Push

I think that this book deals with many difficult and controversial topics, and that is what makes is such a moving and influential book. As I was describing this book to my mother the other day, she was shocked that I was reading this in an English class or in school at all. But, I disagree with that and think that this book needs to be read in school because people try to elude topics that are addressed in this book and no one is ever informed of such things. Students never hear of sexual abuse, rape, illiteracy, or homosexuality on the daily or read books with issues such as these. As a college student, of course I have heard and am aware of such occurrences, but this book really opened my eyes to all that goes on outside my little college life bubble. After just reading Fun Home, I think it is interesting to see that sexuality also occurs in Push. Bechdel tells her own story that includes the topic of homosexuality, but somehow I feel that homosexuality in Sapphire's book is almost more influential because it gives the perspectives of both heterosexuals like Precious, and homosexuals like Ms. Rain.
Precious' initial thoughts about homosexuals are that they are butch, weird, and gross. There is a girl in her class who she immediately dismisses because she is butch, without even trying to get to know her. She even makes comments about lesbians or "fags" when she finds out she is HIV positive. Her mother even assumes that Precious has HIV because she did it with her father the way those "gays do it" or in the butt. Basically, her reaction to homosexuality is a negative view, UNTIL she finds out that Ms. Rain is a lesbian. Then she starts to have a different view. She likes Ms. Rain, she even loves Ms. Rain and the feeling is mutual. Precious was shocked to hear that Ms. Rain was a homosexual. A very good point that Ms. Rain makes is that why does she not like homosexuals? Homos never raped her or made her go 16 years without knowing her ABC's or beat her. By knowing someone who was homosexual, she was able to change her mind and react differently, which is a very good turning point for her and others.
This is how I feel that many people think, too. Many people have tunnel vision and just assume that all homosexuals are the same and based on what they hear from the media or other people, they put them down without really getting to know their real story or see who they really are. That is why touching this topic in this book is so important, because this book already is influential for other topics that it can really be a legitimate influence for those who have preconceived ideas on homosexuality.