Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
This book fills the gap for 20 million queer Americans where 90% of the current queer nonfiction titles are predominantly by and about white, educated, upper middle class LGBTQ artists and icons, mostly gay men. Global figures, diverse representatives, Lesbians, disabled, gender fluid, working class artists, icons and, especially, everyday heroes are left out of the portrait. Most collections highlight research and feature dead heroes. Only Tony Kushner s Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes crossed over into bestseller status, cutting across race, class and sexual orientation in its readership. This collection is based on actual interviews with real stories and direct quotes. The subjects are leading successful, happy and fulfilling lives. Readers can see themselves in the featured LGBTQ icons, from the highest-ranking Lesbian at IBM to the Argentinian baker in Oakland, from the Maori Olympic rugby player and New Zealand MP to the African American choreographer from a potato sharecropping family, from the former president of the L.A.F.D. Women Firefighters to the Dutch-Spanish firefighter in the UK, from the Kansas gay dads to the Mexican American founder of a nonprofit to help queers stop smoking, from the first openly Lesbian Bishop of a major Christian religion to a Cuban immigrant inaugural poet, from the owner of the London gay bookshop featured in the film, PRIDE, to the first Transgender Member of Parliament in the world, and so on. This is what makes my book original. It s one of the only books of its kind on the current amazon.com list of Top 25 Gay & Lesbian History Books and Nonfiction bestsellers. These are the happy ending stories queer readers and their allies crave. On a global scale, the awareness of the broad swath of LGBTQ artists, icons, everyday heroes and their contributions is often limited. This book brings those global role models out of the shadows for the gay boy in Ireland being bullied in his all-boys Catholic school or the Ugandan Lesbian fearing rape or worse in a country that outlaws homosexuality. With the Internet and e-books, nonfiction queer titles can find their way into the 73 countries where queers risk imprisonment for the crime of being queer or the 13 states where being gay brings the death penalty. For all our advances, American queer youth are still 4 times more likely to attempt suicide as their straight peers (The Trevor Project, 2016). In America, queer youth make up 40% of the homeless population compared to 7% of the straight population (True Colors Fund, 2016). Studies are limited, but most indicate that substance abuse among LGBTQ Americans is 20-30% higher than the general population. From the Book: "This book will touch hearts and save lives. This book will encourage queer youth, college students and adults to pursue their dreams. I m writing this book to inspire and embolden the next generation of queer youth, adults and allies around the world. I want American queers to realize on a visceral level that the fight for global LGBTQ rights, as well as gay rights in the U.S., is not over. I don t want LGBTQ young professionals to experience what I did as a closeted Lesbian in a corporation where it was literally dangerous to come out. In one of my Persuasive Speaking classes at HP, one of my students, a highly educated white American engineer, delivered a speech justifying murder for only 5 crimes, one of which was homosexuality. At another company, I was OUTed by a former friend and colleague and subsequently fired by a Southern cracker CEO. A labor lawyer advised that I had no recourse since I was not OUT and couldn t prove that this was a targeted layoff. The next corporate job, I was OUT to my department, but not to the salespeople I was training around the world. When the secretary OUTed me to the entire building at corporate headquarters, I had recourse with my boss and HR and was, subsequently, promoted and the secretary moved to another building with a stern warning. When I first met my Kiwi wife, she was not a citizen and we couldn t marry in the U.S. This caused us to make all kinds of jujitsu moves; from becoming Civil Union partners in New Zealand to carrying Power of Attorney papers everywhere we went to paying extraordinary taxes and tax preparation fees because we could not marry. That was not that long ago: Marriage Equality was just won in the U.S. Supreme Court on Jun. 26, 2015."
Synopsis
Find out why Tony Kushner quit cello and how Colm Toibin found his voice. Learn why Emma Donoghue calls her experience a fluke and the best advice Bill T. Jones got was from his mother. Discover how being an inaugural poet changed Richard Blanco's life and how Ugandan activist "LongJones" escaped death threats and gained asylum. Award-winning writer and longtime LGBTQ activist Kathleen Archambeau tells the untold stories from diverse voices around the corner or around the world. Not like the depressing, sinister, shadowy stories of the past, this book highlights queer people living open, happy, fulfilling and successful lives. Be inspired by the audacity to fight for justice that motivates National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell, a Mormon who grew up in Utah. Be emboldened by the bravery of a Uruguayan author who was rejected by her immediate family even as she began a family of her own. Learn how two couples transcend time and distance to finally be together and how one NBA sports executive summoned the courage to come out. Discover the message of love from the first openly lesbian United Methodist Church Bishop. Learn the secrets of successful OUT IBM executive based in London and the rewards of Ballroom Basix founder in Harlem. See how the Maori philosophy of whānau guided the MP who won marriage rights in New Zealand and how high expectations overcame disability and bullying for an acclaimed mezzo-soprano. Know how the Armenian Genocide and family tensions impacted a professional violinist and composer. From the transgender choreographer and dancer who continues to break rules and enlighten audiences to the Dutch singer, songwriter and independent theater producer who breaks down stereotypes. From the Russian emigre award-winning computer scientist to the Chinese folk dancer. From the founder of an award-winning smoking cessation program to the California Political Director of the Obama re-election campaign. Entrepreneurs and gay dads, ballroom dancers and Hungarian activists on neo-Nazi "hit lists." Pride and Joy: LGBTQ Artists, Icons and Everyday Heroes tells the stories of queer citizens of the world living OUT and proud happy, fulfilling, successful lives. Diverse and global. Famous and unsung. There is a story here for everyone who's ever questioned their sexual orientation or gender identity or discovered it. There's a window into the LGBTQ community for the straight friends, allies, parents and families of this finally emerging marginalized group. There's hope that, in the words of Dan Savage, "It Gets Better."
Synopsis
STORIES OF SUCCESS, HAPPINESS AND HOPE FROM THE LGBT COMMUNITY STORIES THAT COMPRISE THE BEST OF LGBT HISTORY ─ "Pride and Joy: LGBTQ Artists, Icons and Everyday Heroes" tells the stories of queer citizens of the world living OUT and proud happy, fulfilling, successful lives. Diverse and global. Famous and unsung. There is a story here for everyone in the LGBT community who has ever questioned their sexual orientation or gender identity, or discovered it. DISCOVER LGBT COMMUNITY STORIES THAT WILL STIR YOU AND REVEAL: - why Tony Kushner quit cello and how Colm Toibin found his voice. - why Emma Donoghue calls her experience a fluke and the best advice Bill T. Jones got was from his mother. - how being an inaugural poet changed Richard Blanco's life and how Ugandan activist "LongJones" escaped death threats and gained asylum. Award-winning writer and longtime LGBTQ activist Kathleen Archambeau tells the untold stories from diverse LGBT community voices around the corner or around the world. Not like the depressing, sinister, shadowy stories of the past, this book highlights queer people living open, happy, fulfilling and successful lives. BE INSPIRED BY LGBT COMMUNITY STORIES THAT CELEBRATE THE HUMAN SPIRIT: - Be emboldened by the bravery of a Uruguayan author who was rejected by her immediate family even as she began a family of her own. - Be inspired by the audacity to fight for justice that motivates National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell, a Mormon who grew up in Utah. - Learn how two couples transcend time and distance to finally be together and how one NBA sports executive summoned the courage to come out. - Discover the message of love from the first openly lesbian United Methodist Church Bishop. - Learn the secrets of successful OUT IBM executive based in London and the rewards of Ballroom Basix founder in Harlem. - See how the Maori philosophy of whānau guided the MP who won marriage rights in New Zealand and how high expectations overcame disability and bullying for an acclaimed mezzo-soprano. - Know how the Armenian Genocide and family tensions impacted a professional violinist and composer. "Pride & Joy" is a window into the LGBTQ community for straight friends, allies, parents and families of this finally emerging marginalized group. There's hope that, in the words of Dan Savage, "It Gets Better" for: - the transgender choreographer and dancer who continues to break rules and enlighten audiences to the Dutch singer, songwriter and independent theater producer who breaks down stereotypes. - the Russian emigre award-winning computer scientist to the Chinese folk dancer. - the founder of an award-winning smoking cessation program to the California Political Director of the Obama re-election campaign. - and, for Entrepreneurs and gay dads, ballroom dancers and Hungarian activists on neo-Nazi "hit lists."
Synopsis
Stories of success, happiness and hope from the LGBT community Stories that comprise the best of LGBT history ─ Pride and Joy: LGBTQ Artists, Icons and Everyday Heroes tells the stories of queer citizens of the world living OUT and proud happy, fulfilling, successful lives. Diverse and global. Famous and unsung. There is a story here for everyone in the LGBT community who has ever questioned their sexual orientation or gender identity, or discovered it. Discover LGBT community stories that will stir you and reveal: - why Tony Kushner quit cello and how Colm Toibin found his voice. - why Emma Donoghue calls her experience a fluke and the best advice Bill T. Jones got was from his mother. - how being an inaugural poet changed Richard Blanco's life and how Ugandan activist -LongJones- escaped death threats and gained asylum. Award-winning writer and longtime LGBTQ activist Kathleen Archambeau tells the untold stories from diverse LGBT community voices around the corner or around the world. Not like the depressing, sinister, shadowy stories of the past, this book highlights queer people living open, happy, fulfilling and successful lives. Be inspired by LGBT community stories that celebrate the human spirit: - Be emboldened by the bravery of a Uruguayan author who was rejected by her immediate family even as she began a family of her own. - Be inspired by the audacity to fight for justice that motivates National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell, a Mormon who grew up in Utah. - Learn how two couples transcend time and distance to finally be together and how one NBA sports executive summoned the courage to come out. - Discover the message of love from the first openly lesbian United Methodist Church Bishop. - Learn the secrets of successful OUT IBM executive based in London and the rewards of Ballroom Basix founder in Harlem. - See how the Maori philosophy of whānau guided the MP who won marriage rights in New Zealand and how high expectations overcame disability and bullying for an acclaimed mezzo-soprano. - Know how the Armenian Genocide and family tensions impacted a professional violinist and composer. Pride & Joy is a window into the LGBTQ community for straight friends, allies, parents and families of this finally emerging marginalized group. There's hope that, in the words of Dan Savage, -It Gets Better- for: - the transgender choreographer and dancer who continues to break rules and enlighten audiences to the Dutch singer, songwriter and independent theater producer who breaks down stereotypes. - the Russian emigre award-winning computer scientist to the Chinese folk dancer. - the founder of an award-winning smoking cessation program to the California Political Director of the Obama re-election campaign. - and, for Entrepreneurs and gay dads, ballroom dancers and Hungarian activists on neo-Nazi -hit lists.-