For Pride Month, I decided to give Mike Curato’s new graphic novel “Gaysians” a shot. Gaysians? The title is fucking hysterical and the cover’s artwork caught my eye. How could I pass up a book that’s a tongue-in-cheek gay nod to Amy Tan’s “The Joy Luck Club” with a little “Sex And The City” and “The Golden Girls” thrown in.
I also couldn’t pass up buying a ticket to the book signing, before realizing it was really a party with food, drinks, karaoke, friends of the author and industry people who helped get the book made. Hell, I don’t even attend parties I’m invited to, so this felt like I was crashing a gay wedding. To put the cherry on top (or bottom, whatever your prefernce) of my social anxiety sundae, the event was held at a church. I spent almost an hour sitting in a pew waiting for either the book signing to start or to be ended by a bolt of lightening.
Once the event started, it was fun hearing Mike talk about the process of creating the book and the inspirations behind it, along with a slide show. The best part was that folks were too busy eating, drinking and putting in their karaoke selections to get in line. So I was out of there within minutes of getting my book signed and convincing the book seller to leave her station long enough to take a pic for me.
“Gaysians” is the semi-autobiographical story of gaybie AJ’s arrival in Seattle in 2003 and the chosen family he forms with drag queen K, leather daddy John and free-spirited Steven. There are many story lines going on but they weave together masterfully. The story has sweet and funny moments but most importantly, it tries to instill a sense of community in the Asian rainbow community. I was bothered by the anti-Asian discrimination during the pandemic, but this book shines a light on the stereotypes and racism Asians live with daily.
Being someone who doesn’t read graphic novels, “Gaysians” imagery is beautiful and uses colors and shading to create emotions when there is no text. I’m a sucker for bright and shiny objects, so my favorite frames involve the drag shows at the gay bars, where the most color is on display. “Gaysians” might have even converted me to believe that graphic novels are more than just adult comic books.
In my gay opinion, “Gaysians” is a must read for any Asian person on the rainbow spectrum, you will be seen. However, I also believe it should be read by anyone who likes graphic novels with a rainbow theme or someone like me who doesn’t really do the graphic novel thing but enjoys pretty things with a rainbow twist that will make you think, laugh and maybe get a bit teary by the end.
