Sex and Sexuality

Sex and sexual identity are integral to the narrator’s life and characterization, as well as to the overall narrative. One specific facet if this thematic presentation is the societal marginalization that the narrator experiences due to his sexual identity, and the narrative thereby functions to illustrate and decry homophobia. Although the narrator is fairly open about his sexuality, he is temporarily residing in Bulgaria, the culture of which is defined by a distinct level of homophobia. For example, the narration provides this illustrative anecdote: “It had been in the news lately, they had tried to organize what he called an LGBT film festival, though it was really just a few chairs and a DVD player in a café. But even that was too much; on the second day a group of men barged in, they destroyed the television, they threatened anyone who came...