Homosexuality (lgbt rights/ Gay Marginalization) in ken kesey's one flew over the cuckoo's nest
Dale Harding is portrayed as a homosexual character in this novel. With his sexual orientation and gender identity, Harding is very uncomfortable (as he is not accepted by the world) which leads him to voluntarily joins the mental institution. Although he is married, it is clear that he prefers to hospitalize himself to the hospital, and not to face others' preconceived ideas about homosexuals and evil accounts of his wife (by using his identity). His gay experiences and effeminate manners make his wife to humiliate Harding by using his sexual desires. He also acknowledges how his lack of connection with his wife serve as a consequence for her to have affairs with other men.
LGBT people are living in fear of realizing their identities (afraid of being LGBT) and being different from society. As there are more people who are anti-LGBT, LGBT people tend to restrict showing themselves and express their identities in public. This perfectly applies to Harding in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as he is afraid of getting avoided by his community (patients and participants in hospital). As he is afraid that patients might harass and differentiate him, Harding hides his identity even towards McMurphy and tends to restrain his sexual desires; even though his truth identity later appears in the novel).
Similarly, Chief has confusion in his identity as he shows his desire of wanting to touch McMurphy. This shows how having small confusion in identity can give one a fear of marginalization and discrimination. Chief previously had an experience of getting marginalized as people were judging from his appearance and ignoring him, considering him as a nonexistent figure.
It is very unfortunate that society is not still ready to accept or give rights to LGBT community rather people tend to segregate themselves from LGBT people when the only difference is their identities and sexual desires.