Alison Bechdel visits the Statehouse in Montpelier, Vt., where she was appointed Cartoonist Laureate of Vermont, Thursday April 6, 2017. Bechdel also was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant in 2014, which honors people who show "exceptional creativity" in their work and the likelihood of more. (AP Photo/Wilson Ring)
April 06, 2017 - 2:59 PM
MONTPELIER, Vt. - Vermont's new cartoonist laureate has made a career out of illustrating the complexities of same-sex relationships and says the world has changed around her and is now much more accepting of her work.
Alison Bechdel's memoir and graphic novel about growing up with a bisexual father was adapted into a Tony Award-winning musical. Bechdel was given the cartoonist laureate title Thursday at the Statehouse in Montpelier (mont-PEEL'-yer).
After meeting Republican Gov. Phil Scott she said that when she began cartooning about same-sex relationships decades ago it was "the most subcultural, fringe, beyond-the-pale thing you could ever think of doing."
In 2014, she was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant, which honours people who show exceptional creativity.
She says as cartoonist laureate she'll call attention to cartooning as an art form.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017