Teh Gay Count: "The quarterback buggering the linebacker?" or, OUT OF THE POCKET

So I got this book from Molly, who likes to turn over teh gay books to me (not that she couldn't read them; just that she knows I like to keep my lesbian thumb on the queer pulse of gay literature).

Quick summary: Bobby, a senior at a southern Cali high school, serves as the star quarterback on his football team, and he has just started to deal with the fact that he's gay. Should he come out? Should he tell his best friend? Should he trust his secret to the reporter at the school paper who needs a big scoop in order to secure said reporter's place at Stanford? (Sorry, a bit of foreshadowing there. If people in YA books, and adult books for that matter, didn't make bad decisions, what kind of books would we have, y'know?)

(Bobby's not buggering the linebacker — that's a quote [for those of you who weren't in high school between 1989 and 1995] from the movie Heathers, and I just could not resist.)

My take on Out of the Pocket: Well, I'm glad there's a book about a gay football player out there. And Bobby certainly thinks a lot about football, training, running the game, figuring out how to hit his running backs, etc. As a matter of fact, he thinks about it more than I ever, ever want to read about again — but this book is not aimed at me, so that's not surprising.

There are issues around acceptance, the locker room, the showers, etc., and trust, discussion, talking, being open, that go into interesting and challenging places, esp for kids who are gay sports players. Personally, I'm glad this book is set in southern Cal. I imagine it set in Iowa or Missouri, or perhaps Nebraska or Ohio, and I imagine a way different outcome for Bobby. (I'm allowed to say this because I come from two of those states. Any of you snotty-ass West Coasters try to go all Midwest-phobic on me, and I'll [metaphorically] bite you with my Big Lesbian Teeth.)

My advice: Rent But I'm a Cheerleader! and read this book in the same night. What could be more perfect?

Oh, and check out Alex Sanchez's Rainbow Boys and its sequels for two more characters who are TEH GAY ATHLETES! We likes teh gay athletes.

And that reminds me: MATTHEW MITCHAM! (Even though the cameras manage to cut off his partner, Lachlan, about 95% of the time. Bastards.)