Questions About The Long Secret (Harriet the Spy #2)

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Wait, is Harriet a lesbian? Why is this book on a YA lesbian list?

Charismatic Sigh. This is so tiresome. Yes, Louise Fitzhugh was an "out" lesbian back in the 50s and 60s, when it was not so easy to do (though she was very rich …moreSigh. This is so tiresome. Yes, Louise Fitzhugh was an "out" lesbian back in the 50s and 60s, when it was not so easy to do (though she was very rich and lived in Manhattan, so she had the ability to live the way she wanted without repercussions).

That does not make her CHARACTERS gay. There is pretty much nothing about sex at all in these children's books from 58 years ago -- FIFTY EIGHT YEARS!!!

Harriet wasn't gay or asexual or straight or really anything... yet. Perhaps if Fitzhugh hadn't died very young at age 46, she might have revisited Harriet at 16 or 20 and done something along these lines... but that never happened.

It is not necessary nor does it promote LGBQT causes, to try and "rewrite" ancient old books and try to imbue them with some gay "message" that was never there. (There isn't even an implication that Fitzhugh made Harriet gay, and her editors forced her to take those parts out!)

As for how Harriet looks... I was 8 years old when this book arrived at my public library. I loved it. And most little girls in 1964 looked much like this -- bangs or a low side part -- glasses were often dark and heavy-framed -- yes, little girls in 1964 wore blue jeans and dungarees and overalls! yes, they wore sweatshirts and hoodies. I have actual photos of MYSELF dressed precisely like Harriet in just this time period -- and I was not emulating her at all -- this is just how kids of this era dressed in casual "play clothes". No, we did not all wear dresses 24/7!!!!(less)

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