rising to that level. Michael, I think you and I have preferences, just like every single human on earth. We gravitate to authors and books we relate to, for reasons both conscious and unconscious.

Is this “fair”? I admit it’s totally not. Then again, it’s not fair to Cameron Diaz that I prefer watching a movie with Julianne Moore.

Bret Hartinger is a contributor to the gay entertainment site AfterElton.com and a Young Adult novelist.

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