Although it is now July and a few days passed the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Pride is important all year. There is a lot to be happy about and proud of regarding the success of the gay rights movement. Not only in the West but also in some countries in Asia, Africa and South America there has been either marriage equality (like in Argentina, Columbia, Taiwan and South Africa) but also the lessening of the criminalization of homosexuality (like in Botswana). There are still many hurdles to overcome but much progress has been made. And in that vein, I think it’s important that remember that because of the continued obstacles, the envelope needs to continue to be pushed toward more equality. For LBGT+ writers, like myself, who often writes fiction with non-heterosexual characters this means that we should continue write challenging stories that make readers think about not only what it means to be LGBT+ but also to think about life, love, the present, the future differently. It’s important to write stories, even romances, that deal with the whole person, not just a person’s sexuality and who they are in love with at a particular moment in their lives. For LGBT+ people to continue to move forward we should strive to tell stories about all aspects of our lives and our communities, the good, the great and not so great parts, so others can see the fullness of our lives and how our lives can be as simple or as complicated as anyone else’s. In a previous post, Andy Gallo mentioned that there was generally increased acceptance of different sexualities among younger generations. With so many people from journalists, politicians, athletes, musical performers, and other celebrities now living openly there is a lot more acceptance in society for LBGT+ people. Yet we must always remember this is all a very new phenomena. There was a women’s rights movement in the 1800’s but there is still much misogyny today. The gains of the Civil Rights movement for Black equality in the US in the 1960’s are being challenged today, over 50 years later. We should not forget that for generations there was no such thing as gay rights. Therefore in our lives and writing we should not rest on any laurels and continue to move to a better place.
A hustler’s life drastically changes after he enters a homeless shelter.
Book Title: A Soul Unbroken
Author: A.D. Britten
Publisher: Self-Published
Original Release Date: May 26, 2019 – Recently re-edited
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Length: 412 pages
It is a standalone book
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
Blurb
Joey Christopher has never had an easy life, but living with Allen made everything better. His mere presence made Joey happy and made life seem more manageable despite Allen’s serious faults. However, when Allen is arrested during a drug bust Joey must learn to live on his own for the first time. He even spends some time in a homeless shelter, while he does everything possible to get Allen home to return to the life they once lived only better.
For the rest of that day Joey told himself that he wouldn’t go to Gary’s party; he couldn’t go. He meant to take the card out and tear it up before leaving work, but forgot. When he got home later that night he meant to take it out and rip it up, but he was so tired that he just got ready for bed and went to sleep. The end of the week came and the card was still there in his jeans pocket. He happened to wear the same pair of jeans that Friday that he had worn on the day of Gary’s visit. Joey took a deep breath as the last customer left and he went through the store rearranging misplaced books on the shelf and tidying up the store. At around 5:30pm, Mr. Griffin came out of his office and told Joey that he could go home early. He would finish up.
The next day was going to be busy with another book signing and Joey was going to be the only person that morning. The older woman who had worked there last time, Mr. Griffin’s cousin, could not make it there until later in the day.
So Joey left the store and told himself he was going home and he meant to go home. But somehow he found himself at 7 pm standing on Gary’s porch, one of the first to arrive at his party. He lived at the same address he always had. As soon as Gary looked through the peephole and saw Joey standing at his door, he opened it and invited him in.
Joey, looking a little uncertain, walked in. He had not taken two steps when Gary drew him close and planted a long and ardent kiss on his lips. Joey was surprised by it but didn’t resist. It had been so long that although he was never deeply attracted to Gary, he relished the feeling. “It’s been a long time, Joey,” Gary said afterwards. Joey wanted the kiss to continue, against his better judgement, but Gary’s attention turned to the room. It was then that he noticed some of the familiar faces in the living room and kitchen, all people from Gary’s small publishing house.
“Hi, how are you?” Madeline said smiling. She was sitting at the dining table with a few other people, a man and a woman, with whom she had been talking. She raised a glass of wine to Joey, having recognized him from the earlier party. Joey wanted to melt. He suddenly realized that it had been a long time since he’d had any alcohol. Why on earth was he being so celibate about everything now? He asked Gary for a glass of wine, which he dutifully poured for him, until a previously unseen large, fluffy, gray cat hopped up on the table, spilling the bottle in the process.
“Awwwww!” Madeline said, standing up to avoid the spill. “Silly cat!”
Gary went to the kitchen to get some paper towels.
Joey stood there, a little stunned. “You have a cat?” he asked.
“Yes, what’s wrong? Are you allergic?” Gary asked concerned.
“No,” Joey replied. “You just don’t seem the cat type.”
“Well, he’s the last remains of Hollis, an old boyfriend,” Gary said with a slight weariness to his voice.
Madeline picked up the now mostly empty wine bottle and went to the sideboard to replace it, while Gary and another guest continued to clean up the mess. “I told you, you should’ve gotten rid of him,” Madeline playfully chastised. “As soon as he was gone, that cat should have been gone too. Why keep memories of Hollis around anyway? You’re over him now, or so you say.”
Gary just smiled at Joey as he got up from the floor, threw away the red, wet paper towels and took Joey by the hand, leading him to the back of the house where Gary’s bedroom was.
A.D. Britten is a published author of various short stories, articles, and two novels.
Author Links
Blog/Website | Twitter: @ADBritten1
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