Hillbilly Elegy

our society, and how they were all
destined for hell absent some serious
repenting. At the time, the only thing I
knew about gay men was that they
preferred men to women. This described
me perfectly: I disliked girls, and my
best friend in the world was my buddy
Bill. Oh no, I’m going to hell.
I broached this issue with Mamaw,
confessing that I was gay and I was
worried that I would burn in hell. She
said, “Don’t be a fucking idiot, how
would you know that you’re gay?” I
explained my thought process. Mamaw
chuckled and seemed to consider how
she might explain to a boy my age.
Finally she asked, “J.D., do you want to