Attitudes Toward Homosexuality

Attitudes toward homosexuality form an important theme in the novel “Two Boys Kissing” by David Levithan. Attitudes toward homosexuality essentially includes the general thoughts, words, or actions of individuals toward the gay community. (For specific discussions and instances of intolerance and acceptance and understanding, please see those themes below.)

Much of the discussion of attitudes toward gay men comes through the context provided by the chorus. The chorus consists of an unknown number of unnamed gay men who have all died of AIDS. They explain early in the novel that they both resent and are happy for the current generation of gay youth. The chorus explains that the current generation of gay youth has things far easier than they ever did, though the current generation still faces their own obstacles and challenges. Likewise, the chorus had things far easier than previous generations of gay...