Jacqueline Wilson embraces role as 'gay icon' after coming out in 2020

British children's author Jacqueline Wilson, known for her candid exploration of childhood struggles, has expressed her surprise and delight at being seen as a "gay icon" following her coming out in 2020. In an interview with BBC News, Wilson, 78, said, "I'm very touched to be thought of as a gay icon, it's an absolute delight." She acknowledged that while she may not be one to "rampage around with a rainbow flag," she fully supports those who do.

Wilson, who recently released her first adult novel, Think Again, is known for tackling complex themes in her work. The novel, a sequel to her Girls series, explores same-sex relationships and follows the lives of Ellie, Nadine, and Magda as they navigate life at 40. Wilson shared that the idea for the sequel came from her daughter asking what happened to her characters as they grew up.

Wilson's coming out has brought a new audience to her work. She began a same-sex relationship after her divorce, but noted that her book's characters are not directly drawn from her personal life, saying, "I was just being imaginative when I wrote the book."

The author also discussed her views on sexuality, stating, "We don't need to just think that everyone is either straight or gay." She added that her generation was less open to the idea of diverse sexual orientations but acknowledged that society has since grown.