Reviews (16)

Definately a better read than J.L. King's book
Instead of sensationalizing the issue, I felt Mr. Boykin was aiming to educate people about homosexuality in black America instead of entertaining the masses. Great book!

Mixed Feelings
"Beyond the Down Low" by Keith Boykin is a great accumulation of background information on the topics of blacks, gays, HIV and AIDS, and their interdependence in American society. As Keith Boykin has seen and achieved a great number of things in his life, he can provide an expert look at facts from different perspectives.
Take it or leave it
I've just finished reading Boykin's book, "Beyond the Down Low."While I find it well written and his observations often on point, I come away from reading the final paragraph thinking, "So what?"
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Subjects:  1. African American bisexual men    2. Attitudes    3. Black American Sociology    4. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    5. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - Lifest    6. Gay Studies    7. Human Sexuality    8. Men's Studies - General    9. Psychology    10. Sex Relations    11. Sexual behavior    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Social Science / African-American Studies   

Reviews (1)

Some Things Never Change
This for-the-most-part very fine collection of 21 essays by gay men writing about growing up (there are two or three selections I would have omitted) reminded me of how much alike we all are and that their experiences and mine, even though we are separated by a generation, are essentially pretty much the same: wanting to be accepted by others, both at home and at school, the crushes on male straight friends, the trauma of playing center field, the fear of taking communal showers, being labeled sensitive or different and the feelings of utter aloneness. There was not so much the name calling then ("fag" and "faggot"), however; our differentness was just not talked about. Or as Lily Tomlin says so aptly in one of her monologues, in the 60's nobody was gay; we were just shy.
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Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Fiction - General    3. Gay    4. Gay Studies    5. Gender Studies    6. Homosexuality    7. Men's Studies - General    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Sociology Of Men    11. Fiction / Gay   

Reviews (5)

Met the author in a support group- she is for real!
Hello, I want to say that I have not yet read the book, but want to ask if someone wants to get a car fixed, would they go to someone who's never worked or fixed a car themselves or someone who knows how because they have had to walk it through and learn?What I'm getting at is that Anne Paulk has worked through and walked through what it takes to walk out of lesbianism and same sex attraction so why not give a try a book written by someone who has "fixed a car" and walked out and went on.
Consider the source
Now, let me get this "straight": We're supposed to give credence to the wife of the founder of Exodus International, who, two years after appearing on the cover of Newsweek as the poster boy for "ex-gay" movement, was discovered chatting up another man in a Washington, D.C., gay bar?
Good place to start
If you believe that lesbianism is not a "normal" expression of sexuality, then this book may help you. However, if you don't believe in the Bible, this book is not meant to persuade you. For the record, the APA requires therapists to respect the position of the client in terms of what they want their therapy to accomplish. If a woman wants to find a way out of lesbianism, a psychotherapist is ethically required to help that woman do it.
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Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - Christian Life - Women's Issues    3. Christianity - General    4. Gay Studies    5. Homosexuality    6. Human Sexuality    7. Religion - Socialissues    8. Religious aspects    9. Sexuality & Gender Studies    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Religion / Counseling   

Reviews (3)

Cold truth we should all know, but are afraid to find out
Dr. Isay makes some very strong points.I bought this book in response to a recent break up.I found its pages filled with incite into a very strong possible reason for why my recent lover was not able to let me into his heart.I used to think that monogamy was not possible in a gay relationship.I found someone that I wanted to share everything with, exclusively.I now feel that monogamy is possible and Dr. Isay explained some valid and compelling reasons why that should be a goal.I highly recommend this book for anyone that has found something missing in their traditional gay relationships.

Commitment and Healing
This book gaveprofessional insight into gay relationships and their origins and ways to deal with resulting conflicts. Most books have not dealt with such an area. The case histories were also a plus.

EXCELLENT NEW BOOK ON GAY MALE RELATIONSHIPS
Well-written and easy to read, this is a deep and thoughtful book. Richard Isay does not give the usual, easy solutions for the difficult problems gay men have in their committed relationships. He does not endorse the position that our open relationships are better than heterosexual relationships. Isay is a true maverick. His first book, "Being Homosexual", is widely considered the most influential book ever written about gay male psychology. This new book is just as groundbreaking as his first. I found it very helpful in getting my relationship back on track, and recommend it highly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Commitment (Psychology)    2. Gay Studies    3. Gay men    4. Gender Studies    5. Love & Romance    6. Mental health    7. Psychology    8. Sexual Instruction    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Family & relationships    12. Gay studies (Gay men)    13. Social Science / Gay Studies   

Reviews (2)

REAL , HOT
WELL WRITTEN STORIES (MEMORIES),OF ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN GAY MEN AND SUPPOSEDLY STRAIGHT MEN. THESE ENCOUNTERS HAPPEN IN ALL KINDS OF PLACES. READS LIKE A PORN BOOK BUT REMEMBER THESE ARE ALL TRUE STORIES. WELL, WHETHER THEY ARE OR NOT THEY MAKE FOR GREAT LATE NIGHT READING.

Exciting book!!!
The best part is this book contains TRUE stories and that makes it so much more realistic. If you hate fiction about hot guys who always have 10 inches, this book is for you. Some stories remind me of my own experiences and I believe they are really true. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Erotica - General    2. Fiction    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay men    5. Gender Studies    6. Heterosexual men    7. Sexual behavior    8. Sociology    9. United States    10. Fiction / Erotica    11. Literature of special Gay interest    12. Modern fiction   

Reviews (1)

Excellent book
I've been doing workshops for a men's group here in New York and this book as well as Mr. Kort's previous text have been excellent resources.Not only the scenarios but the root causes of why men develop as they do in relationship to their sexuality are excellent.The referencing to Erik Erikson and Harville Hendrix (tests I also utilize) as well as the specific application of the tomes to activities and insights is stellar.What surprise dme most about the book was how it balanced accessible language and yet was able to present enough psychological/psychiatric/therapeutic language/technique for the lay person to understand.A lot of the "why's" about men and sexuality and actions and integrity or lack thereof was answered.One of the things I constantly do in my groups now is remind the men how they were socialized as boys, how it was enforced/beaten out of them not to portray their sexuality or sexual thoughts/interests and how this indoctrination carries over and manifests itself in adult life.You can literally watch the lightbulbs of enlightenment go off in the heads of the men as they start to link simple things like sit still, don't flounce, don't sigh, don't cry, don't whine, don't, don't don't---in order to be masculine/a "man" to being what caused a lot of confusion.What happens to someone who's identity is constantly challenged, taunted, corrected---they adopt an identity that is pleasing to the masses, however they are then thrust into a society where the two identites--one false and one repressed are incongruous and therefore enter into a lifestyle that has very few mature standards/practices.
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Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. Gay couples    3. Gender Studies    4. Interpersonal relations    5. Love & Romance    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Gay studies (Gay men)    9. Social Science / Gay Studies   

Reviews (2)

and unanticipated dissapointment
I do not come to this with merely abstract interest. I was asked to read this book by a good friend who is a gay Christian man (his description of himself). As he and I have had a many month conversation about homosexuality and the praxis of Christian sexuality I was seeking to read some of the best of the pro-gay Christian writing. This book was the first he assigned.
Good Debate on an Important Issue
Here we have another multiple-views style book where the authors present their cases and then critique one another.This certainly proves to be a helpful forum for the discussion of the particularly important issue of Christian faith and homosexuality.In this helpful book, both perspectives on the issue are presented in conversation with one another in a way that will helpfully lead to some good dialog rather than mere acquiescence to homosexual practice or bigoted homophobia.
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Subjects:  1. Bible - CriticismInterpretation - General    2. Bible - Hermeneutics    3. Biblical teaching    4. Ethics    5. Homosexuality    6. Religion    7. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    8. Sexuality & Gender Studies    9. The Bible    10. Gay & Lesbian    11. Christian Sexual Ethics   

Reviews (5)

love this book and its author!
For those of us who have been starving since finishing Mercer's 'Welcome to the Jungle' or Fusco's 'English Is Broken Here', this is an excellent book to add to your reading list. Through complex theory and deep analysis, Munoz effectively articulates what many of us know but have difficulty proving to others: lesbian and gay artists of color are producing some of the nation's and the world's most revolutionary and counterhegemonic work. I am especially impressed that he examines work by Black, Latino, and Asian gays. This is a much-needed book for anyone who would like to see people of color come together in coalition. You will be impressed with Munoz's creation. This is not Hemphill's 'Brother to Brother' or Moraga's 'This Bridge Called My Back.' Some readers will be put off by the semiotic language Munoz uses. However, for those who can get through it, you will enjoy this book.

Unimpressive
Simply put, this contribution to performance studies lacks any theory of the audience.The book is eager to explicate the subversive meanings subtending the work of various artists, but the interpretations require something more than a completely essentialized and abstracted characterization of the audience as a homogeneous unit that can be assumed, without further analysis, to share whatever meanings the author ascribes to the works under consideration.I would have thought that, given the proliferation of interpretive traces available through zine culture, the internet, academic commentary, and other media, it would be virtually irresistible for a cultural critic like Munoz to exploit those centexts when deploying his theoretical tools.Yet it seems not to have occurred to him that there can be no complete, or even adequately informed, analsysis of performance without some effort to particularize and attend to the audience.Lacking such contextualization, the interpretations become nothing more than solitary meditations, floating free of any moorings.

Hack Job
The critique of John Champagne's Ethics of Marginality in the introduction of this book is just plain shoddy and careerist.Munoz states that Champagne accuses Marlon Riggs' Tongues Untied of vilifying white people; in fact, Champagne's critique says the film vilifies gay, white, s/m culture.Munoz accuses Champagne of ignorance of Essex Hemphill's poetry--poetry Champagne himself discusses in the very same chapter in which he analyzes Tongues Untied.Apparently, Munoz is so interested in making a name for himself that he doesn't bother to read carefully the sources he cites.Perhaps Champagne's critique of the figure of the privileged marginal just hits too close to home for NYU's Munoz. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethnic Studies - General    2. Gay Studies    3. General    4. Hispanic American gays    5. Lesbian Studies    6. Minority gays    7. Minority lesbians    8. Social Science    9. Social conditions    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Gay & Lesbian studies    13. Performing Arts    14. Social groups & communities    15. USA   

Reviews (18)

What a load of crap
Read what the real professionals have to say.
Evaluation of a thorough and necessary analysis
I would recommend this for any male, not necessarily limited to those struggling with homosexual issues.It is an in-depth look at what is needed for growth into manhood, and being OK with being a man, and what being a man entails.

Good insights
This would be a good book for you if:
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Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - Christian Life - Men's Issues    3. Counseling    4. Gay Studies    5. Homosexuality, Male    6. Masculinity    7. Men (Christian theology)    8. Men's Studies - General    9. Religion - Christian Life    10. Religion - Christian Living    11. Religious aspects    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Religion / Counseling   

Reviews (7)

Excellent "Leather Anthology"
This book sat on my bookshelf for quite a while before I finally sat down and read it cover to cover. I was amazed and impressed by what I read. This anthology features essays by some of the most well-known authors in the leather community including Dorothy Allison, Geoff Mains, Mark Thompson, Guy Baldwin, Pat (now Patrick) Califia, Gayle Rubin, and Joseph Bean. The essays offer a "glimpse" into what "is" the leather community. Topics covered include leather history (from the 1940's through the 1990's, including an excellent essay on the Catacombs, a now legendary San Francisco male fisting and SM playspace), scene politics, spirituality, and numerous other topics about consensual power play. Not your average how-to manual...
The Leatherfolk Anthology is full of valuable information and first person accounts from within the BDSM community.This book goes beyond the scope of a how-to-manual with more theoretically based essays designed to inform people not directly involved with BDSM and challenge people in the leather community itself.This book is probably not for anyone who doesn't know what "vanilla sex" means or is other wise sexually non-deviant.

Student Opinion, Must Read Book for All!!
The stories in this book communicate the history and a chronology of the SM and Leather community through various individual's experiences, thoughts and impressions.After reading Thompson's compilation I felt I had a deeper understanding and curiosity for the intricacies of the leather/SM community.The voices are from all over the spectrum and give insights into various multi-layered identities.The editor's determination to portray the chronology and the ancient origins of SM give important foundations for the contemporary commentaries by members of the community.I am a student in a Gay and Lesbian Ethnography class and this was my favorite book over the entire semester and I learned so much through the varied perspectives and historical foundations.It inspired discussions and reflections on sex and how it tends to function socially and personally outside of the SM community and how there is a lot to be learned from that community regarding communication and respect.I must also mention that the piece by Dorothy Allison was one of the most passionate, poetic and evocative excerpts I have read from a lesbian perspective! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Love / Sex / Marriage    2. Self-Help    3. Sexual Instruction    4. Social Science / Gay Studies    5. Gay & Lesbian studies    6. Human Sexuality    7. Sex & sexuality   

Reviews (2)

The Life of Gay Men in Israel Sucks
This book presents a series of interviews conducted in the early 1990's with twelve self-identified gay Israeli men.These men are from a variety of backgrounds, social classes, and ethnicities.They are purported by Fink and Press to represent a broad selection of gay men in Israel.In fact, the majority of them are in their early to mid-twenties, Ashkenazi, single and non-religious.Two are immigrants.Two are married to women.One is a Christian Arab.Most of them are closeted. revealing, entertaining, and thought provoking!
I have read the draft of this book, and it is undoubtedly one of the most revealing, enlightening and entertaining writings on modern gay life in Israel. A must not only for readers interested in gay culture, but foranyone who wants to know more about young people - gay or straight - inmodern Israel. The book comprises of a tapestry of interviews, whosetranslation artfully captures all layers of spoken Hebrew. These arecomplemented by the authors comments and shrewd observations, making it anaccurate and up-to-date survey of modern Israel. Enthusiasticallyrecommended! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Gay Studies    3. Gay men    4. Gender Studies    5. Israel    6. Judaism - General    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Sociology - Urban    10. Gay studies (Gay men)   

Reviews (2)

Engaging: You Will Finish This Gripping Memoir Quicker than You Received It
Years ago Rigoberto Gonzalez did a reading at the University of California, Riverside, his alma mater and the approximate locale where he met the "older lover" who abused him. Someone in the audience asked him why he felt he could write a memoir so young? Rigoberto, then in his early thirties, answered, "Because I write about another time that is no longer my life."
Memoir travels maze of sex, family and self-acceptance
What makes a writer?
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, American    3. Biography    4. Ethnic Issues    5. Ethnic Studies - Hispanic American Studies    6. Gay Studies    7. Hispanic American gays    8. People of Color    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Biography: general    13. Gay studies (Gay men)    14. New Mexico    15. Social Science / Ethnic Studies / Hispanic American Studies   

Reviews (2)

Sound treatment of the Bible's teaching
Dr. Soards has provided a concise, straightforward exposition of the Bible's teaching on homosexuality. He does so without condemnation or polemics, presenting a reasoned analysis of both Old and New Testament passages. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to better understand the Biblical perspective on homosexuality.

Same Ol', Same Ol'
Professor Soards has presented a well-written book.However, he plows familiar ground in his treatment of pertinent passages of the Bible.In his favor, I should say he is very kind and compassionate.If the book does anything, it illustrates what is at the heart of the gay debate in the Presbyterian (and other) church:the nature of the Bible.What we believe the Bible to be will dictate what we believe it to teach on homosexuality.All in all, as a gay reader, I was pleased, though not overly impressed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - General    2. Bible - Topical Studies    3. Biblical teaching    4. Christianity    5. Christianity - Theology - Ethics    6. Church And Society    7. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    8. General    9. Homosexuality    10. Religion    11. Religion - Biblical Studies    12. Religious aspects    13. Biblical studies, criticism & exegesis    14. Christian social thought & activity    15. Gay studies (Gay men)   

Reviews (3)

why the fuss?
I cannot understand why the fuss over this book. The text is disappointing: repetitive, opinionated, insubstantial, more like desultory notes than anything else. The images are all black-and-white and poorly reproduced, and again repetitive and disconnected.
An exploration of value through excessive experience
The Tears of Eros is a fitting culmination of Bataille's search for value through excess.Although Bataille addresses many of the themes touched on here in greater detail in earlier works (Eroticism, The Accursed Share),The Tears of Eros is notable for the significant amount of artwork includedto illustrate the connection Bataille develops between sex, death,expenditure, and sovereign value.This is a "must-read" for anyserious student of contemporary philosophy and--for that matter--any whowould insist that value resides elsewhere than in a petty, bourgeoisindividualism.

Extraordinary treatment of sex and death, emotions and words
It is from woman, we come and to woman, we return because we all have both aspects in our being...female and maleness ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Erotic art    2. Gay Studies    3. General    4. Philosophy    5. Special Subjects In Art    6. Subjects & Themes - General    7. Literary Collections / Essays    8. Other prose: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (5)

STODGY & RAMBLING
Ancient Rome merits a contemporary investigation of its attitudes towards sexuality and homosexuality but sadly Craig A Williams book "Roman Homosexuality" is not capable of the task. Apart from the dull prose and paucity of illustrations. A pathetic eight pages of miniscule black and white photos, including the front cover which is repeated again inside the book itself. Williams actually has the audacity to state in the introduction that he will refrain from translating Roman sexual terms such as catamite, virgo, virtus, irrumator struprum, cinaedus, pudicitia, lingis, futuis, fututor, and fellator. The reader is therefore greatly hampered from the beginning by the absence of a Latin glossary and dictionary to guide them through Roman terminology. Excellent as Expected
In college, I took Professor William's class on "Greek and Roman Sexuality" and looked forward to attending his lectures every other day and his excellent insights on the erotica of the time, as well as the social commentaries. I learned more from that class than from many others and still enjoy reading the books, poetry, and plays reflective of that period that we explored in that class. Williams is a woderful teacher, and this book puts so much of what he taught to his classes into the written word..its an excellent reference material I would recommend to all.

All information needed.
I have found this book, when added with K.J. Dover's Greek Homosexuality, to offer me all the information I needed on the subject of homosexuality inClassical Antiquity. Williams does not make enough, perhaps, of the factthat the Romans' low estimate of any male citzen performing the passiverole in sexual intercourse - that they equalled with adultery and rape inthe single legal category of *strupum*, in contrast to the Classical AgeAthenians' idealization of the supposedly pure love between the younger*eromenos* and his *erastes* had much to do with the realities of Rome asan oligarchical political system where no member of the ruling oligarchywas supposed to submit to another, in contrast to the more democratic andegalitarian Athenian mores, where you were supposed to learn to obey inorder to learn to give orders. But then, this is a conclusion that wasalready there to be drawn. Superb book, highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Rome    2. Gay Studies    3. History    4. History - General History    5. Homosexuality, Male    6. Homosexuality, Male, in art    7. Homosexuality, Male, in litera    8. Homosexuality, Male, in literature    9. Literature: Classics    10. Rome    11. Ancient Rome    12. Classical Studies | Ancient History | Roman    13. Gender studies    14. History / Ancient / Rome    15. Latin    16. Lesbian studies    17. Literary studies: classical, early & medieval   

Reviews (27)

An EXCELLENT book that has GIVEN ME HOPE and some practical steps in my own walk out of lesbianism
The writers shares exerpts from different people's life experiences from such an honest, transparent, and thought-provoking point of view.This has helped me in my walk out of lesbianism.Identifying triggers, coping with sexual temptation, and practical tips and little stories are interspearsed throughout this book.I know I've had hurts and lots of pain and lots of anger.I felt very encouraged and found it to be very relate-able.If you're looking for honesty, hope, and some practical steps out this is a book for you.
Can this help me?
I want to come out of heterosexuality and became gay. Can this book help me? I assume that if a person can no longer be homosexual they can no longer be heterosexual.

Wishful Homophobia
Everything that I have learned about homosexuality says that this book is bunk -- not only bunk, but also transparent homophobia.
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Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    5. Homosexuality    6. Inspirational - Protestant Self Help    7. Religion - Socialissues    8. Religious aspects    9. Social Science   

Reviews (22)