Otomen, by Aya Kanno

Kanno, Aya. (2009). Otomen. San Francisco: VIZ Media. (Originally published in Japan in 2006).

A multi-volume manga series that may or may not give insights into gay sensibilities among Japanese youth. Here's how an Anime News Network review explains the word "Otomen":

"... 'otomen' is a Japlish pun that combines the Japanese word 'otome' (maiden), with the English word 'men.' A more efficient translation of the title of this romantic comedy ... would be something like 'She-Man.'"

The protagonist is Asuka Masamune, a teenage guy who both loves "girly" things (sewing, knitting, making stuffed animals, etc.) and is a martial arts expert. He seems to have a crush on a female student in his school, which suggests he isn't gay, but another character is a male writer of female manga who thinks Asuka is the ideal manifestation of the female spirit. All this may be inexplicable to a young American reader, which may make it a good example of the social construction of gender and homosexuality. Pete owns a copy. Also available at the SF Public Library.

Out of the Past, by Neil Miller

Miller, Niel. (2006). Out of the Past: Gay and Lesbian History from 1869 to the Present. New York: Alyson Books. 678 pages.

Extensive collection of readings, including historical documents and excerpts from literature. Mostly focused on the United States, with some chapters on European topics, and one chapter on Russia and another on Japan. Includes a two-page piece "The Word Gay," written in the early 1950s ("... certainly by the nineteen-thirites it was the most common word in use among homosexuals themselves" [p. 328].)

Erik owns a copy. Available in the SF Public Library, which also has an earlier edition. We should have at least one copy for teacher use, and if we use enough of the readings we should buy a class set. (Available from Barnes & Noble.)

The Dictionary of Homophobia, by Louis-Georges Tin

Tin, Louis-Georges. (2008). The Dictionary of Homophobia: A Global History of Gay & Lesbian Experience. Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press. Translated by Marek Redburn. Originally published in French in 2003. 495 pages.

Definitely a French and European bias, but also includes articles on other places of the world. An excellent starting point for student research on any topic that it addresses. See pages 22-24 for list of topics.

Available at the SF Public Library. Should keep a copy on hand for classroom reference. Available at Amazon.