Reviews (9)

Why don't you own this?
We have three editions of this essential s/m book. I'm especially fond of the 1972 edition, since Larry signed it "To Laura, my editor" back in 1994. It's a great combination of guidebook and hot leathersex, and while the current editions left out the slang of the day (I'm especially fond of the "groovy sex" in the first edition), the essential bits that give a good look into the 70's leather community makes this a classic.

Nice intro, but not a comprehensive guide
I should preface my comments by stating that I am not a Leatherman.I enjoy the leather "costume," but felt a need to learn about what it really symbolizes.It was out of respect for the leather community that I picked up the book, in hopes of educating myself on its practices.
When There Was Only One
Back in the seventies, it was still a very risky proposition to attempt a gay publication of any sort. But in the California Seventies, books like "Song Of The Loon" (from the sixties) and eventually the likes of "Tales of The City" began breaking down the barriers, allowing homosexual men to be presented not as crazy or unstable, but as regular people in love. Larry Townsend went even farther out on a limb. He sat down in 1972 and spelled out, for the first time in book form, the codes of conduct that the underground Leather Scene and S&M men lived by. There were also several accounts of steamy real life kink encounters.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Sexual Behavior    2. Gay Studies    3. Homosexuality    4. Social Science    5. Social Science / Gay Studies    6. Sociology    7. Gay & Lesbian studies    8. Gay men    9. Handbooks, manuals, etc    10. Homosexuality, Male    11. Leather lifestyle    12. Sadomasochism    13. Sex instruction for gay men    14. Sexual behavior    15. Sexuality - Manuals   

Reviews (4)

Why not Marriage Equality? Here's why
This is an invaluable source and resource for anyone interested in the subject of marriage equality.
Advance Praise for Gay Marriage: For Better or For Worse?

Is it really gay marriage?
I am in favor of gay marriage.However, the cause is not advanced by methodological confusion.As I understand the matter, Scandinavian countries do not have gay marriage, but a version of domestic partnership, which is less sweeping.Gay marriage exists in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Canada.Why not study those countries? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Constitutional    2. Family Law - Marriage    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay couples    5. Law    6. Law and legislation    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Legal status, laws, etc.    9. Public Policy - General    10. Same-sex marriage    11. Scandinavia    12. United States    13. Law / Domestic Relations / Marriage    14. Law | Family and Child Law   

Reviews (1)

Straightforward, Unadorned, and Informative
The adjectives are few and far between in this no-nonsense, unsentimental, and extremely thoughtful study by an acedemic who obviously cares deeply for the health and welfare of young men in the sex trade.Based on a series of detailed interviews with 40 male sex workers in Montreal and Quebec City, the author and his team of researchers have distilled four distinct "types" of life-patterns into which his subjects may be classified.And while Dorais admits that the lines between these categories are quite permeable, the four types nevertheless provide a useful framework with which to understand the history, psychology, and motivations of men who rent themselves to others. Even more provocative, however, is the suggestion that each of these types require a tailored approach to "extraction strategies" when the sex workers themselves decide that it's time to leave the life of prostitution.Although rigorously academic, this book is far from dry -- and highly readable. At exactly 100 pages, it can be completed in a couple of hours.And that's a small price to pay for the chance to have permanently dispelled all the tawdry and tired misconceptions about what it means to be a modern-day male sex worker. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Men's Studies - General    2. Social Science    3. Sociology    4. Prostitution   

Reviews (71)

A Call to Arms
(3.5 stars actually, rounded up) As noted by others, responses to this book are typically polarized: either supportive if one is Christian and alarmed at this 'agenda,' or homosexual-supportive and insist the book presents 'bigotry, lies and hate-speech.' If a balanced review of this item is possible, I will attempt a concise one here.
Truth needs to be heard
This book deserves a wide hearing. While all homosexuals deserve to be treated fairly and with respect, societies have a right and an obligation to consider whether they allow the homosexual lifestyle to be embraced and normalised on a large scale. Most societies have recognised the public health risks of the homosexual lifestyle, and have chosen to carefully allow some tolerance while not fully endorsing the homosexual agenda.
Claptrap, to put it politely. Bigotry and lies, to tell the truth.
I have a gay brother and sister, and they are exactly the same people now they were as small children -- except they've grown up to become a doctor and a respected business executive, each still with a partner they met over 30 years ago.
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Subjects:  1. Christianity - Christian Life - Political Issues    2. Christianity - Christian Life - Social Issues    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    5. Religion - Socialissues    6. Sexuality & Gender Studies    7. Social Science   

Editorial Review

The authors of this essential new guide maintain that lesbian and gay adolescents "rarely receive health education and counseling in a way that is relevant to them." Health and emotional risks to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth are heightened by prejudice and the chance of antigay violence, as well as by the need for secrecy. In fact, the problems of disclosure may be the greatest impediment to appropriate health care for gay minors, who (often rightly) fear that their parents will be informed of their sexuality or their medical conditions. Health care providers have been working without clinical care guidelines for gay youth, let alone a single resource that brings together protocols for assessment, treatment, and psychosocial care. Named the 1998 Book of the Year in Psychiatric Nursing by the Read more

Reviews (1)

Required reading for any youth service provider!
This incredible book takes the reader on an easy to follow journey that starts with the basics necessary to the understanding of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered youth.A well organized summary of existing knowledge is combined with progressive new knowledge to offer up concrete information about assessing, intervening, and supporting this gravely underserved population of youth and their families.Read more

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. Gay teenagers    3. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    4. Gender Studies    5. Health Care Delivery    6. Health and hygiene    7. Life Stages - Adolescence - Sexuality    8. Medical care    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Social Science / Social Work    12. Lesbian Studies    13. Adolescent Psychology    14. Adolescent Psychiatry    15. Counseling    16.  Diseases - AIDS & HIV   

Reviews (1)

Essential Reading
Everything you'd expect and hope to find in a scholarly work on film and queer theory, and a good many surprises. Ellis Hanson's well edited collection has found its way onto numerous college reading lists and will doubtless stay on them for years to come as this is indeed a seminal volume in the history (brief as it is) of queer theory and film. Academic yet readable and engaging, these essays leave behind discussion of queer films in terms of whether or not they contain "good" or "positive" representations of gay men and lesbians, and rather celebrate what is illusive, problematic, complex, and interesting about the queer themes and characters that have appeared in film since its earliest days. Read more

Subjects:  1. Cinema/Film: Book    2. Film & Video - General    3. Film & Video - History & Criticism    4. Gay Studies    5. Gay motion picture producers a    6. Gay motion picture producers and directors    7. Homosexuality    8. Homosexuality and motion pictu    9. Homosexuality and motion pictures    10. Homosexuality in motion pictur    11. Homosexuality in motion pictures    12. Lesbian Studies    13. Performing Arts    14. Sociology    15. Special Subjects In Motion Pictures    16. Film theory & criticism    17. Gay & Lesbian studies   

Reviews (9)

Needed Guidance
This book is very practical and incuded more than expected.Legal issues, adopting, all good information to keep in mind.And the real-life stories are used well.Great book!

Kind of a narrow view
I am not sure what I expected from this book.Maybe I have a bias since I am a professional event planner who also happens to be a lesbian.First off I must say the book does offer practical, easy to understand advice for any couple planning a wedding. The chapters are well laid out and packed with practical ideas.On the other hand the book does have a more gay male friendliness than lesbian friendliness.The book is authored by a gay male and straight female.So, the true lesbian point of view is kind of lost in the shuffle.Silly issues arise for the lesbian side of things assuming that all lesbian relationships are made up of two masculine females or two effeminate females.The vast assumption is made that all the members of a lesbian wedding party will wear dresses. The silly question also arises as to which woman will toss the bouquet or if two should be tossed. My partner would not be caught dead in a dress and do not even try to push a bouquet into her hands.I do commend Mr. Toussaint on his ability to make a well rounded wedding guide for the "rainbow" family, but his research (if he did any) should have include vast types of lesbians the same as it included vast types of gay male relationships.For this reason I can not give the book a full five stars because it simply does not address the issues of lesbian couples.

Lesbian Love
I heard about this book after a friend of mine in L.A. went to a signing. Thanks, Amazon, for carrying it. Toussaint and Leo did a great job telling us how to plan the wedding, and I'd recommend this book to anyone. But what I liked best, and didn't expect, was that the book told us all about the legal stuff; we might want to adopt someday, and there is a whole section about the different laws from each state. There was also a part on how to find an officiant, which helped a great deal. I thought I was going to have to spend days on the Internet searching for places to get help in that area, but it's all spelled out in the book. They give a whole list of sites to go to. We hope to someday make it to Massachusetts to make the whole thing legal, but until then, and after reading this book, we feel our "marriage" is as real as the best of them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. Planning    3. Reference    4. Same-sex marriage    5. Weddings    6. Reference / Weddings   

Reviews (21)

Brave ......the only book of its type
I'm reading `Anything but Straight' for the second time. For me that's about the best vote of confidence I can give any book.
Disturbing book and Bigoted Reviews
I first read the reviews on this book and was disturbed by the attempts of straight folks promoting the ex-gay "agenda" giving the author lousy ratings.
could be better, could be worse
I really wanted to like this book.It has good information in it but the writing style is a bit amateurish in the beginning, then seems to completely change a third of the way through.it was as if two different people wrote it. Still, if anyone is even CONSIDERING joing an ex-gay ministry in hopes of changing his/her sexual orientation, don't do anything until you read this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - Christian Life - Social Issues    3. Church work with gays    4. Ex-gay movement    5. Gay Studies    6. Gays    7. Gender Studies    8. History    9. History of doctrines    10. Homosexuality    11. Pastoral counseling of    12. Religious aspects    13. Social Science    14. Sociology    15. United States    16. Gay & Lesbian studies   

Reviews (3)

Useful for both Jews and Gentiles
This book has been acknowledged by leading Orthodox Rabbis as a groundbreaking effort to take into account the influences and impact of modern Western society. The author searches out all opportunities to apply sensitivity and caring while faithfully adhering to Torah Law ("halacha"). It is extensively researched and presents a most appropriate Orthodox response to this issue as it applies to Jews, but in doing so it probes the philosphical, moral, emotional, physiological and psychological dimensions of homosexuality which apply across the board.The book is valuable for arriving at the Torah Law perspective for today's Gentiles as well. The Noahide Commandments are brought into the discussion, and in numerous places the Torah Laws for both Jews and Gentiles are outlined and compared. The author is careful to delineate how the halacha applies for men and how it applies for women. He also includes relevant Chassidic teachings which are essential for full understanding and proper perspective. Some Orthodox critics have rushed to unwarrented criticisms of this book because they did not read it carefully and intelligently enough to understand the author's intricate analysis of homosexuality in the comparison with other Jewish prohibitions of the Torah, and that he does not, in the final analysis, suggest any deviation from established halacha. In particular the author underscores the fact that sensitivity on a personal level does not carry over into the grave phenomenon of factional and organizational attempts to legitimize a gay or lesbian lifestyle to society. The real-life "Questions and Responses" and voluminous footnotes add richness and depth for all readers.

Poorly thought out
Rapoport has produced a comprehensive study of Judaism and its approach to homosexuality. While full of information and analysis, his conclusions are faulty:
Brilliantly Done!
As an Orthodox rabbi, I applaud R. Chaim Rapoport's attention to halachic detail but also his recognition of the human aspect of this issue. With enormous sympathy, R. Rapoport describes the dilemma of the Orthodox Homosexual and tries to offer a religiously and psychologically sound course of action. This book will be THE definitive work on the subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Doctrines    2. Ethnic Studies - General    3. Gay Studies    4. Homosexuality    5. Judaism    6. Judaism - General    7. Lesbian Studies    8. Orthodox Judaism    9. Pastoral psychology (Judaism)    10. Religion - Judaism    11. Religious aspects    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Gay & Lesbian studies    15. Jewish studies   

Subjects:  1. Domestic Relations - General    2. Family Law - General    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay couples    5. Homosexuality    6. Law    7. Law and legislation    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. Legal status, laws, etc    10. Legal status, laws, etc.    11. Lesbian Studies    12. Lesbian couples    13. Lesbians    14. Popular works    15. United States   

Editorial Review

Paula Martinac's Read more

Reviews (2)

Its about time!
Your local bookseller will have entire sections of books all aboutheterosexual relationships-- how come it took so long to get a true gay andlesbian relationship book that was this good?The good thing about thisbook, however, has to do with its sub-title: "Creating the Stories ofOur Lives."Whereas other books of its genre seem to rest only ontheir author's self-proclaimed expertise, Martinac uses the book as a sortof collage.She explores relationships though all sorts of interviews andpersonal stories written by herself and other gay and lesbian people.Thisbook doesn't tell you how your relationship should function, rather ittells how other relationships have, and thus you can relate your life tothose in the book.I would definitely reccomend it-- Very inspiring!

Wonderful Work!!
Paula Martinac and Roberta Achtenberg have done the gay and lesbian community a great service in creating this warm and complete look at the current state of lesbian and gay relationships.Read more

Subjects:  1. Dating (Social customs)    2. Family & Relationships    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay couples    5. Gay male couples    6. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    7. Homosexuality    8. Interviews    9. Lesbian Studies    10. Lesbian couples    11. Marriage    12. Sociology    13. Sociology - Marriage & Family    14. United States    15. Family & Relationships / Alternative Family    16. Gay & Lesbian studies   

Reviews (4)

Very thorough!
This book is one of the most thorough works of the existing literature around on gay men and relationships. The author has done an excellent job researching romantic love and the love lives of gay men and why so many are still single. Without pathologizing single gay men or the gay male community he presents a balanced and objective viewpoint of why so many gay men stay single. Hopefully this will end any shame single gay men might feel and take on all the blame!
Bereznai's book rings true
Tangling his ancedotes with thorough research, Bereznai tackles a subject that heavily lingers in the gay community: Can you be single and happy? Handled with humor and intellect, he crafts a quick paced book that'll open gay men's eyes to their own self-worth in a community that pressures us to be dependent on a partner. Readers far and wide will find pieces of their own lives in Bereznai's book and will come to realize, like myself, that being single isn't so bad afterall.
the book gay singles have been waiting for!
I can definitely say this book has changed my life. Author Steven Bereznai speaks with such honesty, without the sacharine coating of self-help books, that I felt I was dealing with someone who understood the emotional turmoil of singlehood, and gay culture itself. There is poignant humor when talking about his mother (very Margaret Cho), easy to understand science when discussing the evolution of homosexuality and homosociability, and borderline spirituality when revealing how some one night stands have dramatically altered the course of his life. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. Homosexuality    3. Interpersonal Relations    4. Love & Romance    5. Love / Sex / Marriage    6. Psychology    7. Gay studies (Gay men)    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Interpersonal Relations   

Reviews (10)

Not a teen, freak, or outlaw - just suicidal?
Actually, I've met very few people in my life that didn't at least at times fall into the freak or outlaw catagories... but I wouldn't want you to get the idea that you have to be outrageous or extraspectacular or political in your freakiness to be able to benefit from this book.
Kate serves it up down home style
I don't know if it's boorish to predicate a review with my own trans status, but hey, I am if it matters. Seriously, I love Kate Bornstein because she tells us exactly what we need to hear - we are human, we suffer, we do not deserve to be punished (unless that's what we want). I use all Kate's books not just for myself, but to point other people in my life toward as a gender primer and affirmation. She's an easy, interesting and heartfelt author who shares the secrets so many of us are too afraid to admit are our own. This is an essential reader.

Kate ROCKS!
I found myself reading this book the way I savor fine wine.I literally read it in 10 page incriments, partly because I wanted to make sure that I was fully digesting the contents and because I never wanted to reach the book's end.Kate is a mind-blowing, earth-shattering activist who continues to inspire me.I picked up this book at a time in my life when I wasn't feeling low or depressed, but 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens Freaks and Other Outlaws provided me with such a life affirming experience, that words don't even begin to do justice to it's impact.Know that I will be recommending this book to anyone who will listen! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adolescent psychology    2. Depression    3. Gay Studies    4. Gender Studies    5. General    6. Prevention    7. Psychology    8. Self-Help    9. Self-help techniques for teenagers    10. Suicidal behavior    11. Suicide    12. Teenagers    13. Advice on careers & achieving success    14. Coping with personal problems    15. Self-Help / General   

Reviews (19)

I enjoy this..
I enjoy this..It's very good and phenomenal in that it's the first work of it's kind really. It covers the Greeks to Aquinas. John Boswell is a cutie. This has a wonderfully attractive cover, as well as the original one which is no longer shown of a second-century mosaic. This covers the beginning of the Christian era to the fourteenth century. It is extensive with many footnotes..I like it, that's all..It won awards..Go buy this..

Rhetorical tour de force, lacking in substantiation.
Boswell's work is an impressive volume which has all the appearance of a powerful academic treatise, offering a revolutionary new interpretation of the attitudes and practices of the early Christian peroid vis-a-vis homosexuality.Unfortunately, the central thesis Boswell offers, that the virulently homophobic standpoint of the modern Church only makes its entry sometime after the 12th century CE, rests on little more than whimsical interpretation of the evidence and inexcusable omission of contrary data.
A bold, but flawed, pioneering work
It's been more than twenty years since John Boswell's pioneering work on the history of homosexuality first appeared.Boswell argues that originally homosexuality was tolerated and admired in the urban world of the Roman Empire.Contrary to what one may think it was not Christianity per se that reduced this tolerance.In fact, one cannot show that the New Testament was hostile to homosexuality at all.Instead there was a certain decline of tolerance as the urban civilization of Rome collapsed.Yet for much of what we know as the Dark Ages homosexuality was viewed as at most a venial sin, and legal prohibitions against it were limited and ineffective.Indeed as urban civilization recovered by the eleventh and twelfth centuries a flourishing gay subculture arose, celebrating homosexual love.But over the next few centuries as powerful states seeking to enforce their authority arose, new anti-sodomy laws appeared, demanding death for its violators. Read more

Subjects:  1. Christian Sexual Ethics    2. Christianity - History - General    3. Europe    4. Gay Studies    5. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    6. Gender Studies    7. History    8. Homosexuality    9. Homosexuality and Christianity    10. Sexuality & Gender Studies    11. Social Science    12. Sociology of Religion    13. Christianity    14. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    15. Lesbian studies    16. Social Science / Gay Studies    17. Social history   

Editorial Review

We live in a world obsessed with (and appalled by) sex. Open any magazine--certainly any gay male magazine--and you will find it clogged with sexualized images. But a fundamental, hardcore American puritanism still prevents open, honest, and useful discussions of sexuality. While this is true for heterosexuality, it is even more so for gay men and lesbians. Jack Hart's Read more

Reviews (16)

Wonderful Lessons.
As a person recently out of the closet, I found this book extremely helpful and frank.It is full with wonderful and explicit illustrations.It answered all my questions and doubts.I feel much more prepared for the lifestyle I've chosen.

Its a dictionary
This book i guess is a manual... but i would discribe it more as a dictionary. It summariz'z a word like testicals in one sentance and then talks about it in a few paragraphs. In my opinion Ultimate Gay Sex is a lot better than this book. Plus UGS has actuall photography to help get a better ideas, this book has some hand drawn pictures. Hope this helps.

Happy Day !
Before reading this book, I thought my embarrasing problem would not go away. Then I tried a technique described and ended up having the best night of sex in the world. Not all information in the book will be useful to everyone, but it is definately worth looking at. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    3. Homosexuality, Male    4. Love / Sex / Marriage    5. Sex instruction for gay men    6. Sexual Instruction    7. Social Science    8. Birth control, contraception, family planning    9. Gay & Lesbian studies    10. Social Science / Gay Studies   

Subjects:  1. Bisexuals    2. Gay Studies    3. Gay men    4. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    5. Homosexuality    6. Lesbians    7. Politics - Current Events    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    10. Sexual orientation    11. Social Science    12. Social Welfare Services For Special Classes    13. Social Work    14. Social work with gays    15. Gay & Lesbian studies    16. Social Science / Gay Studies   

Reviews (4)

Social Constructionist Delusion
Halperin's book highlights the absurdity of social constructionism.If homosexuals first appeared in the English speaking world when the word was first attested in 1892, then they must by that logic have appeared in the German speaking world in 1869, when Kertbeny coined the German equivalent.We homos also must have not yet appeared among speakers of such languages that do not yet have the term - even if some of those speakers know English.This exaggerated form of social constructionism ignores the habitual, exclusive sodomite known to medieval and early modern Europeans, as well as to the Greeks and Romans whose authors often satirized such queens in terms all too familiar today.
Academically Excellent Reference Book
David Halpern "is Professor of Literature in the School of Solid Compendium
This was given to me by a friend. I have found it to be indespensible in my readings as a great place to start looking for information on Greek Homosexuality. The bibliography is top-notch. Highly recommended for any historian or philosopher of the Greek era, and any gay person interested in the history of homosexuality. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Greece    2. Gay & Lesbian    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    5. Greece    6. History    7. History - General History    8. Homosexuality, Male    9. Social Science    10. Sodomy    11. Ancient Greece    12. European history: BCE to c 500 CE    13. Gay studies (Gay men)    14. History / Ancient / General    15. Social history   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. American fiction    3. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    4. Gay Studies    5. Gender Studies    6. History and criticism    7. Homosexuality and literature    8. Homosexuality in literature    9. Semiotics & Theory    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. United States    13. African American Studies    14. Black studies    15. Gay & Lesbian Studies/Queer Th    16. Gay & Lesbian studies    17. Literary Studies/Criticism & T    18. USA   

Reviews (11)

Great gay primer to the Disney parks
Aside from being a fun read, this book is right on target because gay men and lesbians look for different things in recreation places than heteros often do. Most importantly, we want gay-friendly places where we know we can be ourselves and have a good time. This book is full of fun, frank descriptions of the attractions (yes to Disneyland's Fantasmic!; no to California Adventure's Golden Zephyr), and the Fairy Facts are great-alone they could make a book. The authors provide an hilarious revisionist read on the Disney characters like the fairies, but Alice in Wonderland makes a great fag hag circuit queen if you look carefully. The book also highlights the ways in which the Disney parks are gay-friendly, tricks and tips for getting good seats for attractions and minimizing your wait in lines, reviews of the eating establishments (a culinary lifesaver!), and the top spots to share a gay moment (like the Hall of Presidents in Walt Disney World), all to help you get the most out of each of the theme parks.

Refreshing and Useful Guide to Disneyworld and Disneyland
Not only have I bought this book for my own use but for gifts for all the people I know who are going with and without children to Disney. The book gives insight into the various attractions, helping one to know what is age appropriate and what you should definitely see (especially for first time goers). The hotel and restaurant critiques are great! What I loved the most was that while reading a well written Guide, you smiled and laughed all along the way. Not just for Queens
I read about this book in Out Magazine and bought it for a recent trip to Orlando. It was just great. It's also really funny. And I dont think you would have to be gay or lesbian to really appreciate and use the book to get the most out of your Disney vacation. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business Aspects    2. California    3. Disneyland    4. Disneyland (Calif.)    5. Florida    6. Gay Studies    7. Gays    8. General    9. Guidebooks    10. Recreation    11. Sociology    12. Travel    13. United States - General    14. Walt Disney World    15. Walt Disney World (Fla.)    16. Travel & holiday guides    17. Travel / General    18. Travel writing    19. USA