Poet Cynthia Gustavson finds Straight Into Gay America "vulnerable."

Finishing writing a book feels like coming out of a solitary cave. The two hours I spent each morning, all winter, all alone, writing Straight Into Gay America are transforming into a flurry of production and 'get-the-word-out' activity. Progress is happening.

Cynthia Gustavson called me yesterday, "The proofreading is finished."

"It's a vulnerable book." she told me. Cynthia attended the national assembly of the Lutheran Church last summer, the one where the assembly addressed the question of ordination for gay and lesbian partnered couples. "You've addressed all the faith questions that I've thought of but haven't dared to ask in public. At times," she said, "when I put the book down after finishing a section, I found it hard to return to my regular routine of the day."

Cynthia was looking for errors in my book. I'm thankful she found more, especially because Cynthia is a well-known poet-therapist. Check out her website, www.cynthiagustavson.com. Lots of poems. Lots of free ebooks. Books for sale. I didn't discover Cynthia's website until after she'd read my book. After learning more about Cynthia, I feel even more deeply grateful that she provided the final grammatical blessing to this book.

Publishing a book changes a person's life. From proofreading to giving a bookstore reading, it's all about the stories we share. Thanks for sharing the journey.

Remember: Straight Into Gay America is a word-of-mouth book. That's your mouth we're depending on.

Remembering the sons.

My friend's son died two days ago. The dad is in his 70's, and he and I used to bicycle a lot together. The son was in his 40's. An agressive brain cancer finally overcame him.

I wish I could be with my friend today, but he lives many states distant from my home in Washington State.

In the memorial letter that the dad sent out he talked of his son as a fan of organic food and a champion of progressive causes. He hoped that others would carry the son's energy forward.

Reading the letter of this proud dad made me remember a very different funeral I attended in Nome, Alaska, at the Catholic Church. The funeral was for the middle aged son of a Nome family. This son was gay and had lived and died in San Francisco, far from home. After the service a friend of mine was sobbing (one of the only openly gay men in Nome at that time) I thought his tears were grief. Instead they were anger and frustration and all the emotion of being denied his own life. "They said he died of cancer. How could they say that? He died of AIDS. They never mentioned his partner's name once...I'm sorry," he apologized for his sobs, "but how can they do this to the memory of his life?"

Prayers today for my friend, and the family of my friend, and all who loved the son who has passed. During these crazy days of producing and publishing Straight Into Gay America, I sometimes feel more like a student of marketing than a student of justice. As I remember my friend and the death of his son, I remember again the gift of life and the ongoing tensions of how to be honest with our lives and with the memories that we create each day. I would like to be one who carries the energy of the son forward.

Blessings for the gift and the challenge, Lars

Equal Rights and Vulnerability

When you read Straight Into Gay America you'll discover how my dad and I disagree about equal rights. I included this part of my life in the book, because it's a part of life that many of us deal with -- Parents wondering about their kids -- Kids wondering about their parents. I included this part because I can still thankfully say that I enjoy the unconditional love of my parents, brother, spouse, and kids. What a gift.

Equal Rights or Special Rights? According to my dad, Equal Rights are not possible. Instead we should be going for Peace and Justice and Freedom, those higher things. I agree about Peace and Justice and Freedom, and still I think that Equal Rights are part of the picture toward living with compassion for one another.

Jody Huckaby, executive director of PFLAG is working on writing the foreword to Straight Into Gay America. He told of a recent experience of a kid in a religious school who was harassed by the leadership until he left for another school where, finally, he is thriving. (Purposely vague on details)

Nobody wants harassment. Equal Rights is part of stopping these tragedies, part of the journey toward our living well together.

Even though I believe these things about Equal Rights, I still feel vulnerable saying them. The journey toward Peace, Justice, Freedom, and those highest things feels exposed and risky.

This summer, and up until the election, I'll be using the term Equal Rights a lot. I'm looking forward to getting more comfortable with the risk and the exposure. I'm looking forward to learning how to build better bridges between my viewpoints and the worldviews of others.

Much to learn.

I'll try to get back here tomorrow. I know how important it is to write, to share, and to listen. Thanks for your comments.

Straight Into Gay America: Latest News

Hello dear friends,


Straight Into Gay America: Preview Three Chapters Today!
May 16, 2006
Today! 3 CHAPTERS F.R.E.E. Straight Into Gay America is moving from my private writing to the public square. Click. Read. Pass it on. We're depending on word-of-mouth.
Click here for the complete story.

Thanks for supporting the STRAIGHT INTO GAY AMERICA journey. We're currently in the book production phase. Pub-date is scheduled for July 20, the one-year anniversary of finishing the tour. We'll keep you posted. Lars


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Blog Beginnings

With publication of Straight Into Gay America just two months away, I'm turning away from the introverted work of writing to the public work of letting folks now that a book is coming soon.

Mostly I'm exhilirated at fitting together the pieces of the production puzzle. Some overwhelming moments come, too. Produce. Print. Market. Ship. "If I build a party, will they come?" "What I am I missing?"

Up to this point, the blog has been merely a post for my newsletter articles. From now on I'm going to try to check onto this blog and share a bit more of what the journey feels like. Timing-wise, as I move into production, Gracie the unicyclist is currently somewhere on the East Coast, pedaling barefoot, working her way West, trying to cross the country on her Coker unicycle. Just knowing she's out there pedaling makes me want to ride another tour. You can easily Google for Gracie Sorbello if you want to learn more.

All best wishes for the day, Lars

Straight Into Gay America: Latest News

Hello dear friends,


And the Cover Is...
May 12, 2006
Another step in the Straight Into Gay America Journey. Here's the new cover for the book and how your input helped us to make this decision.
Click here for the complete story.

Thanks for supporting the STRAIGHT INTO GAY AMERICA journey. We're currently in the book production phase. Pub-date is scheduled for July 20, the one-year anniversary of finishing the tour. We'll keep you posted. Lars


CLICK HERE TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THIS MAILING LIST.

Straight Into Gay America: Latest News

Hello dear friends,


Closing in on Publication
May 8, 2006
Closer and closer to publication. Another cover to view. Free 3-Chapter ebook ready next week. Senate will soon vote on Federal Marriage Amendment. Now is a good time to stand up for Equal Rights
Click here for the complete story.

Thanks for continuing to follow STRAIGHT INTO GAY AMERICA. Writing the text is coming along well. We'll keep you posted. Lars


CLICK HERE TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THIS MAILING LIST.