![\"3319626950_d86eab3f78_b\"](\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.towleroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/3319626950_d86eab3f78_b.jpg?resize=606%2C1024\")
<\/p>\nS.E. Hinton Got Into a Twitter War with Fans Who Think Her Characters in \u2018The Outsiders\u2019 Are Gay<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Novelist S.E. Hinton spent Monday night rebuffing fans who questioned the sexuality of her characters in her iconic young adult novel The Outsiders<\/em>.<\/p>\n Hinton first responded to Twitter user VVAnn<\/a>‘s question by asking for text to support an interpretation of same-sex<\/a> attraction between Johnny and Dallas. Hinton then rebuked the user for saying a same-sex<\/a> relationship in her book would be “cute.” Wrote Hinton, “ask someone in the ’60’s how “cute” it was to be gay<\/a>. @MrCadeWinston<\/a> No. Where is the text backing this?<\/p>\n — S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 17, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n @MrCadeWinston<\/a> ask someone in the ’60’s how “cute” it was to be gay<\/a>. — S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 17, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n @se4realhinton<\/a> also, you said I was a little girl<\/a>, and I’m in high school. And I was just asking a question, don’t get so salty<\/p>\n — VVAnn (@MrCadeWinston) October 18, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Hinton couldn’t seem to let go of the “cute” remark as others began to weigh in.<\/p>\n Hinton also said that calling a gay<\/a> relationship cute is “insulting” to LGBT people and not a thought an “adult” would have.<\/p>\n @sunshinewylan<\/a> why should they? Back it up with text. idea that it’s “cute” is insulting to LGBT people.I hope that is literally enough 4 U<\/p>\n — S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n @aroaceromanova<\/a> Oh, I think it would be cute is not coming from an adult.<\/p>\n — S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Of the backlash she began to receive, Hinton responded, “I have no problem with anyone being gay<\/a>. Long time supporter of LGBT rights.have a problem with little girls<\/a> thinking my characters are gay<\/a>.”<\/p>\n This comment received some rather predictable backlash, to which Hinton responded thusly:<\/p>\n Hinton also said, “I have many gay<\/a> friends. If you ask me if my characters are gay<\/a> I will tell you they are not. It is not homophobic.”<\/p>\n I have many gay<\/a> friends. If you ask me if my characters are gay<\/a> I will tell you they are not. It is not homophobic. t.co\/OTzEXkPnvv<\/a><\/p>\n — S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Hinton then changed tacks by saying she accepts other interpretations of the text while maintaining that there exist no queer narratives within it.<\/p>\n @brekkerhelvar<\/a> I am not stopping them. If they ask me if I wrote the characters that way I will say no, I did not.<\/p>\n — S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n I said I did not write the characters that way. I apologize for nothing. t.co\/pjfagS2P7i<\/a><\/p>\n — S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n @brittany_reads<\/a> @Urs_Uriarte<\/a> Think what you wish. I am not the thought police. — S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n @Mint_mulatto<\/a> I have no problem with interpretation. But (can’t believe I am still saying this) I did not write the characters as gay<\/a>.<\/p>\n — S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Hinton told one Twitter user that gay<\/a> kids can “identify” with The Outsiders<\/em> without the characters in the novel being gay<\/a>.<\/p>\n Young gay<\/a> kids can identify with the book without me saying the characters are gay<\/a>. — S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Hinton seemed to suggest that because she did not know any LGBT people when she wrote the book, she could not have created LGBT characters. “I wrote the Outsiders when I was in high school in 1965,” Hinton said. “I did not know any LGBT people. I did know plenty of guys<\/a>.”<\/p>\n I wrote the Outsiders when I was in high school in 1965. I did not know any LGBT people. I did know plenty of guys<\/a>. t.co\/8NDcmF53jc<\/a><\/p>\n — S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In defense of her characters’ heterosexuality she added, “Dallas was a womanizer. Johnny got excited when 2 Soc girls<\/a> asked him to sit with them.”<\/p>\n Dallas was a womanizer. Johnny got excited when 2 Soc girls<\/a> asked him to sit with them. So, yeah, technically I did. t.co\/8NDcmF53jc<\/a><\/p>\n — S. E. Hinton (@se4realhinton) October 18, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Hinton began blocking users who engaged in conintuous back-and-forths with her on Twitter and whose responses she seemingly disapproved of.<\/p>\n [h\/t ONTD<\/a>]<\/p>\n The post S.E. Hinton Got Into a Twitter War with Fans Who Think Her Characters in ‘The Outsiders’ Are Gay<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"horse01\"](\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.towleroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/horse01.jpg?resize=250%2C313\")
What began as Hinton responding to a fan who wondered whether there is anything romantic between characters Johnny and Dallas quickly escalated into an online debate over the characters’ sexuality.<\/p>\n
\n. I have many friends I love & do not want to sleep with.”<\/p>\n\n
\n
. I have many friends I love & do not want to sleep with.<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
I did not write them that way,<\/p>\n\n
\n
I never ever set out to make anyone feel safe. t.co\/mLO8jYturY<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n