Odd thought crossed my mind when I started to write this blurb. I don’t think Gavin’s dad has ever been mentioned before (maybe in Volume 1?). I can’t even recall a time when any readers addressed, “hey, what ever happened to Gavin’s dad?” Well, there you go. The question no one ever asked now has an answer. Surprised?
And now to bombard you with obnoxious links! Go here to order a copy of Rain - Volume 1 today! And then here to vote for "Rain" on TopWebComics!
And if you’re feeling really generous, you can also go here to make a donation to your favorite poor transgendered webcomic artist. Thank you if you do. No hard feelings if you don’t.
But why? I hear people say that, and that's the punchline of jokes all the time, but I just don't understand!
If someone breaks up with you because they realize that they're gay, doesn't that make it sting less? There's a clear reason for the break-up. It's very clearly not the fault of the straight person?
I realize that you have no way to reply to this...and that I wouldn't get it if you do...whatever.
Actually, it doesn't matter if the breakup had a clear reason. She probably loved him, and they had a child together. To find out he was actually gay the entire time would make anyone question how real that love WAS. Even if he really did love her, it wouldn't be the same way she loved him. That could make it even more painful than other divorces. At least in other divorces one person could look at memories and think about what once was; she'll look at her photo album and think, "How much of that was even real?" All of those years, all of it, would feel like a lie.
That happened to my teacher. Their wife grew up in an extremely religious family, and tried so hard to hide it for so long. But she was in a band and ended up having an affair with her band mate... and that was when she decided to come clean.
Okay, I think this story is getting a little bit TOO unbelievable now. Was there any reason for Gavin's father to also be gay in a story with two gay siblings that aren't twins and a trans living next to a crossdresser maybe-also trans and now an asexual? I think we have all demos covered :\
I don't think I follow. It's unbelievable for there to be several LGBT folks in the same town? Some of whom that know each other? I don't know. It's really not as uncommon as you think. You'd be surprised. (And I can most certainly promise you I do not have all demographics covered either.)
ALSO, it's a story that revolves around LGBT themes. What were you expecting?
No, I understand that. Maybe it's just because it's Gavin's father, someone I personally never thought about or cared about hearing their story. If all this turns out to be is "this is why Gavin is okay with LGBT people" then I don't see the point. It's 2012-13, I can completely believe that someone is just okay with gay people just because they are, without having it in their lives previously.
Quite the contrary. Gavin's acceptance towards the LGBT community is virtually an irrelevant part of his dad's character. Rather I wanted to address a sadly very common phenomenon of gay people so ashamed of their sexuality that they marry a member of the opposite sex and have a kid in a desperate attempt to "cure" themselves of it. Happens a lot with transfolk too. And this isn't ONLY about reaching out to a demographic, it's legitimately plot-relevant.
Although, I will admit, having a gay adult male character was probably the only way I was going to get an opportunity to include a "bear" in the roster. So for both story reasons and inclusiveness reasons, I'm very happy I was able to include this character.
In conclusion, I would argue that "unnecessary" is incorrect. I feel this was necessary. And as a writer, I strive to make sure that nothing I do is ever pointless (no matter how much it might initially seem so).
But seriously, I love the composition of the cast. Mostly because in my experience this is what happens, as opposed to the classic cishet group with one token gay.
@Jocelyn I also like that Gavin's dad is a big guy.
I agree. I've far more often been "the token cis straight guy". When it's not just me, usually the others have a bunch of GBLTQA tie ins, and usually at least one is a relative. Sometimes, one or more of these tie ins will be strained or former relations.
Of course, me being the token cis straight guy's hilarious because I'm not. But when I first came out to a limited group of people, everyone immediately started pressuring me to look into transition. When I tried to explain that I didn't actually *want* to transition - sure, I'm not comfortable with my body, but I feel there's a reason for me to be this way - they then accused me of being critical of their choices. Which wasn't at all what I wanted.
I've started coming out of the closet a bit more again, now that the culture seems to be a bit more mature and realizing that everyone has their own path. Some trans people need SRS. Some just need hormone therapy. Some just need to dress so they can look the way they feel they need to look. And a few, like me, don't.
You know, at this point, I can't say for sure how important of a character he's really going to be. But if it comes down to it, and I have to name a job for him, I think I'll make him an Algebra teacher now.
Okay, so many years after the fact, but I'm rereading. It's relevant because remember how Gavin reacted to Rain? He wasn't mad about anything other than the lying. He's a child of a divorce, who had to live through it. His mom seems bitter. And it was about lying.
If someone breaks up with you because they realize that they're gay, doesn't that make it sting less? There's a clear reason for the break-up. It's very clearly not the fault of the straight person?
I realize that you have no way to reply to this...and that I wouldn't get it if you do...whatever.
Who would have guessed it. I figured Gavin's dad was off with someone else but not another guy.
I don't think I follow. It's unbelievable for there to be several LGBT folks in the same town? Some of whom that know each other? I don't know. It's really not as uncommon as you think. You'd be surprised. (And I can most certainly promise you I do not have all demographics covered either.)
ALSO, it's a story that revolves around LGBT themes. What were you expecting?
Unnecessary would have been a better word.
Quite the contrary. Gavin's acceptance towards the LGBT community is virtually an irrelevant part of his dad's character. Rather I wanted to address a sadly very common phenomenon of gay people so ashamed of their sexuality that they marry a member of the opposite sex and have a kid in a desperate attempt to "cure" themselves of it. Happens a lot with transfolk too. And this isn't ONLY about reaching out to a demographic, it's legitimately plot-relevant.
Although, I will admit, having a gay adult male character was probably the only way I was going to get an opportunity to include a "bear" in the roster. So for both story reasons and inclusiveness reasons, I'm very happy I was able to include this character.
In conclusion, I would argue that "unnecessary" is incorrect. I feel this was necessary. And as a writer, I strive to make sure that nothing I do is ever pointless (no matter how much it might initially seem so).
But seriously, I love the composition of the cast. Mostly because in my experience this is what happens, as opposed to the classic cishet group with one token gay.
@Jocelyn I also like that Gavin's dad is a big guy.
Of course, me being the token cis straight guy's hilarious because I'm not. But when I first came out to a limited group of people, everyone immediately started pressuring me to look into transition. When I tried to explain that I didn't actually *want* to transition - sure, I'm not comfortable with my body, but I feel there's a reason for me to be this way - they then accused me of being critical of their choices. Which wasn't at all what I wanted.
I've started coming out of the closet a bit more again, now that the culture seems to be a bit more mature and realizing that everyone has their own path. Some trans people need SRS. Some just need hormone therapy. Some just need to dress so they can look the way they feel they need to look. And a few, like me, don't.
SERIOUSLY! He looks exactly like my algebra teacher!!
Sorry, I forgot to put my name in the post that's above this one XD
You know, at this point, I can't say for sure how important of a character he's really going to be. But if it comes down to it, and I have to name a job for him, I think I'll make him an Algebra teacher now.
Just because of this. ^_^