>>40167488In his memoir Hillbilly Elegy,Vance recounts a childhood episode when, around age 8 or 9, he feared he might be gay. After hearing a preacher denounce homosexuality, he worried because he didn’t like girls and was close to a boy friend. Worried he might “burn in hell” Vance asked his grandmother (Mamaw) for reassurance. The book quotes her saying:
“Don’t be a fucking idiot, how would you know that you’re gay?”
“JD, do you want to suck dicks?” When he said no, she replied: “Then you’re not gay. And even if you did… God would still love you.”