The Times I Knew I Was Gay is another book that didn’t quite match up with my expectations. Stupidly, I expected we’d get something along the lines of a numbered list of moments that stuck out to Crewes as signs she was gay. What I got instead was a patchwork quilt of anecdotes that flesh out her not only as a gay person, but simply as a person. In many ways, that better serves her story, I feel. Gay people aren’t defined by their sexuality no more than people are defined by their race or gender. It’s just part of who she is. More importantly, she’s an awesome sounding person I know I’d love to be friends with. Had she focused entirely upon the homosexuality angle, it probably would’ve done her story a disservice. Like I’m always saying, it can be immensely helpful to establish how minorities, underneath that label, aren’t that different from you or I. It’s easier to dismiss somebody who’s nothing more than a label to you than it is to turn away someone you’ve already connected with on a more personal level. While the title admittedly would remain a significant barrier to entry for them, the contents could possibly change their tune a little if they succeed at getting past it. Even if Crewes only succeeds at preaching to the choir, however, she’ll be sure to add one more beautiful voice to it, and maybe one day it’ll be too loud and beautiful to be ignored.