Reviews (25)

First heartbreaking, then uplifting, but ultimately hollow
Prayer Warriors is a tragic story, to be sure.Stuart's story of coming out as gay to his fundamentalist family and their pained, seemingly heartless response is hard to read.The conflict between Stuart and his family is easy to understand and frustrating to witness; it lays bare the problem that so many people have with fundamentalism - that it so often forces its followers to decide between what they believe and who they love.Stuart has my sympathy (and indeed, my empathy) for having to deal with this at all in the first place. Prayer Warriors
I loved this book.It was a very touching story.

Love
I read this book in 24 hours.It's like Stuart was writing about my upbringing.I too would love to share with my parents that I am gay, but our fundementalist background prevents that.I know that my coming outwould result in a situation similar to Stuart's, yet I hate to lie to them. And as Shakespeare would say, "There's the rub."The Bible saysthat liars shall have their share of the lake of fire.At least Stuartisn't a liar.He told his family the truth about his life.To his sisterand sister-in-law who I have noticed have written responses to this workhere at Amazon.com, do you love Stuart?Do you truely love him?It sureseems like you are still bent on judging him rather than showing Christ'sunconditional love to him.I love my family and know that someday I willhave to tell them the truth.I don't want to be a liar any longer to them. I just pray daily that their reaction will not be the same as the Millerfamily's reaction, but deep down...I know it will be, and that frightens meto death. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Case studies    5. Christianity    6. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    7. Family relationships    8. Gay Studies    9. Gays    10. General    11. Homosexuality    12. Religious aspects    13. Specific Groups - Male Gay Studies    14. United States   

Reviews (1)

Latino parents of gay children have their say.
I knew something important happened when my mother saw the film "The Wedding Banquet."She saw a family of color dealing with a gay family member and she saw how the Chinese mother looked silly being so devestated by her son's sexual orientation.This book works in a similar way.This was the first book I've ever read that was entirely in Spanish.The editor had an article in "Companeras", a Latina lesbian anthology, where the editor there said she reprinted whole Spanish dialogues in order to preserve the truth of people's words.Like that editor and others (such as Anzaldua and Moraga), I think Romo-Carmona wanted to be true to the contributors.This is a slim book and the essays are quite short, but as someone who learned Spanish in the classroom, it took me a while to read.It's amazing too that this family-oriented book came from the lesbian sex-positive/radical Clies Press.Like Anglo PFLAG materials, this book began and ended with the parents of famous Latino gays (authors, elected officials, ppl who have been on TV) writing.Almost every author is supportive of their gay child and every submission ends with them saying "I would never kick my child out of the house."The last contributor, noted author Jaime Manrique, even registers his shock about how supportive the parents are here.So this book is positive, rather than normative.The authors are quite diverse in terms of ethnicity/nationality.The book is somewhat scant on bisexual and transgendered issues, but they are covered at least.In many articles, the parents write and then their gay children add in:this gets very repetitive.Probably due to the author's gender, this book is heavily lesbian and woman-slanted (even more mothers write than fathers). That's cool because it fights lesbian invisibility, but we still need to recognize the burden that gay Latino MEN carry.One contributor says straight up that it's okay for her daughter to be gay, but that would not be acceptable for her son.There are many great entries from parents whose gay sons have died of AIDS.Some articles feature gay parents who discover their children are gay.Nevertheless, abuse, alcoholism, custody battles, and other family tragedies do come up often in this book.A big critique that I have of this book is that racism in the US and the US gay community is hardly brought up.For example, many of the gay Latino children seem to have non-Latino partners (including the editor) and the parents never discuss it.Still, I loved this text and want every Spanish-speaking parent of a gay child to read it.My parents never even considered going to a PFLAG meeting until they heard that a black chapter was being formed.If straight people only feel comfortable discussing gay family in race-similar environments, then we just have to deal with that reality. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Coming out (Sexual orientation    3. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    4. Family Relationships    5. Gay Studies    6. Gays    7. Gender Studies    8. Homosexuality    9. Latin America    10. Lesbian Studies    11. Social Science    12. Sociology    13. Gay studies (Gay men)    14. Gay & Lesbian   

Reviews (23)

Good but could be better.
The book is good and it keeps your attention, but you are left with the thought of "what was the point"? The book does not go in depth at all. And he only touches on his eating disorder which would have made an amazing chapter. He did not go through anything in high school that anybody, straight or gay, did not experience. There was not point to this book. It was funny and quick witted but he got on my nerves right from the beginning.He does not tie in the Snap to the whole story. You are left to figure that out on your own. I do not recommend this book.

Snap, Crackle, Pop
Man oh Man (or better still, man on man) can this guy write!His last name is Read and that is what he makes us do.You all know by now that this is a coming of age, coming out story set in the South in the eighties.What differentiates it is how adorable the authorand star character comes across.His swish side is offset by his tough soccer playing and ability to beat up the homophobic bullies. Above all else is his terrific sense of humor.Then there's the writing.Describing a particularly intense right-wing, holy-roller Christian recruiting experience: "If God had to go to such lengths to invite people to his birthday party, He probably wasn't servingvery good cake." (Interesting that the "H" is capitalized.) On his "emotional girlfriend's" driving habits: "...we were a pair of crash test dummies waiting for our brick wall to arrive." There are plenty of other examples.Unfortunately, the author's website (kirkread.com) is not nearly as well put together as the book (only two non-descript photos of Mr. Read) but it does indicate that a second book is in the works.Bring it on!

When is the movie coming out?
What an incredibly open and honest and captivating story!Read is a storyteller to reckon with -- he gives us the coming-of-age story that makes all of those coming-out stories just look silly.This is a story about growing up that doesn't pull any punches or make you grimace because it's cutesy or fake -- bravo, Kirk Read! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1973-    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    5. Essays    6. Gay Studies    7. Gay high school students    8. Gay teenagers    9. Lexington    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Read, Kirk,    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Specific Groups - Male Gay Studies    15. Virginia   

Subjects:  1. American wit and humor, Pictor    2. American wit and humor, Pictorial    3. Caricatures and cartoons    4. Coming out (Sexual orientation    5. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    6. Form - Cartoons & Comics    7. Gay Studies    8. General    9. Humor    10. Lesbian Studies   

Reviews (1)

CRUCIAL reading for all librarians and would-be librarians
These essays provide a summation of various aspects of the modern gay rights movement.They powerfully move a gay reader to feel a history of hardships borne by both his contemporaries and their predecessors, and voice an impassioned, emphatic and empathic plea to become involved, to join the network, to take up the torch of enthusiasm from those who carry it now lest it burn out or drop.The text on the whole is a testimony of the efforts of the keepers of the �flame of the status quo� contrasted with the successes of a silent minority which found voices to resist, to even throw off the yoke of persecution so firmly fitted about their necks by the aforementioned group, who had so long successfully deprived this silent minority of the knowledge and the means to unburden itself.This scholarly work caused me to draw heavily on my own personal life experiences to relate to, sympathize with, and at times empathize with the authors as they described their experiences. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bisexual librarians    2. Canada    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay librarians    5. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    6. Gender Studies    7. Homosexuality    8. Language Arts & Disciplines    9. Lesbian librarians    10. Libraries And Society    11. Library & Information Science    12. United States    13. Coming out (sexual orientation)    14. Gay & Lesbian studies    15. Gay and Lesbian Studies    16. Homosexuality in the Workplace    17. Library & Information Sciences   

Subjects:  1. Closeted gays    2. Coming out (Sexual orientation    3. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    4. Gay Studies    5. Gender Studies    6. Philosophy    7. Social Science    8. Social sciences    9. Sociology    10. Spatial behavior    11. Cultural studies    12. Gay studies (Gay men)    13. Literary studies: general    14. Science / Geography   

Reviews (7)

Circles in the Sand- An excellent read
This book touched my heart and gave me hope that women can survive abuse in all areas and find the strengthto heal and move forward in ones life. I have worked as a counselor in the area of trauma and abuse, for over twenty years. Themes of healing from trauma and discovering ones sexuality only empower andstrengthen ones soul from the inside out. I could relate to the family of origin wounds for all individuals and the ability for Samadhi to discover, heal, and forgive are truly the answers to findingpeace and serenity within. I was touched by each page of absolute honesty and willingness to share her story. Samadhi, you have changed my life because of this book and reminded me one more time that love does prevail. Thank you.
Impossible to put down!
Samadhi's Circles in the Sand is a thought provoking read that I couldn't wait to finish. It is well written and the story flows from start to finish. This is not one woman's struggle; it is every woman's struggle for equality, self respect and self love. I recommend it to everybody.
What a Gift
When Janice gave me your book to read, she did so with such high expectations for the reader.I am delighted to say that I was not disappointed.Janice did say that our stories are parallel in some instances and I really enjoyed how similar our lives were and how aligned with spirit they are for both of us now.
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Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit    2. Body, Mind & Spirit / Mental & Spiritual Healing    3. Body, Mind & Spirit / New Thought    4. General    5. New Age    6. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    7. Specific Groups - Lesbians    8. 1412041902,1-4120-4190-2,041997,04-1997,trafford publishing,samadhi e. j. whitehouse,travel,mind,body,spirit,middle east,working abroad,energy therapy,women in the middle east,gay and lesbian,lesbian,spirituality,new age spirituality,family dysfunction,in    9. Adult child sexual abuse victims    10. Body, Mind & Spirit / General    11. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    12. Feminist spirituality    13. Inspirational    14. Middle East - General    15. Mind, Body, Spirit    16. Personal Memoirs    17. Travel   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    6. Gay men    7. General    8. Personal Memoirs    9. Regional Subjects - South    10. Southern States    11. Specific Groups - Male Gay Studies   

Reviews (1)

Poignant, hilarious, comforting...
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Subjects:  1. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    2. Gay men    3. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    4. General    5. Humor    6. Men's Studies - Masculinity    7. Sociology    8. United States   

Subjects:  1. Coming out (Sexual orientation    2. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    3. Correspondence    4. Family relationships    5. Gay Studies    6. Gays    7. Gender Studies    8. United States    9. Lesbian studies   

Subjects:  1. Coming out (Sexual orientation    2. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    3. Drama    4. Gay men    5. Historical drama   

Editorial Review

Writing with the "newly elect" in mind, Brian McNaught advises his readers on how to forge connections within the sometimes thorny gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities while still maintaining ties with family and old friends. Along the way, he discusses sexual ethics, same-sex marriage, work, spirituality, and political action. Readers who have been out for a year or more, or who grew up in large cities, may find McNaught's earnest tone and tortoise pace too basic, or even unintentionally funny. (After telling us, for example, that he and his gay brother, Tommy, feel comfortable with each other in the way McNaught imagines that compatible heterosexual brothers might feel, he confides that they "talk often about issues from our childhood that we are currently working on in therapy.") But for the neophyte, his tolerant and deliberate approach will feel welcoming. A good introductory book for adolescents as well, and the families of gay people. Read more

Reviews (9)

A great addition to the sociology of being gay
Brian McNaught is truly to heterosexism what Gloria Steinem is to sexism. McNaught takes what heterosexism does to gay and lesbian children and says what would it be like if heterosexual male and female kids and teens were forced to have to dance with, kiss and say, "I love you's" to members of the same gender to which they are not attracted to romantically or sexually? He points out how that would be sexual abuse and how there is no comparable public outcry to what happens to gay and lesbian children. McNaught has been a voice for gays and lesbians since the 1970's and is a true role model. I hope he writes more books and leads us to the next step!

A must read for gay men
So, you're gay.You've heard about the "gay community," but you don't "do" drag, you have no pecs to speak of, and you lack the fashion sense all gay men are alleged to possess.Where do you fit in?Have no fear, Brian McNaught is here.McNaught's wonderful book Now That I'm Out, What Do I Do? strips away all the stereotypes - ALL the stereotypes, not just the limp-wristed fairy, but also the one of the butch stud with the fabulous pecs.McNaught is a guy, like you, like me, who is also gay (like me; I don't know about you).His sexual orientation is a difference that has impacted every aspect of his life, and his book explains how to overcome the hurdles every gay guy faces when coming out in a world that prefers to keep the homosexual quietly behind the closet door.McNaught describes the difficulties of growing up gay, and the challenges you'll face trying to find your place in the world as a gay adult.This is a must read: a highly informative, life affirming book that I finished in one sitting.

Good autobiography--but not a self-help book
This is a well-written and interesting account of many issues that Brian McNaught has faced as a gay man. These include his loss of faith in organized Catholicism, experiences with gays in politics and organizations, how he made straight friends and allies, ways he came out to his family and formed a new family of gay friends, and his trials of fighting discrimination in the workplace (he was fired due to his sexuality). All his experiences are worth reading about. The only caveat I'd have is that the title of the book and the first chapter sort of make it seem like it's a how-to, self-help book for the perplexed gay man who doesn't fit in to the gay world and wants to adjust. The book really isn't that at all, except in the broadest sense in that you can learn to emulate McNaught as a role model through his autobigraphical tales. This is not a psychology book. There are many other books available that are more directly focused on providing advice and guidance to those who want to make the most of a gay life, and that do so with a more therapeutic perspective. So just be aware of what this book is, and is not, before you buy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    2. Gay Studies    3. Gay men    4. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    5. General    6. Identity    7. Lesbians    8. Psychology    9. Social Science    10. United States    11. Social Science / Gay Studies   

Subjects:  1. Coming out (Sexual orientation    2. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay men    5. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    6. Homosexuality    7. Life skills guides    8. Men's Studies - Masculinity    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Gay & Lesbian studies   

Subjects:  1. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    2. Death, Grief, Bereavement    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay men    5. General    6. Homosexuality    7. Lesbians    8. Photo Essays    9. Photography    10. United States    11. Gay & Lesbian studies    12. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    2. Gay men's writings    3. Homosexuality    4. Lesbians' writings    5. Reference   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Poetry    3. 03-0534,030534,Long Metamorphosis Out: inspirations,dedications,incantations and invokations,Draya Sioux Woolf,poetic,journey,transformation,coming out,1-4120-0166-8,1412001668    4. Poetry / General    5. Poetry texts & anthologies   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Sociology    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    4. Gay teenagers    5. Juvenile literature    6. Lesbian teenagers    7. North America    8. Social Situations - Homosexuality    9. Social conditions   

Reviews (22)

Penentrating Book
This is quite a good book that really allows the reader to get behind the author and penetrate the subject matter in a slow, moving way. There are quite a few elements of humor in it, one of which lead to a friend of mine who was walking the streets of NY fall into a manhole while I was reading it on the phone to him (he was o.k.). The book ends with quite an explosive passage that might make many gag, but, for this reader, I swallowed it up.
Enlightening
I enjoyed reading the book.It was very enlightening and I learned a lot.

I identified with the book
"What Color Is Your Scarf?" is by a man who came out late in life, has recognized his frailties and is attempting to make himself better.In the book, Brown tells you how he is attempting to overcome his imperfections.He has a plan and he makes the telling of it interesting.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1957-    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Brown, Michael S.,    5. Case studies    6. Family & Relationships    7. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    8. Gays    9. General    10. Identity    11. Interpersonal Relations    12. Sexuality    13. United States    14. Coming out (Sexual orientation)   

Subjects:  1. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    2. Gay Studies    3. Gay men    4. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    5. Homosexuality    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. United States    9. Gay studies (Gay men)