Alternately candid, funny, poignant and heartbreaking, When I Knew documents a cross-section of men and women of all ages and lifestyles who invoke the exact moment in their lives – whether as toddlers, grade-schoolers, teens or young adults – when they knew, once and for all, that they were gay. Inspired by the book of the same name by Robert Trachtenberg, award-winning filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) capture a wide array of answers to the question “When did I know?” through this inventive portrait of gay men and women, each remembering the unique experience that brought them to the conclusion that they would never be “straight.” Though some of the stories are tainted with loss, most proudly affirm that embracing one’s sexual orientation is key to being true to yourself. (BOOK)
The Riddle of Gender: Science, Activism, and Transgender Rights
When Deborah Rudacille learned that a close friend had decided to transition from female to male, she felt compelled to understand why. Coming at the controversial subject of transsexualism from several angles historical, sociological, psychological, medical Rudacille discovered that gender variance is anything but new, that changing one’s gender has been met with both acceptance and hostility through the years, and that gender identity, like sexual orientation, appears to be inborn, not learned, though in some people the sex of the body does not match the sex of the brain. Informed not only by meticulous research, but also by the author’s interviews with prominent members of the transgender community, The Riddle of Gender is a sympathetic and wise look at a sexual revolution that calls into question many of our most deeply held assumptions about what it means to be a man, a woman, and a human being. (BOOK)
The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man’s World
Today’s gay man enjoys unprecedented, hard-won social acceptance. Despite this victory, however, serious problems still exist. Substance abuse, depression, suicide, and sex addiction among gay men are at an all-time high, causing many to ask, Are we really better off? Drawing on contemporary research, psychologist Alan Downs’s own struggle with shame and anger, and stories from his patients, The Velvet Rage passionately describes the stages of a gay man’s journey out of shame and offers practical and inspired strategies to stop the cycle of avoidance and self-defeating behavior. Updated to reflect the effects of the many recent social, cultural, and political changes, The Velvet Rage is an empowering book that has already changed the public discourse on gay culture and helped shape the identity of an entire generation of gay men. (BOOK)
Now That You’re Out of the Closet, What About the Rest of the House?
Opening the door to a consistent, mature lifestyle is a difficult task for most of us, but especially for gays and lesbians living in a heterosexual world. This witty, helpful book offers solid advice, and covers the full range of life concerns–including lingering childhood issues, dating, sex and love, intolerance, and self-hatred. (BOOK)
On Being Liked
With questions of religion and homosexuality on the front pages again, and debates raging about the nature of marriage and the ordination of priests, James Alison invites us into deep, lucid reflection about God, the wonder of creation, and the way that God not only loves but likes every one of us. He takes us step-by-step through a bold adventure of re-imagining the central axis of the Christian story, not as How does God deal with sin?’ but as How do we take up God’s invitation to share in the act of creation?’ (BOOK)
