Gay story from the 70s - 80s about a body part changing color.
November 18, 2013 3:25 PM Subscribe
Does anyone remember a story from the 70s or 80s about one day when every gay person woke up and their noses (ears?) had turned purple (blue, green?)? It was basically an illustration of Harvey Milk's call for all gay people to come out because if everyone was out, straight people would realize we were everywhere. It may have been a short story, a children's book, or a short film. I was a manuscript reviewer for Alyson Books in the mid-80s, so it might have been something I read then.
I used to know all the details of this story, but I realized yesterday when I was trying to tell a few people about it that I have forgotten all the details and only remember the underlying meaning. I would love to be able to reference the actual story when I talk about it. My google-fu has failed me in trying to find it on the web. Anyone have a better memory of this than I do?
I used to know all the details of this story, but I realized yesterday when I was trying to tell a few people about it that I have forgotten all the details and only remember the underlying meaning. I would love to be able to reference the actual story when I talk about it. My google-fu has failed me in trying to find it on the web. Anyone have a better memory of this than I do?
Seconding Am I Blue story. I believe it was the nose turning different shades of blue in that story. (Hooray for acknowledging a spectrum!)
posted by purple_bird at 3:46 PM on November 18, 2013
posted by purple_bird at 3:46 PM on November 18, 2013
Response by poster: I found a pdf of Am I Blue? on the net, and after reading it, I guess it could be what I am remembering, but there are some key differences and it is almost a decade later than I thought. Specifically, my memory is that everyone, not just the protagonist, could see the color change. Thanks for this find, and the quick response. It is quite possible that I just invented my story after reading this one. But, if anyone knows of an earlier story on this theme, I would love to hear about it.
posted by hworth at 3:58 PM on November 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by hworth at 3:58 PM on November 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
On the next-to-last page of the story, everyone becomes able to see the blue. :)
posted by homodachi at 4:22 PM on November 18, 2013
posted by homodachi at 4:22 PM on November 18, 2013
Best answer: I don't know much about manuscript reviewing, but is it possible you read a version of the story far before it's copyright date in the compilation, possibly with some changes from how it was eventually published?
The story does fit what you described in your followup, as homodachi points out.
posted by yohko at 4:32 PM on November 18, 2013
The story does fit what you described in your followup, as homodachi points out.
posted by yohko at 4:32 PM on November 18, 2013
On a quick read of the story in my copy -- it's not noses, it's everything that turns blue. Also, the protagonist is given blue sight to see what it's like and only then does he wish for people to actually turn that color for a day. If you're looking at the book, page 15 is the actual turning people blue part (though all the explaining the idea comes 11-14).
posted by Margalo Epps at 1:36 PM on November 19, 2013
posted by Margalo Epps at 1:36 PM on November 19, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by pullayup at 3:44 PM on November 18, 2013