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Blacks, Gays & the Struggle for Equality Dangerous Liaisons: Blacks, Gays & the Struggle for Equality, edited by Eric Brandt; The New Press; 312 pages; $22.95.
Blacks and gays are also split by racism on the part of white gays; homophobia on the part of straight blacks; and the myth that gays are all affluent whites who don't need civil rights protection. Neither side seems to acknowledge the existence of African-American queers, who are stuck in the middle of this "Great Divide". Dangerous Liaisons: Blacks, Gays, and the Struggle for Equality, explores the differences and similarities that exist between being black in a racist society and being queer in a homophobic society. Essays by African-American and GLBT writers and scholars discuss the issues that unite and divide the two communities: the hate crime murders of James Byrd and Matthew Shepard; the antigay video Gay Rights/Special Rights that was distributed to the black churches; black homophobia and gay racism; and the alarming spread of HIV among same-sex lovin', African-American men. "[I]t is my hope that the work of the contributors to this volume will not only spark controversy, but move the debate forward," writes editor Eric Brandt. "Recognition of the diversity of both communities is one of the best weapons against unthinking stereotypes, the building blocks of persecution." To which I can only say,amen. When It's Time to Leave Your Lover: A Guide for Gay Men by Neil Kaminsky, LCSW; Harrington Park Press; 292 pages; $24.95.
Sometimes the hardest thing in a relationship is knowing when to walk away:
Out of fear or insecurity we are determined to hold on to what we have; not realizing
that what we have is not always worth holding on to (here I speak from past
personal experience).
When It's Time to Leave Your Lover deals with that troubling fork on the road of many gay relationships. "If you are a gay man considering a breakup or in the process of one, this book is for you", writes Neil Kaminsky. "It addresses the decision to leave, outer societal and gay community pressures against uncoupling, grieving loss, emotional and social ramifications of a breakup, 'rebounding,' coping and healing, and the components of a healthy, viable relationship." Though Kaminsky "strongly support[s] the institution of gay and lesbian long-term relationships", he argues "that the relationship should be or have the potential to become healthy, and that we should not remain together for the sake of remaining together." Kaminsky backs these and other arguments with a healthy dose of quotes, taken from "interviews by the author", and vignettes that "are based on the author's personal and professional experience." Openly Gay, Openly Christian: How the Bible is Really Gay Friendly by Rev. Samuel Kader; Leyland Publications; 160 pages; $15.95.
"There is a difference between a religion which has rituals, strict adherence to rules, and one centered in a relationship with God." Thanks to the work of Rev. Kader and others like him, many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Christians are rediscovering that divine relationship. The Best of the Superstars 2000:The Year in Sex, by John Patrick; STARbooks; 576 pages; $11.95. Since 1990, STARbooks' John Patrick has chronicled "the World's Sexiest Young Guys" in his "Best of the Superstars" series. The Best of the Superstars 2000 "is an overview of the personalities and entertainments that have helped mold our gay consciousness."
In spite of this and other no-shows, Superstars 2000 is mostly on target as to which young male stars are currently big and which ones will get bigger - in all senses of the word. Computer geeks should note that The Best of the Superstars features a "Best in Cybersex" list of studio, porn star and "personal services" sites, just in case you want more than what this book has to offer. From GLB Publishers come some of our community's most entertaining fiction. Different Voices: A Different Voice and Other Stories ($12.95) is a collection of short stories and a novella by Walter Febick, a freelance writer out of El-Lay. His stories "are those of young men who are struggling with gay longings from adolescence and the more adult confusions of self-image in finding harmony in relationships." The Boys of Swithins Hall: An English Schoolboy Novel ($13.95) is Chris Kent's delightful romp through an English boys' boarding school. Finally, The Saint of Sodomy and Other Works ($11.95) is a collection of verse by William Tarvin. Done in the styles of Lord Byron, James Joyce, William Shakespeare and W. H. Auden, The Saint of Sodomy is a delightful book, the kind you would expect from a retired professor of English literature. |
As minority groups fighting repression and discrimination, blacks and gays should be willing
partners. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. Some black leaders,
especially religious conservatives, object when lesbian and gay activists
compare their struggle to the civil rights movement, or latch on to the
hard-won victories of the African-American community.
Sexy Superstar Matt Damon 
© 1997-2000 BEI