LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER CONCERNS

Alyson Almanac (1989). A Treasury of Information for the Gay and Lesbian Community.

This is a compendium of data dealing with gay men and lesbians, mixing biography, history, the arts, and useful daily life information. A cross between the World Almanac and the People's Almanac, it provides information not easily found elsewhere, such as national hotline numbers, a dictionary of gay slang, descriptions of gay communities in major cities, Congressional voting records, sample workplace policies about AIDS, etc.

Buxton, Amity Pierce (1991). The Other Side of the Closet: The Coming-out Crisis for Straight Spouses and Families.

In two million marriages, one spouse is gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Having a spouse or parent disclose his or her same-sex attraction is a shattering experience fraught with pain, confusion, anger, and a profound loss of self-esteem. Amity Pierce Buxton spotlights this exploding phenomenon and reports constructive coping strategies that spouses and children have used to resolve problems of sexual damage, family breakdown, deception, and homophobia. Illustrated throughout by riveting personal narratives, this expanded edition of The Other Side of the Closet traces the family’s journey from initial trauma to eventual transformation.

Batchelor, Edward (ed.) (1982). Homosexuality and Ethics.

A well-organized resource book on the ethical debate concerning the status of homosexuality.

Borhek, Mary (1993). Coming Out to Parents: A Two-Way Survival Guide for Lesbians and Gay Men and Their Parents.

Listed by American Bookseller as "among the most important gay and lesbian books that should be represented in any general bookstore," Borhek's original edition of this book (1983) has also been praised as "sound, sympathetic, and helpful" (St. Luke's Journal of Theology). In this thorough revision, Borhek brings an additional decade of personal knowledge and experience to bear on the subject of coming out.

Bornstein, Kate (1995). Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us.

Gender Outlaw is the work of a woman who has been through some changes--a former heterosexual male, a one-time Scientologist and IBM salesperson, now a lesbian woman writer and actress who makes regular rounds on the TV (so to speak) talk shows. In her book, Bornstein covers the "mechanics" of her surgery, everything you've always wanted to know about gender (but were too confused to ask,) addresses the place and politics of the transgendered and integrates the questions of those who give the subject little thought, creating questions of her own. She takes on various communities: gay, lesbian, straight, S/M and transgender, along with the "society at large," and in her witty, incisive observations offers the foundation of a radical new politics of sexuality and gender.

Dean, Amy E. (1994). Proud to Be: Daily Meditations for Lesbians and Gay Men.

How can we, as lesbians and gay men, empower ourselves while learning to share our strengths with our growing community? By focusing every day on the issues that unite us – issues that result simply from loving someone of the same sex.

Eichberg, Rob (1990). Coming Out: An Act of Love.

For gay men and lesbians, as well as for the families and friends of gays, this 1990's guide to coming out privately and publicly is a frank, powerful, and much-needed book. Eichberg says that a full-scale effort to find a cure for AIDS will only be implemented when gay people collectively affirm their sexuality.

Fortunato, John E. (1982). Embracing the Exile: Healing Journeys of Gay Christians.

A book of compassion and courage...recommended to church people, therapists, and above all, the "exiled" gay men and lesbians seeking hope and encouragement.

Harris, Daniel (1997). The Rise and Fall of Gay Culture.

In The Rise and Fall of Gay Culture, price-winning essayist and critic Daniel Harris traces the historical development and meaning of the artifacts and rituals of gay culture as they evolve over time. What is the source of the gay man's deification of such cult figures as Judy Garland and Joan Crawford? Why did black leather become such a mainstay of gay fashion? What role did gay men play in the eroticization of men's underwear during the past decade? What is the real significance of the AIDS quilt? As Harris explores these phenomena, he also looks at how the process of assimilation has transformed them from what were once vehicles for political protest into sanitized commodities.

Herek, Gregory M. (ed.) (1998). Stigma and Sexual Orientation: Understanding Prejudice Against Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals.

Whether engendered by homophobia, heterosexism, or simply prejudice, violence and discrimination continue to persecute the gay community, persistent in the courtroom, on the streets, and in the voting booth. Through the 1990s, empirical research on this phenomenon has advanced at a rapid pace and the results of studies using more sophisticated theories and methods to study heterosexual responses to homosexuality have increasingly found their way into mainstream journals and books. Timely and accessible, Stigma and Sexual Orientation makes a significant contribution toward the deeper understanding of homophobia, in addition to providing much-needed insight into the issue of prejudice in general.

Isensee, Rik (1990). Love Between Men: Enhancing Intimacy and Keeping Your Relationship Alive.

Read this book if you'd like to improve your relationship and communicate better with your boyfriend, lover, or even your next date! You'll learn how to resolve conflicts instead of escalating or retaliating, enhancing the sense of intimacy and love that brought you together in the first place.

Lucas, Charles L. (1987). The Lord Is My Shepherd and He Knows I'm Gay: The Autobiography of the Reverend Troy D. Perry.

Rev. Elder Troy Perry wrote this book prior to the inclusive language movement. It remains an inspiring book for lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender people regardless of their spiritual beliefs. It is also a wonderful example of Christian faith and devotion in action regardless of one's sexual orientation.

McNeill, John J. (1988). Taking a Chance on God: Liberating Theology for Gays, Lesbians, and their Lovers, Families, and Friends.

Father John J. McNeill thoughtfully explains how both tradition and Scripture support the love between people of the same sex and shows that a positive gay identity is compatible with Christian faith.

McNeill, John J. (1995). Freedom, Glorious Freedom: The Spiritual Journey to the Fullness of Life for Gays, Lesbians, and Everybody Else.

The celebrated author of The Church and the Homosexual completes his visionary trilogy of books on the saving power of God for gay men and lesbians. John J. McNeill--a Jesuit who was expelled from the Society of Jesus in 1987 for his views on homosexuals--focuses on the freedom that gay men and lesbians can find by connecting with the spirit of God.

Michaelmas, Joshua (2005). The Gay Man’s Instruction Manual: Advice for a Happier, Healthier, Wealthier, Smarter, and Sexier You!

Finally, sound advice for all of the gay men in today's world. Written with compassion and understanding, bestselling author Joshua Michaelmas (I Wish I Knew How to Quit You: An Unofficial Brokeback Mountain Trivia Book) has compiled the ultimate advice book for the modern gay man! Filled with useful bits of information, helpful advice and just plain common sense, this book is the perfect "instruction manual" for the gay man looking for some direction in his life, whether it be in the romance department, work environment or dealing with family and the struggles, agonies, joys and blisses of daily gay life.

Milton, Adrian (1995). Lavender Light: Daily Meditations for Gay Men in Recovery.

In the first book of daily meditations written especially for gay men in recovery, simple yet powerful words of wisdom speak of this unique experience--and reflect upon issues that are rarely addressed by support groups or recovery literature. Offering new insights into personal concerns, these are day-to-day messages of hope and healing.

Mordden, Ethan (1986). Buddies.

What unites us, all of us, surely is brotherhood, a sense that our friendships are historic, designed to hold Stonewall together," muses on character in Ethan Mordden's Buddies. This need for friendship, for non-erotic affection, for buddies, shines forth as an American obsession from Moby-Dick through Of Mice and Men to The Sting. And American gay life has built upon and cherished these relationships, even as it has dared-perhaps its most startling iconoclasm-to break new ground by combining romance and friendship: one's lover is one's buddy. This book is about those relationships-mostly gay but some straight and even a few between gays and straights. Here also are fathers and brothers and stories of men in their youth, when rivalry often develops more naturally than alliance. In Buddies Mordden continues to map the unstoried wilderness of gay life today.

Preston , John (1991). The Big Gay Book: A Man’s Survival Guide for the ‘90’s.

An indispensable guide to finding goods, services, & everything essential to a rich, exciting life. From data on the best places to live to AIDS & health services, here is a wealth of info on gay life today. B&W illus.

Signorile, Michelangelo (1996). Outing Yourself: How to Come Out As Lesbian or Gay to Your Family, Friends, and Coworkers.

No matter how much you prepare, coming out as gay or lesbian is a difficult, emotional process -- a process that will continue long after the words are spoken and the secret is out. There's no magic formula, but Outing Yourself by Michelangelo Signorile offers structure, guidance, and straightforward advice. Signorile's 14-step program -- complete with exercises, meditation notes, and anger checks, as well as the accounts of the coming-out experiences of other lesbians and gay men -- shows how you can successfully handle this life-changing, life-renewing process. A guide for the coming-out journey, Outing Yourself will convince all who read it that, in the words of the author, "The stress of coming out will never be as hard on you as the stress of staying in was."