Tales of the City tops U.K. gay readers poll

Armistead Maupin's six-volume Tales of the City was chosen as Britain's favorite gay novel, reports BBC News. The Big Gay Read competition reflects the opinions of 25,000 voters from around the country. "It's wonderful to know that the joy and fulfillment I've found as a gay man has somehow contributed to the joy and fulfillment of others," said Maupin, who will collect an award at Manchester's Queer Up North festival.

British lesbian novelist Sarah Waters fared well in the voting, with two novels in the top five: Tipping the Velvet (number 2) and Fingersmith (number 5). The third and fourth positions were taken by Jeanette Winterson's Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and Jackie Kay's Trumpet, respectively. Annie Proulx's short story "Brokeback Mountain" placed seventh. (The Advocate)