Something that bothers me about the whole Troy discourse this last week, is that a lot of people talk about the whole thing as if Troy just came out and expected everyone to forgive him, and well, that's not what happens at all.
The whole book is centered around him trying to be better (and if we take Eric's pov in common goal into consideration he was starting to not be as complicit even before the trade) and actively hating himself throughout the first half of the book over what he did. Like I'm pretty sure at some point he says something about not wanting to pursue Harris because he is not a good person.
Aside from the fact that when he apologizes to Ryan he doesn't expect forgiveness, he's honestly trying to be better.
And personally I think that's why the shady af Shane Hollander comebacks feel so odd, because despite everything Shane is a very kind and forgiving character, and it's honestly more ooc for him to actively dislike Troy and shove his past in his face when he knows there's been change and work to change.
But anyway, I do think the critique that Troy seems to just jump directly into pursuing another man instead of redeeming himself is valid, however I would dare say that it is connected. Troy was a dick and an accomplice to Dallas because of internalized homophobia, his worst moments were because he was hiding himself, but actually accepting himself and not being terrified of it is what gives him the freedom to actually change, aside from the catalyst of the sa accusations, that kinda makes him face the fact that he's friends with a very bad person, however I don't love how that was addressed in the book.
So yeah, idk why I came to tell you this, you're like the village priest now