Last night was the first meeting of my Reader Advisory class. I've been looking forward to teaching this class for almost a year now, so I was almost giddy with excitement by the time 5:00 p.m. rolled around and I could make my way over to the college. I have a great group this quarter, so I know we are going to have some interesting and lively discussions.

One topic came up after class, and I've thinking been thinking about it ever since: In fiction today, where are all the gay best friends (GBFs)? We see lots of examples of female main characters being supported by their female friends, particularly a large group of female friends. But what about the GBF? We've all got one hidden in a closet somewhere. Why aren't we seeing them represented in fiction?

Thinking back, only one book stands out in my mind as having a female lead with a GBF, and that was Jinxed by Beth Ciotta. That book stands out not only because it features Afia and her GBF Rudy, but because it also has a secondary plot/romance between Rudy and Jean Pierre (Afia's back-up GBF). The author continued the story arc about Rudy and JP in her follow up novel, Charmed, and will complete it in her next book, Seduced. In Charmed Rudy and JP are close (not quite best friends) with the lead character, and I expect that their friendship with the heroine of Seduced will be just as front and center.

Hmm. Still racking my brain for other examples of the GBF. In MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series Betsy does have a gay friend, but he's not really her GBF. Other than that, I'm coming up empty. Anyone out there have another example? Straight women of America are waiting for fictional representations of their GBFs.

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