The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

I masquerade in makeup and feathers and I am applauded.

A boy comes to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen – then at university he finds his wings as a drag artist, The Black Flamingo. A bold story about the power of embracing your uniqueness. Sometimes, we need to take charge, to stand up wearing pink feathers – to show ourselves to the world in bold colour.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger Warnings

  • Racism, racial microaggressions, racist language & racial slurs
  • Sexism and gender roles discussed
  • Homomisia, internalised homomisia & homomisic slurs
  • Lesbomisia & internalised lesbomisia discussed
  • Coming out themes
  • Dubious consent situation*
  • Parental abandonment
  • Physical parental abuse (single act)
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Recreational drug use
  • Emesis
  • Physical assault (minor fights scenes)
  • Bullying
  • Poverty themes

*The sixteen-year-old protagonist meets an adult man on a dating app and agrees to meet with him for sex. The man offers him drugs which cause the protagonist to lose consciousness and his memory of the event.

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