It's the pride part of the message that Naked Hero mainly deals with. Lewis is already 'OUT' when the story starts, but he's not being very 'LOUD' about it. His driving motivation is to make a ghost proud of him, but he's not displaying much 'PRIDE' in himself and his sexuality.
The early part of the story deals with a change in mind set. The two men in his life are sort of role models who come from different backgrounds and have contrasting views on being 'OUT LOUD & PROUD'. Scott Taylor is in the closet, whilst Lee Porter is in your face totally open and embracing his sexuality. Lewis is a public figure and a role model as well. His is a tricky path. He doesn't elect to wear a tee-shirt like that (although loud tee-shirts will certainly feature big time in the book). But it's not the manner or the volume that matters. It's that word at the end... and that's how I feel about Lewis and the journey he makes... PROUD.
Here's a snippet on the topic...
“So what was it that made the difference yesterday on court? Tell me about him - this man you’ve met.”
A hush descended and a magazine was set aside as everyone looked first to Jim, startled that he’d dared to broach the taboo subject. Then the focus shifted to Lewis, everyone intrigued to hear how he would respond.
“You already know what made the difference, Jim. You did the same trick once yourself. He brought it back to me - gave me a reason to sort myself out and fight.”
“Make him proud,” Jim whispered, enlightening to a degree the one person who wasn’t aware.
Lewis filled in the gap as he once again leaned back, trying to stay calm over this delicate subject. “Aye – make him proud. But I wasn’t doing a very good job of honouring my father’s memory by crumbling yet again. How Lee knew to say that, I’ve no idea. Well... maybe I’ve an inkling, but he must be very sharp to have put it together from the little I fed him... But anyway – he said it – and he said it boldly, flying in the face of the rabble. Out and proud – that’s Lee Porter... Whereas me!” Lewis exclaimed, rising to his feet to pace back and forwards. “I was out and acting ashamed. So how could I make my dad proud of me with that sort of behaviour? I’ve been doing that ever since I came out, and that makes me ashamed. So they can say what they like now, shout out what they want. I’m not going to let it bother me anymore. Instead I’m going to take a leaf out of Lee Porter’s book... Loud and proud will be the way from now on - and if the tennis establishment and all the fans aren’t happy about that, then tough. So we can expect more shit in the tabloids and more jeering from the crowds, because that’s how it needs to be until people get over it...” Forcing
calm again before the punch-line was delivered, Lewis returned to his chair. “...And that’s certainly how it’s going to be come next week. The tabloids are going to have a field day, and I’m going to hand it to them on a plate.”
The early part of the story deals with a change in mind set. The two men in his life are sort of role models who come from different backgrounds and have contrasting views on being 'OUT LOUD & PROUD'. Scott Taylor is in the closet, whilst Lee Porter is in your face totally open and embracing his sexuality. Lewis is a public figure and a role model as well. His is a tricky path. He doesn't elect to wear a tee-shirt like that (although loud tee-shirts will certainly feature big time in the book). But it's not the manner or the volume that matters. It's that word at the end... and that's how I feel about Lewis and the journey he makes... PROUD.
Here's a snippet on the topic...
“So what was it that made the difference yesterday on court? Tell me about him - this man you’ve met.”
A hush descended and a magazine was set aside as everyone looked first to Jim, startled that he’d dared to broach the taboo subject. Then the focus shifted to Lewis, everyone intrigued to hear how he would respond.
“You already know what made the difference, Jim. You did the same trick once yourself. He brought it back to me - gave me a reason to sort myself out and fight.”
“Make him proud,” Jim whispered, enlightening to a degree the one person who wasn’t aware.
Lewis filled in the gap as he once again leaned back, trying to stay calm over this delicate subject. “Aye – make him proud. But I wasn’t doing a very good job of honouring my father’s memory by crumbling yet again. How Lee knew to say that, I’ve no idea. Well... maybe I’ve an inkling, but he must be very sharp to have put it together from the little I fed him... But anyway – he said it – and he said it boldly, flying in the face of the rabble. Out and proud – that’s Lee Porter... Whereas me!” Lewis exclaimed, rising to his feet to pace back and forwards. “I was out and acting ashamed. So how could I make my dad proud of me with that sort of behaviour? I’ve been doing that ever since I came out, and that makes me ashamed. So they can say what they like now, shout out what they want. I’m not going to let it bother me anymore. Instead I’m going to take a leaf out of Lee Porter’s book... Loud and proud will be the way from now on - and if the tennis establishment and all the fans aren’t happy about that, then tough. So we can expect more shit in the tabloids and more jeering from the crowds, because that’s how it needs to be until people get over it...” Forcing
calm again before the punch-line was delivered, Lewis returned to his chair. “...And that’s certainly how it’s going to be come next week. The tabloids are going to have a field day, and I’m going to hand it to them on a plate.”