Armistead Maupin has established himself as one of the best-known openly gay contemporary American writers. He creates realistic gay male characters who share the same fears and joys that are central to all human experience. While Maupin's work is informed by political issues in general and the gay-rights movement in particular, he avoids becoming overtly didactic and political through his use of humor, crisp dialogue, and witty repartee. In a 23 November 1992 interview for Christopher Street Maupin told Scott A. Hunt: "I think the greatest challenge of a writer is to be able to combine the serious issues and serious concerns with comedy." Maupin's characters, whom he consistently imbues with a sense of personal warmth, are multifaceted. Although Maupin is predominantly known as a gay writer, he does not limit himself to depicting the lifestyle of the gay male. As he stated in an interview with Jean W. Ross...