The Narrative Of The Closet By Nina Revoyr - 1845 Words

In her novel Southland, author Nina Revoyr creates narrative arcs for a multitude of characters that occur in multiple separate timelines. These arcs have recurring themes focused on race relations and sexuality as major civilian protests and campaigns for human rights unfold in the greater Los Angeles area. Revoyr explores Los Angeles’s residentially segregated neighborhoods throughout different time periods and examines interracial alliances and more personal interracial relationships. Jackie, the primary character of the novel, is a Japanese American, semi-closeted lesbian. Her narrative emphasizes acceptance of personal identity and family history, as she discovers more about her recently-deceased grandfather, whose perspective also†¦show more content†¦Sharp that established that anti-miscegenation laws were â€Å"unconstitutional† and that â€Å"marriage is thus something more than a civil contract subject to regulation by the state; it is a fundamental right of free men† (Perez v. Sharp 2). These court rulings were utilized as precedents by judges in Obergefell v. Hodges, that determined that state laws against same-sex marriage were unconstitutional (Obergefell v. Hodges 2). Therefore, there is documentation that establishes a precedent that interracial and same-sex relationships have experienced similar taboos and changes in status, and can be used as a background for understanding the parallels between Jackie and Frank’s romantic relationships. Revoyr expresses the similarly closeted nature of Jackie and Frank’s relationships in the physical and social spaces in which they exist. At the beginning of the novel, Jackie is in a committed relationship with her white girlfriend of three years, Laura. Initially in their relationship, Laura and Jackie actively hide their sexualities and their relationship from colleagues and Jackie’s family. However, they come out to select people: â€Å"Laura had told her peers about Jackie (but not her boss), after she’d started taking Jackie to parties and barbecues (but not official functions)† (Revoyr 42). Laura and Jackie’s relationship exists in limited social spheres and restricted