Who is Uncle Roderick?

Uncle Roderick was Bug’s uncle. The novel opens with his death. He was Bug’s mother’s brother. Roderick was homosexual. He dated men and sometimes dressed in drag.

Before Uncle Roderick died, he sensed that Bug was suffering with gender dysphoria. Bug had not yet recognized that it was her gender that was bothering her. Uncle Roderick had a collection of material about LGBTQ people that Bug found under his bed.

Roderick comes back to Bug in spirit to help Bug realize she is a transgender boy. He seems to fear that if he does not guide Bug that she will try to force herself to live life as a female even though she is not comfortable with that identity.