The acceptability of a certain concept depends, if not entirely, on how relevant it is in pop culture.

And that relevance comes into play when certain people garner the courage to actually introduce them.

When the presence of LGBTQIA+ was felt in society for the first time, many people viewed it as an act of notoriety.

Even today, traditional societies view it as a taboo.

But, with the introduction of homosexuality in novels (more specifically YA novels), many people have come face to face with what was a cloaked concept.

The acceptance around it, has seen an uptick.

Positive portrayals of same-gender love have become more and more mainstream.

YA literature is an important lens through which to examine cultural shifts as it is, in many ways, a microcosm for our society. Because YA books are geared toward up-and-coming generations, what is changing in YA reflects what is changing in our world — and the treatment of queer people is no exception.

The rise of YA literature has mirrored the rise of LGBTQ+ activism in fascinating ways. The same event that helped to define adolescence as a unique life stage.

Novels have inspired repressed teens and adults to speak openly about their sexuality and that has resulted into a positive cultural shift.

What is more fascinating is that the publication of the first gay YA novel dates back to 1969, namely I'll Get There. It Better Be Worth The Trip by John Donovan.

Hence, what is clear is that there have always been voices waiting to be heard. And the introduction of homosexuality in fiction has only escalated it.