Sexuality In Alison Bechdel's Fun Home

Alison Bechdel’s beautiful graphic novel Fun Home explores the cause and effect relationship that exists between her late father Bruce’s sexuality and his internalized homophobia and disapproval of her own budding sexuality throughout her young life. The book defies the natural chronological order of most novels by revisiting key points in her life multiple times, each instance from a slightly different viewpoint, or revealing vaguely different information. Because of this, we are shown her coming out three times throughout the novel, even though in one chapter it isn’t explicitly stated. Each time, though, is slightly different, because we are shown a different person’s reaction or point of view on the announcement. The themes of each chapter

At multiple points throughout the chapter, frames depict the pair arguing over what clothes Alison should be wearing, especially to attend more formal events. She liked to wear more traditionally masculine clothes, and wasn’t allowed by her family, making her feel as though she was an anomaly, until she saw the butch lesbian at the luncheonette. Seeing this woman dressed in a masculine fashion was her first glimpse into a style that she could actually imagine herself wearing – and liking. Her father tears down the young girl’s immediate idolization of the woman by questioning whether or not she wanted to look like her in a tone that implied his disapproval. In this chapter, Alison also comes across a few photos from a past vacation that hint at her father’s sexuality. These photos feature Bruce and Roy, their old babysitter, wearing little or no clothing. He had hidden those memories in the same way that he repressed his homosexuality – not very well. They gave a glimpse into the life he could’ve, and probably wanted to, live. This section of the book does not explicitly show Alison coming out, as chapters 3 and 7 do, but there are subtle implications of her sexuality throughout it, like showing her at age 19 in a lesbian bar, or reading Women in the Shadows on the subway.