Hello. You did not inform the novel to which this question refers, which makes it impossible for it to be answered. However, I will try to help you in the best possible way.
Rumors are made up stories, which have no justification or evidence, which are told about people in order to defame or spread generalizations and lies about them. Homosexuals are victims of many rumors, which ends up damaging their life and freedom in some situations, in addition to stimulating homophobia.
It is only possible to find the rumors to which your question refers, by reading the novel that the question is related to. By doing this reading, you will be able to identify the rumors, that is, the false and defamatory stories about homosexuals.
Answer: close adjective, adverb, close also means near
