The Truth About It.

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It. The movie, the novel. Heard of it? A horror classic written by Stephen King in 1986. Unknown to most, after great analysis, I realized how packed it was with commentary about the LGBT community and the AIDS epidemic.

The premise of the novel is a group of children, the Losers' Club, who face and destroy the It creature living in their hometown of Derry, Maine. The It creature comes and haunts the town every decade or so and always returns in a different from, in this novel as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. He makes the children of the Losers' Club participate in blood oaths and taunts them throughout their live
s, appearing any and everywhere the go, whether together or separate. Pennywise portrays what the children fear most, scaring the creativity and individuality out of them, making them come to terms with a life within societal constraints. He takes their creativity, and brings it to life in negative ways, as he comes to life in the children of the Losers' Club projector as they are looking back at pictures of Georgie, who is Bill's (a member of the Losers' Club) younger brother who was taken by Pennywise.

In the novel, the one gay couple in the town of Derry has their own run in with Pennywise. Just to show the homophobic attitude of the society, as there were walking home one night they were jumped by three teens, punishing them for their sexuality. The children beat one of them, Adrian Mellon, and proceeded to toss him into the river. As he made his way to shore, Pennywise pulled himself out of the water and bit him, cracking numerous ribs and left him there bleeding out. I have come to view Pennywise as a representation of the society. The homophobic society of Derry is portrayed through Pennywise through his actions towards Adrian. Not only Adrian, but the Losers' Club as well.

In attempts to find Pennywise, the children wander into the sewers where they partake in an Orgy with each other. 6 boys and 1 girl. So quite obviously, this is yet another representation of homosexuality that Pennywise looks down upon them for. Not only is Pennywise pointing out homosexuality, he is bringing a great deal of attention to the AIDS and HIV epidemic of the time. Being so open and naked in the sewer brings about a great deal of filth and bacteria. Not only that but AIDS is most commonly transferred through homosexual encounters. Pennywise is shaming them and forcing them into something that they are uncomfortable with, taking away their innocence and embarrassing them, completely changing their relationship with each other.

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