Flamer

The 1990s were a critical time for gay rights. Despite small progresses being made through the 1980s, LGBTQ individuals still faced rampant hate crimes, job discrimination, and social exclusion. It was also a period of increased activism, as many members of the LGBTQ community began to realize and campaign for the same rights as everyone else. However, this triggered a wave of backlash and resistance, as much of America was not ready for a societal shift. For this reason, while gay rights became a predominant part of political discourse in the 1990s, they would not be fully realized for another 20 years.

It was a moment of hope and activism, but also fierce and violent opposition. This is most evident in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that was implemented in the US military in 1993. Prior to the policy’s implementation, LGTBQ individuals were prohibited from joining the military based on the belief it would cause problems and hurt morale. President Bill Clinton sought to rectify this with the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which would revoke the prohibition. However, he was met with stiff resistance, and as a compromise, made it so that while LGTBQ Americans were permitted to serve, gay activity remained banned, and LGTBQ individuals would be forced to keep their sexual identities hidden. This meant that LGTBQ members of the military had to continue living their lives in secret. The policy also did little to change the attitudes of commanding officers and led to the discharge of thousands of LGTBQ military members.

This historical context manifests in the novel, such as in the prejudice that pervades life at school and at camp. Many of the characters use slurs and make anti-gay jokes. Sometimes these are directly aimed at Aiden, but often they are just a casual part of conversation, one that Aiden is nonetheless subjected to.

The novel depicts a type of Systemic Discrimination in the vein of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and explores the impact these types of policies have on LGTBQ individuals. Toward the end of the text, Ted—Aiden’s favorite Scout leader, who happens to be gay—is outed by another leader who reads his mail, and Ted is fired as a result. This comes at a crucial moment. Aiden is in crisis, and this devastating blow contributes to his suicidal ideation. He already feels isolated, hated, and excluded. Learning that it is literally against the law for someone like him to work for the Boy Scouts—a community that has provided him with a rare sense of belonging at times—pushes him over the edge.

The text also captures the sense of hope and optimism that emerged in the 1990s. A couple of Aiden’s friends are accepting of him by the end of the novel, suggesting that attitudes are changing. Most importantly, the novel revolves around Aiden’s battle for Self-Acceptance in the face of hatred and discrimination, and ultimately ends with his realization that his self-worth and value cannot be determined by what other people think.