GLBTRT Newsletter

A publication of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Round Table of the American Library Association http://www.ala.org/glbtrt

Reviews (Pages 5 -17): Films Vol. 23, No. 1 ◊ Spring 2011  Bullied  David’s Birthday  Eyes Wide Open GLBTRT Updates Name—Changes  Four Faced Liar ―Transgendered‖ to ―Transgender‖  Gay Revolt at Denver City Council  And Then Came Lola You may have noticed a new logo on the transgender community and better reflect Newsletter! The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and the GLBT community. Children’s Transgendered Round Table (GLBTRT) is now the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender ―The Round Table decided to make this  The Family Book Round Table, to reflect the preferred change so there would be consistency  Sometimes the Spoon terminology of the transgender community. between the name of the round table and commonly used language,‖ said ALA Co- Runs Away with The name change was approved during the Chairs Anne Moore and Dale McNeill in a another Spoon American Library Association’s Midwinter statement explaining the change. ―From Non-Fiction Meeting in San Diego. By changing the outside the community, this change may previously-used ―transgendered‖ to seem like a minor detail, but GLBT  Bulldaggers ―transgender‖ in its title, GLBTRT’s membership communities have long been attuned to the seeks to bring the round table’s name in line power and implications of labeling.‖  Gay Bar with the language preference of the  Say, Straight and the Reason Why  Great Answers to Hard The Williams Institute Releases Research Questions about Sex on GLBT Population  Life, Leather and the Pursuit of Happiness A leading think tank dedicated to the field of sexual orientation and gender  Obama and the Gays identity-related law and public policy, released new research that estimates  Polaroids the size of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in  The Principal’s the United States. Challenge Drawing on information from four recent national and two state-level popu-  Queer (In)Justice lation-based surveys, the analyses suggest that there are more than eight  Queer TV million adults in the US who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual, comprising 3.5% of the adult popula- tion. There are also nearly 700,000 transgender individuals in the US. In total, the study suggests  Tomorrow May Be Too that approximately nine million Americans - roughly the population of New Jersey - identify as Late LGBT. The study is available at http://www2.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/pdf/How-many-people- Fiction are-LGBT-Final.pdf  Bob the Book  By Nightfall  Disturbed by her Song

 Foxe Tail Deadlines for the newsletter for the next year will be: Missed Her   Missouri Summer 2011 June 8, 2011 Fall 2011 August 31, 2011  Operation Winter 2011 November 31, 2011 Spring 2012 March 20, 2012 Thunderspell

 Shirtlifter Please try to get your reports, articles, book reviews, etc. in by these dates or let us know if there will be a short delay so room  The Wolf at The Door can be saved for them in the newsletter.

Page 2 Volume 23 Number 1

Kid Stuff About young readers for people who care

Last year, Kentucky high school freshman Although she has a girlfriend, she Cheryl Rainfield’s Scars (Westside Books): Brent hit national news when he wrote questions what a relationship with a male a girl who cuts because of childhood about not finding gay books in the school would be like and decides to explore the sexual abuse finds support from another or public library. Eventually he did locate possibility. Honest and witty, Pink doesn’t lesbian and their art teacher. them at the bookstores. It’s time for dodge from the problems of searching for librarians to catch up in diversifying an identity. Julie Anne Peters’ Far from Xanadu (Little, materials with LGBTQ books. Fortunately, Brown): a small-town butch lesbian woos GLBTRT now provides two services This year’s Stonewall the new—and straight—girl in town. support these librarians: the ALA Rainbow winner, Brian Katcher’s Project (http:// Almost Perfect Rigoberto González’s The Mariposa Club rainbowlist.wordpress.com/) and the (Delacorte), delves into (Alyson): Four racially diverse gay friends Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult another YA problem— form a Gay/Straight Alliance in a small- Award (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/ that of transgender, this town high school. rts/glbtrt/stonewall/honored/index.cfm). time through the boy The 2011 Rainbow LGBTQ bibliography for who falls for beautiful Bill Konigsberg Out of the Pocket (Dutton): young readers, released in January 2011, Sage and breaks down a gay football player is outed in the school was its fourth; the 2011 Stonewall award the wall between them newspaper. was its second. before he discovers that she was born biologically male. From a James Howes’ Totally Joe (Ginee Seo Librarians familiar with the titles cited by straight author comes a direct book about Books): a 13-year-old boy comes out in these two groups already understand the the pain and growth resulting from his alphabiography assignment—the story importance of presenting LGBTQ people in developing greater understanding. of his life from A to Z. a realistic and prominent manner, whether in fiction or nonfiction. But every So many books—so little space! Following LGBTQ kids know they belong when they year new librarians and are other books that should be in all read about selecting a college and thriving paraprofessionals—sometimes clerks—are libraries for young people: in this community. Although somewhat responsible for book selection. Knowledge dated (2008), John Baez’s The Gay and about the resources cited above must be James St. James’ Freak Show (Dutton): Lesbian Guide to College Life (Princeton communicated to these and other an over-the-top drag queen faces brutal Review) seems to be the newest one on librarians if they are to make the LGBTQ homophobia at a very wealthy the market and provides lots of world visible. conservative school. information on financing, the right school, being out or not, dealing with The continual threat of school bullying Mayra Lazara Dole, Down to the Bone GLBTQphobia, etc. was highlighted in a recent White House (HarperTeen): in a hilarious debut novel, conference by President Barack Obama a 16-year-old Latina, Kicked out of school Dan Savage’s project ‖It Gets Better,‖ and his wife, Michelle. Nine out of ten and home for being a lesbian, faces her videos from successful LGBTQ people, is LGBTQ students have experienced prejudices about her culture. designed to keep young people alive. From harassment at school, and they are Dutton comes a book expanding on this bullied two to three times as much as Dale Peck’s Sprout, or My Salad Days, website, a collection of essays and new straight—or straight-appearing—teens. As When I Was Green in Judgment material from celebrities, everyday people, people dealing with young people struggle (Bloomsbury): a green-haired boy in and teens, showing LGBTQ youth the to find answers for this plague, they can conservative Kansas preps for the state happiness, potential, and positivity their help by providing LGBTQ experiences to essay contest and falls in love with the lives will reach if they get through their all young readers with books. intriguing new boy at school. teen years. Savage is scheduled to be the ALA Annual Conference Opening General In Lili Wiklkinson’s Pink (HarperTeen), my Mark Hardy’s Nothing Pink (Front Street): Session speaker on Friday, June 24 at favorite LGBTQ book thus far this year, 16 the gay son of a Pentacostal preacher 4:00 pm. -year-old Ava is probably the first fights his torments and impulses until he bisexual protagonist in YA fiction. meets a more accepting church friend. We mourn the passing of Perry Moore on February 17, 2011, at the age of 39. Author of Lambda GLBTRT Newsletter (ISSN 1533-7219) is an official publication of the Gay, Les- Award winning Hero bian, Bisexual, Transgendered Round Table of the American Library Association. It (Hyperion), he showed appears quarterly in March, June, September, and January. great promise with this debut novel about a American Library Association teenage gay superhero: 50 E. Huron St., we will miss reading Chicago, IL 60611 future books from him.

Letters to the editor, correspondence to the above address care of:

Sarah E. Wright —Nel Ward ([email protected]) GLBTRT Newsletter Editor [email protected]

Volume 23, Number 1 Page 3

Neutrality = Silence

An aspect of librarianship that is with- targeted for elimination, which were world and in the United States, historical, out fail emphasized in library school is mainly ethnic minorities; these same political, and cultural figures important to neutrality. Librarians are taught to col- records later served to convict several in our community, influential cultural and lect material that reflects all aspects of power of crimes against humanity and political movements, and a wide range of an issue in order to be impartial. Fur- war crimes. other topics. Every month I put together a thermore, librarians are also taught to display that highlights certain subtopics in not take sides on a political issue in One does not need to look outside of the our collection in order to bring visibility to order to not alienate individuals in their United States to see evidence of people various groups that are especially misun- patron base. However, by their very trying to eliminate the visibility of a derstood or underrepresented within our nature, libraries are inherently political. group. For example, using razor blades, community and in society at large. These This is especially true when the library a John Perkyns defaced a total of 607 include displays on intersexuality, transgen- collection deals with marginalized books he perceived to be LGBT-related at derism, asexuality, queer people of color, groups, groups that mainstream society the San Francisco Public Library. In some bisexuality, and spirituality. At the begin- would rather did not exist. instances, these books merely contained ning of the semester, in collaboration with the proper name ―Gay,‖ such as books by my coworkers, I created a screensaver that When Serbian nationalists wanted to historian Peter Gay or by the journalist makes our community visible in libraries all eliminate all evidence of the many eth- Gay Talese. At Harvard’s Lamont Library, over campus. On a wider scale, on the 15th nic and religious groups that lived under about 40 LGBT-related books were found of April we will host Break the Silence, Wis- one nation, they started burning down vandalized with urine. Incidents like consin (BTSW), our annual Stop the Silence libraries because they knew that these these are not just the isolated actions of campaign to raise awareness about the possessed material evidence to the private individuals who are out of line impact of homophobia, transphobia, and contrary. In Cambodia, in an attempt to with mainstream society, but are often bullying in schools. We are expecting Wis- erase the country’s multi-ethnic and carried out on a wider scale by public consinites from all over the state to join us Western-influenced culture, those in institutions and individuals. According to in marching to the Capitol. This event will power under the Khmer Rouge de- the American Library Association, from be the culmination of a year of hard work stroyed, among other institutions, li- 2001 to 2009 344 books were challenged and planning and will be especially impor- braries. As it carried out its agenda of because of their mention of homosexual- tant under Scott Walker’s administration’s extermination, the Khmer Rouge kept ity in classrooms, public and school li- hostile stance on LGBT rights. For more meticulous records of the groups they braries. The point is that libraries serve information on BTSW visit http:// as repositories lgbt.wisc.edu/stopthesilence/dayofsilence/. for records— books, pam- When the community we serve is the focus phlets, videos, of constant attacks and librarians decide to sound re- remain silent, they are tacitly agreeing with cordings, tran- the dominant group. At a time of political scripts, lists, unrest and sweeping social change, librari- artifacts, etc.—of ans cannot afford to be neutral. Even if you happenings that cannot be physically present at our annual are seen as of- campaign on the 15th of April, there are fensive and/or other ways to participate. You can ―like‖ damaging by one Stop the Silence on Facebook, spread the or many groups. word and encourage people to attend BTSW, change your Facebook profile picture These records to the BTSW icon, and, most importantly, reflect the fate, stay informed and break the silence not just existence, and in Wisconsin and on the 15th of April, but diversity of a every day of the year and anywhere where community, and homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia is are physical still socially acceptable. evidence of past and present Abel Ramos Ramos events. At the LGBT Campus Graduate Library Specialist, UW-Madison Center library in UW-Madison we have LGBT Campus Center material about human rights around the

Break Down Barriers with Human Library at ALA Annual

The Social Responsibilities Round Table out‖ for one-on-one, respectful conversa- 2000, the movement has brought together (SRRT) of the American Library Associa- tions. This unique opportunity allows vol- people of different backgrounds to have tion is seeking volunteers to participate unteers to raise awareness of the biases meaningful dialogues, comprehend differ- in a Human Library, to be held from 1:30 and prejudices that participants have ences and seek common cause. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, June 27 at themselves or hold against others. The ALA’s Annual Conference in New Orleans. program ultimately promotes appreciation for differences in background and culture. To volunteer as a Human Book, or to sug- gest resources for the event, please con- Volunteers will serve as ―human books‖ tact Julie Winkelstein at 2011humanli- and help attendees better understand The Human Library [email protected]. people of different backgrounds and (www.humanlibrary.org) is an outgrowth cultures. ―Human books‖ are ―checked of a Danish anti-violence campaign. Since

Page 4 Volume 23 Number 1

Member Profile: Amanda Clay

We're also the largest Elementary What's the best part about being a library in the district, with over 10,000 member of the GLBTRT? titles. I love creating research lessons, matching storytime to The best part about being in the curriculum, and building our giant GLBTRT is feeling professionally collection. Acquisitions might be my connected. At a school, especially an favorite thing. elementary school, it's so easy to get lost in your own world. Since I've become involved in the Round Table, I Did/do you have a mentor? feel more a part of the library community. Plus, I've made so many fabulous new friends! The closest thing I have to a mentor is Terri Street, who was my Children's Lit

professor and is a librarian at a Middle Social networks-yes or no? (LJ, School in my district. She's got an Blogger, Second Life, WoW, incredible amount of knowledge and MySpace, etc.) enthusiasm, plus the most excellent

sarcastic sense of humor. I've learned As for social networks, I'm fairly a lot from her, and hope to keep on rudimentary. I'm on facebook, but learning. that's about it. I like to read and write

things on paper and spend more time Do you have any heroes in library doing that. A luddite, I know... land?

Anything else you'd like to add? When or how did you know you wanted to work in the library field? I'd have to say that this year my library heroes are the volunteers and For the rest, I'd have to say that being aides who help us get our actual jobs Coming from a family of librarians (my a part of the Stonewall Book Award done. We lost ours this year due to mother and sister) I fought my calling committee is one of the best things that budget cuts (which, stunningly, did for a long time, but at last I could resist has ever happened to me, personally not affect the athletic departments) no longer. I was a classroom teacher and professionally. Not only is it a fun and I see every day how much they for 14 years, but realized that the part I committee full of some of the smartest, contribute to the work we do. really liked was connecting kids with most enjoyable people I've ever met, books, so the library was a natural but to be a part of something that big What are you reading right now? transition. and important is an honor and a Would you recommend it? pleasure. This year, our first inclusion

What was your first library (or in the C/YA Youth Media Awards library-related) job? Ceremony was like nothing I've ever I just finished reading "Hit the Road experienced, and a day I'll never Manny" by Christian Burch, the sequel My first library related job was as a forget. Committees can be a lot of to his Stonewall Honor book "The child, shelving books and alphabetizing work, but the rewards are Manny Files". I would recommend it check-out cards for my mom. I love immeasurable. automation, but I miss all the snazzy to adults, since it has lots of clever in- old school wooden tools. jokes and excellent GLBT commentary, but alas would not recommend it to the middle-grades to Tell us about your current job. whom it is marketed, since all the jokes and commentary would go right My current job is as an Elementary over their heads. This is something I Library Media Specialist, though I prefer see in GLBT C/YA fiction all too often. to be called the Librarian. Lakeview is a The author writes well, but doesn't small, rural school adjacent to a large actually write for their audience, and university town, so we have quite a mix unfortunately this is a prime example. of kids and a really solid community.

Write Reviews or Articles for the GLBTRT Newsletter! To become a part of the team of reviewers that publish in the GLBTRT Newsletter, or to receive a copy of our guidelines for book re- views, email Book Review Editor Tracy Nectoux at: [email protected]. Or, if journalism is more your style, send in articles about GLBT library services and collections in and around your community to Sarah Wright at [email protected].

Volume 23, Number 1 Page 5

Film Reviews

And Then Came Lola. Dirs. Ellen Seidler and Megan Siler. New Almaden, CA: Wolfe Video, 2010. DVD. $24.95. 71 min.

With the vaguest nod to Run between Imagine Me and You and The L This light and breezy feature is not on the Lola Run, this lesbian film is Word on your DVD shelf. short list for mainstream libraries, but off and running through the would be a good addition to your local streets of San Francisco with Though not written with enough depth to GLBTQ community center. a simple storyline and be really humorous, and not presenting almost non-existent enough sustained sex to be really hot, it is Reviewed by, Morgan Gwenwald character arcs. If you like nonetheless, sure to delight many Sapphic SUNY New Paltz cute lesbian fluff, this is the viewers. film for you, and it will happily snuggle in

Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case That Made History. A Teaching Tolerance Documentary presented by the Southern Poverty Law Center. 2010. 38 min. Free for Nonprofit Organizations and Schools (one copy per school). www.tolerance.org/bullied

Bullied starts with a concerning gay bashing suffered within a summed up his experience with the law- dedication to Carl school setting. The rest of the film goes suit by stating, "I fought back for all the Joseph Walker- back in time in order to outline Jamie's kids who couldn't fight back." Hoover, who hung abuse from students in both middle and himself at age 11 high school, the reaction of the admini- Bullied includes a viewer's guide contain- when people at stration, his attempted suicide, running ing tools for educators who work with school bullied him by away to Minneapolis twice, and finally the school staff or within the classroom, as repeatedly calling trial: all through reenactments, interviews, well as further resources. The film has him gay. and through Jamie's own words speaking closed captioning and contains Spanish sometimes to the movie audience and subtitles. Additional resources can be And then Jamie alternately to an auditorium of high school found online at the above website. This Nabonzy's story begins with a reenact- students as an inspirational speaker. film is appropriate for schools and non- ment of the moment when Jamie, his profit organizations targeting audiences, family, and his defense team were called Finally, it is revealed that the administra- including middle, high school, and college into the courtroom to hear the findings of tors were found guilty, and while the students, their parents, and school per- the jury concerning his lawsuit against the school was not found liable, Ashland sonnel. Ashland, Wisconsin School District and School District settled the case for various administrators who worked there. $900,000, which sent a message to gay Reviewed by, Sharon Flesher-Duffy In this landmark case Jamie, defended by students throughout the country that they Media Specialist the Lambda Legal Defense Education deserve an appropriate education without Nashua High School South, NH Fund, won the first lawsuit ever presented the threat of harassment. Nabonzy

David's Birthday / Il Compleano. Dir. Marco Filiberti. 2009. Wolfe Video, 2010. 106 min. $19.95

David’s Birthday, the career. Their friends, Matteo (a psy- dissolve into disaster. Are David and Wolfe release of the choanalyst) and Francesca, send Matteo gay or bisexual or something 2009 Italian film, Il their young daughter to visit her else? It doesn't really matter. Ulti- Compleano, is a cousins, and assorted friends and mately, what we have here is a beautifully shot and a relatives begin arriving at the beach variation on the old story that being generally well-acted, house. David’s eventual arrival ex- either must end badly. So in some though soapy drama. poses tensions between each couple ways, the story devolves into a Two couples who and within their shared friendship. throwback. But the cinematography have known each Moreover, David’s beauty attracts all and scenery are beautiful and the other for many years rent a beach the neighborhood young women acting is good-to-excellent all the house together for their summer [when quizzed, David claims that way around. vacation. We first see them together they are kissing him, he is not kiss- at the opera, Tristan and Isolde, ing them], as well as the attention of David's Birthday would be a good whose love, of course, ends tragi- Matteo. addition to most library adult foreign cally. film collections. The tragedy of Tristan and Isolde's Diego and Shery’s son, David, has love at the film’s beginning is mir- Reviewed by, Dave Combe been in New York attending college rored in the ending of this film, as E. P. Foster Library and cultivating a budding modeling the plans for David's birthday party Ventura, CA

Volume 23 Number 1 Page 6

Eyes Wide Open. Dir. HaimTabakman.With Zohar Strauss, Ran Danker.Hebrew with English subtitles.First Run Features, 2010.DVD.90 min.$27.95.

other. Their eyes and body language ‖Ezri says, ―And I have only you.‖ Rivka, Aaron, a heartbreakingly express the turmoil going Aaron’s wife, who knows what is going righteous man on inside their characters. In a on, generously asks him, ―Where do you with a wife and wonderfully performed scene, after want to be?‖ four children, helping Ezri unload a large carcass of operates a meat and hang it in the cooler, Aaron This gorgeous, intense film drenches the butcher shop stares intently at Ezri while playing with viewer in a culture in which to be in the heart of the fringes on his tallit katan. Then, with something that is not expected of you is the ultra- his eyes wide open to the consequences, forbidden. The musical score beautifully Orthodox he walks unhesitatingly toward Ezri. expresses the heartbreaking melancholy community in of the film. Aaron and Ezri transgress Jerusalem. One rainy day an unknown Eyes Wide Open depicts a community in boundaries in a community that does not young man comes into the shop and asks which everyone knows everyone’s acknowledge that homosexuality exists to use a telephone. He tells Aaron that business.Rule-breakers are quickly, and find that it is impossible to live his name is Ezri and that he is a yeshiva sometimes violently, brought back into authentic lives. student. He makes his phone call and line.People know when Aaron is in Ezri’s leaves. At prayers the next morning, room.They circulate posters that say, ―A The following link provides an insightful Aaron again encounters the mysterious sinner is in the neighborhood.‖ In an interview with Zohar Strauss that outsider. Learning that Ezri has no job amazing shot, while Aaron and Ezri are includes brief clips from the film: http:// and no place to stay, Aaron hires him as talking outside the shop, a vehicle passes www.art-tv.ch/5533-0-interview--zohar- an assistant and gives him lodgings by and reflected in its windows is a group strauss.html. above the shop. of men who are watching them from across the street. Eyes Wide Open, one of the best gay- As they work closely together in the themed films ever made, is essential for butcher shop, the two men develop an The dialogue is spare and stunning. The all GLBTQ film collections. attraction to each other that Aaron Rabbi asks Aaron why he cannot let the initially tells Ezri is a lust created by God, young man go. Aaron replies, ―I need a challenge for them to overcome. Zohar him . . . I was dead, and now I’m alive. Reviewed by, W. Stephen Breedlove Strauss (Aaron) and Ran Danker (Ezri) ‖When Aaron tells Ezri, ―We cannot go on Reference and Interlibrary Loan Librarian have remarkable chemistry with each like this. I have a family, a wife, children, La Salle University

The Four-Faced Liar. Dir. Jacob Chase. With Marja Lewis Ryan, Emily Peck, Todd Kubrak, Liz Osborn, Danial Carlise. Wolfe Video, 2010. DVD. 87 min.

The Four-Faced Liar Bridget. Unfortunately, the sudden switch and issues of infidelity. It is also follows a group of from Molly and Greg being a seemingly interesting that Molly pursues a college students as happy couple to him being an antagonist committed relationship with Bridget they navigate the and resorting to the old ―what do you instead of the other way around. complexities of their give her in bed that I cannot‖ argument relationships with one breaks the genuine honesty the film Ryan’s writing is melodramatic in another. Bridget strives for. portions, but the acting is well done. (played by writer Director Jacob Chase clearly has an eye Marja Lewis Ryan) is That being said, the film fills many voids for cinematic symmetry and balance, a chain-smoking, that increase its merit for the LGBT featuring many close-ups of two of the blunt lesbian player audience. Bridget’s character, while characters looking at the camera to who names her conquests after days of coarse, is refreshing. She embodies an indicate the sense of examining these the week. She finds herself flirting with imperfect sort of lesbian flirt that is characters’ lives. The camera adds to the and drawn to Molly (Emily Peck), a written realistically, but is not often seen narrative and helps forgive some of the straight girl who is in a comfortable in movies. Additionally, the film features spotty writing. relationship with her boyfriend. Adding to a friendship between a straight male and the dynamic is Bridget’s straight lesbian that does not cheapen itself Ultimately, I would recommend this film roommate Trip, who is navigating fidelity through sexual tension, reminiscent of for public libraries with larger collections. to his girlfriend while also being a player DEBS. And it oozes with sexuality and Though it will inevitably be compared to at heart. features some passionate, well filmed the more mainstream Imagine Me & You, depictions of lesbian sex that are hard to each film offers a unique depiction of a The Four-Faced Liar is better than many find outside The L Word. similar storyline and both are worthy to of its independent lesbian film sit in the same collection. predecessors, but that does not say Perhaps unrealistically, Four-Faced Liar much. In its effort to be honest, the film does not show sexual confusion of the Reviewed by, Tracy Gossage makes it difficult to like any of the initially straight girl confronting MLIS Student at Dominican University characters, including the abrasive undeniable attraction to a lesbian (e.g. protagonist who is initially seen reading Imagine Me & You, which the film on the toilet with the door open. It is channels in narrative and its cover art), hard to understand Molly’s attraction to instead focusing on character dynamics

Page 7 Volume 23 Number 1

Gay Revolt at Denver City Council (Oct. 23, 1973) and the Beginnings of an Organized Gay Community. Dir. Jerry Gerash, 2010. DVD. $20.00. http://www.denvergayrevolt.com/home.php

Gerald Gerash is an city council treated gay activism as a Gay Revolt is a powerfully important integral part of gay civil joke. We get to listen as though we are a account of gay civil rights. It is suitable for rights. Through this fly on the wall, and we watch as the tide any library and audience where gay history documentary, he changes. Illegal roundups, entrapment, is important. It is a documentary that narrates the events that and a reckless vice squad make for a must to be seen if we are to understand led up to a confrontation riveting heroic narrative of the people our past and to stay focused on our goals with the Denver city who stood up to the injustice in Denver. council on October 23, 1973, where for the future of gay rights. impassioned activists spoke for basic Throughout the documentary, viewers rights. Just a few years after Stonewall, are given a sense of the times and are Reviewed by, Johnnie N. Gray this remarkable event changed the course struck aghast with the similarities to the Director of Media Services/ ILL Librarian of Denver's treatment of gay and lesbian harassment black people endured in the Christopher Newport University citizens. Gerash uses personal accounts, South just decades before. This is a photos, and actual recorded testimonies to testament to our heroic gay brothers and depict the events on that evening. Viewers sisters, who bravely paved the way for become witnesses to that night, when the future rights around the country.

Did you know that many school libraries require their media specialists to utilize reviews for acquisitions? Some of those school media specialists can use reviews from our newsletter to help get children’s books with GLBT themes into their school libraries. If you enjoy reading children’s and young adult books and would like to write reviews, please get in touch with Tracy Nectoux at: [email protected].

Book Reviews: Children’s

Parr, Todd. The Family Book. New York: Hatchette Book Group, 2010. First Paperback edition. $6.99. [30p.]. ISBN: 978-0-316-07040-9.

The Family Book, The book celebrates the differences in in a picture book for the first time through written by New York families while keeping in mind the a realistic and loving lens. Times bestselling fundamental similarities that we all author Todd Parr, is a share. The Family Book promotes print feel good picture book motivation and narrative skills, which are with which people, This book will encourage thoughtful two key components to early literacy. This both young and old conversation and challenge children to book would be a great addition to any will identify. Through broaden their definitions of what a family public or school library collection aimed humor and bright, colorful illustrations looks like. At the same time, the words towards preschoolers. Parr shares with readers the diversity and illustrations are empowering and amongst families in our society. They allow children to gain confidence in Reviewed by, Jennifer Troy range from families ―big‖ and ―small,‖ whom they are, feel good about MLIS Student ―messy‖ and ―clean‖ and also include themselves, and have a sense of pride in Drexel University families with, ―two moms‖ and ―two their family. Similar to Parr’s, It’s Okay dads‖ or ―one parent,‖ as well as families To Be Different, many children will see that ―are different colors‖ or ―look alike.‖ themselves or family members depicted

Page 8 Volume 23 Number 1

Bunnell, Jacinta and Nathaniel Kusinitz. Sometimes the Spoon Runs Away with Another Spoon. Oakland, CA : PM Press; Daly City, CA : Reach and Teach, c2010.

This coloring book takes them in his size) and images from the are charming and invite the reader to grab aim at gender experiences of real children (Zuri likes a crayon and get started. stereotypes and turns trucks, especially when the dolls are them on their heads. driving). All of the illustrations challenge Recommended. The illustrations are a gender roles and expectations in a non- mix of re-imagined fairy confrontational, but thought provoking Reviewed by, Sarah Corvene tales (Prince Charming way. The last page has a list of questions Harvard Business School seeks the owner of the designed to spark conversations about glass slipper so he can gender roles, gender expression, and find out where to get society’s gender norms. The illustrations

Book Reviews: Non-fiction

James F. Wilson. Bulldaggers, Pansies, and Chocolate Babies: Performance, Race, and Sexuality in the Harlem Renaissance. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press, 2010. Hardcover. 260pp. $49.50. ISBN: 978-0-472-11725-3.

In his introduction, James The Broadway sensation Lulu Belle, a with admirers who couldn’t seem to get Wilson writes that ―[s]et collaboration between white playwrights enough. In the 1950s, long after the Great within the social and artistic Charles MacArthur and Edward Sheldon, Depression had rendered such carefree fun context of the so-called featured a large integrated cast, although irrelevant, and an anxious society Harlem Renaissance, white actors in blackface took the main demanded a strict separation of gender Bulldaggers, Pansies, and roles. Critics alternately denounced the roles, Bentley rejected her former life. In an Chocolate Babies focuses on play as morally depraved and praised it as essay for Ebony magazine titled ―I Am a the ways in which depictions morally instructive, but gay men Woman Again,‖ she declared it had all been of blackness and whiteness, male and embraced the doomed but ever-glamorous a ―living hell.‖ Her only video appearance is female, homosexual and heterosexual, title character and named a club for her in from 1958, where she performed as a highbrow and lowbrow merged and Harlem. contestant on You Bet Your Life with coalesced in the theater and performances Groucho Marx. of the 1920s and 1930s.‖Throughout, While elected officials enforced a more or Includes12 black and white photographs, Wilson keeps the spotlight firmly on the less strict code of censorship on 34 pages of notes, an index, and a popular entertainment and celebrated Broadway, Harlem was, Wilson writes, bibliography. figures of the ―low‖ and ―queer‖ generally permitted to ―live up to its image renaissances. as a place of racial and sexual exotica,‖ since ―one of the functions of the ghetto is Thoroughly researched and thoroughly The rowdy and sometimes violent rent to provide a controlled site for a certain accessible, Bulldaggers, Pansies, and party was working class in origin, but amount of lawlessness.‖ Harlem churches, Chocolate Babies has a broader focus than attracted a diverse crowd, including however, crusaded against homosexuality, its title suggests and is recommended for slumming tourists from downtown. As a which they regarded as threatening to the libraries with an interest in GLBT history, relatively protected outlet for social, family, and conservative black writers U.S. theater history, and African American sexual, and cultural expression, the rent railed against the public’s boundless history. party was the birthplace of enduring appetite for sexually charged comedy acts, dance fads such as the entertainment. Reviewed by,Joyce Meggett Charleston and the Lindy Hop, and much Division Chief for Humanities music that later entered the mainstream. Wilson devotes his final chapter to Gladys Chicago Public Library Bentley, a black singer and pianist who Originally promoted as masquerades, drag began her career as a blueswoman whose balls were another Harlem institution. By bleak laments were securely in the woman 1933, the largest of these ticketed events -wronged-by-a-man heterosexual attracted nearly 6,000 spectators of tradition. Soon, however, she became different races, classes, and sexual known for the unparalleled ribaldry of her orientations. Drag shows were popular popular song parodies, her trademark nightclub fare, and audiences flocked to white tuxedo, and outsized and outspoken see the appealingly scandalous Sepia Mae personality. She married a white woman West and Sepia Gloria Swanson. in a civil ceremony in New Jersey, and packed the Ubangi Club night after night

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Branson, Helen P. and Will Fellows. Gay Bar: The Fabulous, True Story of a Daring Woman and Her Boys in the 1950s. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2010. 186pp. $26.95. ISBN: 978-0-299-24850-5

Gay Bar is an excellent straight readers an idea of what gay people research explains the social mores of the combination of historical were actually like, and also to illustrate 1950s, and helps the reader understand content and modern some of the problems they faced due to how welcome Helen’s bar was to the men context, sprinkled with discrimination. Although the bar was who met there. funny stories throughout. generally a fun, social place—and many of Originally published by the vignettes reflect this—Branson was well Gay Bar is a quick, pleasant book to read. Helen Branson in 1957 in aware that outside of her establishment Branson’s writing style is brash and direct, a print run of only 1,600 most of the customers faced the real threat but always friendly. Fellows writes in a copies, the book was sold of losing everything if anyone found out that similarly accessible style, and the two through homophile press they were gay. Partly to protect her compliment each other nicely to form a outlets and at alternative customers, and partly due to her own cohesive narrative. leaning bookstores. Although that initial run prejudices, Branson’s neighborhood bar had sold out, it was never reprinted. Recently, very strict rules about who was welcome: Highly recommended for public libraries, Will Fellows discovered the book, and his generally straight-acting men who were and recommended especially to patrons added commentary on the author and the introduced by another regular—and who was with an interest in queer pulp novels, as era shines light on the often overlooked not: strangers, unaccompanied women, or Gay Bar adds some historical perspective period of queer culture after World War II anyone who was too obviously queer. Within and depth to the social lives that are found and before the uprisings at Compton’s those constraints, her bar became a safe in The Beebo Brinker Chronicles and similar Cafeteria and the Stonewall Inn. haven for men looking for friends, dates, or period genre fiction. even potential jobs. After a failed marriage and several stints as a hostess and manager at other bars, Interspersed throughout the original Branson opened her own gay bar in Los chapters, the historical context that Will Reviewed by, Emily Faulkner Angeles. Several years later, she wrote a Fellows adds about both the time frame and Adult Services Librarian small book about ―her boys‖ and the bar, about Helen Branson herself makes this a Chicago Public Library giving insight to the social lives of gay men book well worth reading for historical, as in the 1950s. Her intention was to give well as entertainment purposes. His careful

LeVay, Simon. Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why: The Science of Sexual Orientation. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2011. Hardcover. 412p. $27.95. ISBN: 978-0-19-97376-3.

Simon LeVay’s Gay, hormones, genes, brain differences, who reads carefully, it is clear that most of Straight, and the Reason physiological differences, and birth order the conclusions reached in specific studies Why is not exactly a follow- (―the older brother effect‖). His conclusion are, in fact, tentative ones often, although up to his 1996 Queer is that the prenatal influences of sex not always, based on small samples or Science: The Use and hormones, likely facilitated or aided by having other research design problems. Abuse of Research into genetic factors, are the strongest Such objections can, probably, be raised Homosexuality. In the candidates for determining, or strongly for almost all research that attempts to link earlier work, while covering influencing, sexual orientation. complex human behavior to any biological biological research into the basis. However, regardless of these possible origins of sexual Those who believe that gender is largely, if objections, a book such as this is needed orientation, LeVay also treated the history of not entirely, a social construct will be every decade or so. Biologists and sex research, addressed social turned off by the centrality of the notions of neuroscientists have a right to make their constructionism, and discussed a variety of gender-typical and gender-atypical case in GLBT studies and it is good to bring social and political issues facing GLBT people behavior, for although the terms ―typical‖ all the information together in one place. and the consequences he saw flowing from and ―atypical‖ may be used in other The book is an essential one. biological findings. contexts to refer to statistical norms, here the strong implication is that they are Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why focuses largely biologically-based differences. It is Reviewed by, David Woolwine almost entirely on summarizing biological also possible that LeVay may be Assistant Professor of Library Science and research to date on sexual orientation. LeVay overstating the strength of those studies Reference Librarian presents, evaluates, and ultimately attempts that support his general hypothesis. But Hofstra University to integrate work from the 1990s onward even for the non-specialist (to whom I (including very recent studies) on sex imagine this book is primarily addressed)

Volume 23, Number 1 Page 10

Goldman, Linda. Great Answers to Difficult Questions About Sex: What Children Need to Know. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2010. 112p. $15.95. ISBN: 978-1-84905-804-9.

Talking with children third of the questions are dedicated to topics This short volume is full of suggestions in a about sex can be related to sexual orientation, including simple question-and-answer format, and intimidating, but this definitions of "gay" and "transgender," provides easy reference and ideas for book helps parents and methods through which gay people become answering children’s questions. There are caring adults navigate parents, different kinds of families, and three appendices, including one with a list of these conversations in a some discussion of gender roles with toys web and print resources to supplement nurturing way. Goldman and clothing. information targeted at children and adults. provides practical, specific language that Great Answers focuses on using appropriate Great Answers to Difficult Questions About describes answers to language, using the actual names for body Sex is recommended for collections that actual questions that are parts instead of nicknames, and being offer support for parents or adults working asked by children of a honest, but appropriate when answering with young and school-age children, as well variety of ages. The case questions, which will help reinforce levels of as for adults who are in search of language studies provide responses that are age and trust between the parent and the child. The to answer a child's questions about sex. developmental stage appropriate, offering author also stresses the importance of the "right" amount of detail for a child's cultivating an ongoing, open conversation developing awareness. While the book is about sex, creating a progressive dialogue Reviewed by, Rebekah Kilzer clearly written from the perspective of a to support a child's curious mind. Emerging Technologies Librarian heterosexual parent or caregiver, nearly a Drexel University

Lenius, Steve. Life, Leather and the Pursuit of Happiness. Minneapolis: Nelson Borhek Press, 2010. Paperback. 322

Since 1995, Steve Lenius has From his 15 years writing for Lavender, leather jacket big enough to include them written a column in Lavender, Lenius has selected over 100 of his favorite all. When Lenius looks at how to be healthy Minnesota’s LGBT newsmagazine columns. He resisted the easy route of just leatherfolk, he doesn’t just stop at safe on the leather/BDSM/fetish arranging the essays chronologically, and sex, or even safe-sane-consensual. He also community. Take note: Lenius his book is much stronger because of its explores issues like drug use, rape, unsafe doesn’t write in these columns thematic organization. The first sections play, and mental health – and his empathy about whips and chains and ropes ease the reader in - what to wear, what to for his brothers and sisters in leather and tit clamps, but about the expect in play, community ethics and bleeds through the page. people who use them – and the community mores. The bulk of the book, though, is they’ve built. Definitely non-graphic, these explorations of different aspects of the This balanced and thoughtful work fills a essays provide a good introduction to leather leather community - history, relationships, unique gap in most collections – a way to folk and the leather lifestyle for the non-kinky clubs and contests, holidays and spiritual explain leather to the non-leather and the curious, as well as those in the scene. life. community. Essential for public and academic libraries in places with an Because Lavender is for all of Minnesota’s The parts of the book that resonated established or developing leather/BDSM/ LGBT population, Lenius does not take an strongest with me are the chapter on fetish community. Recommended for all ―Inside Baseball‖ approach. He does not leather subcommunities and the chapter on public libraries. assume his readers will know the difference healthy life. The leather subcommunities between top grain and split grain, the ins and that he looks at - lesbians, parents, outs of club and contest politics, what a lime heterosexuals, bisexuals, transgender Reviewed by, John Bradford green hanky means. Instead, he respects the leather, aging leather folk, and the next Head, Automation & Technical Services reader, giving appropriate background without generation of leather - all have their own, Villa Park Public Library over explaining. sometimes conflicting needs and agendas, but Lenius ties them all up together in a Baim, Tracy. Obama and the Gays: A Political Marriage. Chicago: Prairie Avenue Productions, 2010. Paperback. 556pp. $24.99.ISBN: 978-1453801710

Obama and the Gays is a one-stop evolution on GLBT issues. She has gathered workplace discrimination. Also included source for any and all information journalistic information from a wide variety of are over 50 pages of photographs and relating to GLBT issues and sources on every topic you can imagine other images such as political signs, President Obama, beginning with related to Obama and the GLBT community. letters, newspaper clippings, surveys, and his days as an Illinois State questionnaires that Obama filled out (two Legislator all the way to the White Some of the many issues that this book of which are in his own handwriting from House and early Presidency. Tracy covers are gay marriage,civil unions,hate 1996 and 1998). Baim, a Chicagoan who has been crimes statutes, issues related to HIV/AIDS, involved with Chicago GLBT media since adoption rights, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), (Continued Page 11) 1984,has a unique insight to Obama and his the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and

Page 11 Volume 23 Number 1

Baim, Tracy. Obama and the Gays: A Political Marriage. (cont.)

This book is the ultimate source for tracing -side on the topics at hand. Tracy Baim has done an outstanding job of the path of Obama’s stance on GLBT issues. culminating details from a vast array of Not only does it cover his views and Also included are articles from notable sources, which makes this book the actions, but it tells the story of the climate GLBT activists, such as Michelangelo definitive guide on Obama and gay issues. I with which he was dealing at the time, such Signorile, a gay writer and national talk have not seen anything else that comes as the Jeremiah Wright controversy and show host, and Wayne Besen, former close. This book is highly recommended for Prop 8 in California, among other issues spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign both academic and public libraries. affecting his decisions. The book also and founder of Truth Wins Out; as well as covers the decisions that his political interviews with such people as Rep. Tammy Reviewed by, Rachael Elrod opponents were making on these same Baldwin (D-WI), Brian Bond, Deputy Reference and Instruction Librarian issues, which serves to provide a sense of Director of the White House Office of Public The Citadel how Obama measures up when put side-by Engagement, and many many more.

Morris, Michael. Polaroids: Photographs by Attila Richard Lukacs. Vancouver, B.C.: Arsenal Pulp Press, 2010. Hardcover. 175pp. $55.00. ISBN: 978-1-55152-295-1.

A companion to the them in public. Indeed, decades later, artistic archives, and the queer art 2009 exhibition, this the Polaroids were displayed in the Art scene of the era. collection of Gallery of Alberta. Lukacs’ friend, photographs provides fellow Canadian and painter Michael Polaroids is a must for university a perspective into the Morris, compiled and organized the libraries with any interest in preservation and shots into tidy chronological groups. contemporary Canadian art. Note that arrangement of the Morris’ role as curator is it is of a rather unwieldy size: byproducts of the acknowledged throughout the book. approximately 13‖ by 17‖ but only 1‖ artistic process. thick. Most of the photographs feature Canadian painter Attila Lukacs spent In addition to pages of carefully nude men, and some include Nazi the 1980s in West Berlin, taking reconstructed series of images, symbolism. Polaroids of men—hustlers, skinheads, Polaroids includes essays by Stan friends—to incorporate into his Persky, Michael Turner, and Scott paintings. The photos themselves Watson, as well as an interview with Reviewed by, Kelly McElroy were not originally intended as artistic the artist by Vince Aletti. The sum is Out on the Shelves Library works, although Lukacs did save them an exploration not only of Lukacs’ Vancouver BC with the intention to eventually show work, but also of Canadian painting,

Pace, Nicholas J. The Principal's Challenge: Learning from Gay and Lesbian Students. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, 2009.Paperback. 149pp. No price indicated. ISBN:978-1-60752-291-1.

There's no question that Nicholas Pace section describes Pace's awakening to the read passages such as, ―After he gradually means well. In The Principal’s Challenge, he issues facing gay teens, and this is difficult came out and was known in school as being chose to write about to relate to. This straight male gay, a number of others followed suit, his experiences as a administrator with the privilege to be perhaps as many as six or eight students. high school principal unawareof gay teens' obstacles, or really of Both Mark’s status as the first, as well as so that he and his gay people at all, has a forum to tell us all that a handful of students followed suit, peers could better about it. I’m happy that Pace came to reasonably soon after seem remarkable.‖ understand gay teens realize that this issue is important, but I and help them make don’t particularly want to read about his The final section, and the strongest in the it through to journey. book, is a call to action. Here Pace asks his graduation – an fellow educators to see gay kids as people, admirable goal. It doesn’t help that The Principal’s not problems, and to understand that a Challenge is poorly written and edited. The school in which queer teens can’t achieve Unfortunately, it’s difficult to imagine a middle section consists of bios of eight is, well, a school where teens can’t achieve. large audience for this book. Pace writes for teens who won a college scholarship named educators, yes, but seemingly for those after Matthew Shepard. Pace records their Yes, Pace's heart is in the right place...but who don't already know any gay people. stories as lengthy, bland descriptions of the you know what they sayabout good That's a pretty small corner of 2011 students' adolescences, whereas anecdotes intentions. America. Perhaps a pamphlet or in the kids' own words would have made for presentation would have made more sense a much more interesting read. A more than a book-length work. There is also an skillful writer and a more diligent editor Reviewed by, Daisy Porter issue of privilege and power; the first would have ensured that I didn’t have to San José Public Library

Volume 23, Number 1 Page 12

Book Reviews: Fiction Mogul, Joey L., Andrea J. Ritchie and Kay Whitlock. Queer (In)justice: The Criminalization of LGBT People in the United States. Queer Action/Queer Ideas Ser. Boston: Beacon Press, 2011. Hardcover. 216pp. $27.95. ISBN: 978-0-8070-5116-0.

lewd conduct statutes, and the regulation of recommendations and suggestions on how LGBT persons have long vagrancy. More often than not, race and the LGBT community can organize to ensure struggled for equality in class figured prominently in the punishment that reforms are made in how LGBT persons the United States, often for these crimes, as people of color and are treated in the criminal justice system. using the courts and those with little means to defend themselves justice system in the fight became the primary victims of abuses of the Queer (In)justice is recommended for public on issues ranging from civil legal system in this area. and academic libraries, especially those rights to the right to marry containing a strong law or criminal justice a same sex partner, and Mogul, Ritchie, and Whitlock have filled the collection. It is also recommended for many works have book with examples of how the LGBT anyone interested in the legal struggles for chronicled this struggle. community has been mistreated by the LGBT rights, especially among minority and Queer (In)justice investigates the struggles criminal justice system, and how issues of immigrant populations. that LGBT persons have with the criminal race and socioeconomic status coupled with justice system itself, and chronicles what LGBT identity is used to paint the LGBT can be done by the LGBT community to community as predators, murderous, and Reviewed by, Matthew P. Ciszek fight against the ―criminalization of LGBT inhuman. The book also gives treatment to Head Librarian people‖ in the United States. The book the American penal system and exposes the Penn State Shenango begins with a short history of the inequalities and atrocities suffered there by development of laws in this country that are members of the LGBT population, especially aimed at criminalizing gay, lesbian, and those identifying as transgender. The final transgender behavior through sodomy laws, chapter of the work provides

Queer TV: Theories, Histories, Politics. Eds. Glyn Davis and Gary Needham. London: Routledge, 2009.ISBN: 978-0-415-45046-1.

Queer TV: Theories, Histories, particular episodes of shows with LGB/ and McLuhan to articulate their analysis. Politics is a remarkable queer content (e.g., Ellen, Six Feet Under, In-depth understandings of these collection for the ways in which Torchwood) in order to ask how aspects of theorists’ work isn’t essential for it expands the terrain of queer queer experience - like disclosure, non- understanding the essays, but would help television studies. As Davis and normative ways of being, and temporal readers situate the critiques within the Needham note in their idiosyncrasies -are represented on broader field of queer theory. The authors’ introduction, earlier work in the television, reveal the medium’s use of examples– from shows with which field foregrounded heteronormative aspects, and can lead us many readers, American and British, will representational critiques (i.e., to rethink what counts as ―queer‖ be familiar -- helps to anchor the critiques of ―good‖ or ―bad‖ programming. Other chapters focus on theoretical work. representations of queerness or queer technical and structural dimensions of characters on popular TV shows), but did not television - including the shift to digital Queer TV would be a valuable asset to address the kinds of questions raised by broadcasting, the use of the remote control postsecondary instruction in queer media scholars working with other media, to ―cruise‖ channels, the sonic components studies courses, not only for its content, particularly in film studies. The essays in of the viewing experience, and the ways in but also for the way it models different Queer TV attend to this discrepancy, which programs are scheduled - to explore modes of television criticism for those new investigating television as a queer medium, what’s particularly queer about the to the field (or new to bringing queer offering new models for analyzing viewer medium. theory into conversation with TV). experiences, and bringing queer theoretical analyses to bear upon the systems and This collection is clearly intended for an structures that shape not only what we view academic audience already versed in media Reviewed by, Alana Kumbier but how we view it. studies and queer theory; its authors use Research and Instruction Librarian frameworks derived from Foucault, Wellesley College Several chapters offer close readings of Sedgwick, Halberstam, Doane, McCarthy,

Page 13 Volume 23 Number 1

Marino, Thomas. Tomorrow May Be Too Late. Tommy100, 2009. 388pp. $24.00.ISBN-13: 978-

One man’s story of taken time from his busy romantic life to published is evident from the very coming out in the late invest in some sort of body wash company. beginning. The book suffers from the 1980s, Tomorrow May Be largest problem of self-published works - Too Late moves quickly People of the same generation might the want of a good editor. Marino seems from the casual pick-ups appreciate references to popular songs of like a nice person, and one that I hope has of the club scene to an the time, and it is possible that this book found happiness in his later life, but the abusive scam of a would inspire some reminiscence about memoir feels self-indulgent and overly relationship. Marino meets youthful adventures to those who have long. While well intentioned, it was at his boyfriend (also named been involved more heavily in the club times difficult to read and there are far Tom) and moves in with scene than I have. Marino moonlights as better examples of bad-relationship him despite misgivings an exotic dancer, and there are some memoirs (I Am Not Myself These Days by that he is being used for money. Even when interesting descriptions of that work that Josh Kilmer-Purcell, for one) that provide a all of his credit cards are in his boyfriend’s distract from his relationship. On the more compelling insight into the twists and wallet and he’s cosigned on two car loans whole, however, the prose falls flat. The turns of an abusive relationship. Readers that he can’t afford, Marino ignores his reader is well aware that the new boyfriend expecting that level of quality will be uneasy feelings and continues the is bad news from the second date, and disappointed by Marino’s efforts. relationship, which increasingly sours as the waiting for Marino to come to this same book continues. The story is frequently conclusion over months of dating has a I do not recommend this book for library interrupted by short descriptions of sexual similar effect to that of watching any collections, unless there is an interest in interactions that neither titillate nor move acquaintance make poor relationship collecting all works of GBLTQ memoir, the narrative forward—although Marino decisions—after the first few pages of regardless of quality. occasionally inserts jarring religious warning bells it starts to seem that anyone references in the middle of sex scenes to who would ignore the red flags deserves Reviewed, by Emily Faulkner break the monotony. Each encounter is what comes later. Adult Services Librarian followed by a requisite shower, which left Chicago Public Library me wondering whether Marino should have That Tomorrow May Be Too Late was self-

Book Reviews: Fiction

Pratt, David. Bob the Book. New York: Chelsea StationEditions, 2010.184 pp. $16.00. ISBN: 9780984470716.

Providing a different this novel takes the users through into any direction – Orthodox Jews, view of life, whether events that might have already leather, dangerous relationships, and gay or otherwise, Bob occurred to them, but in a different even thoughts of suicide. the Book is written from light. Reading almost like a soap opera the point of view of a with all the relationships, interactions, This is a valuable addition to any gay book, starting from and events out of one’s control, Bob fiction collection, from young adult his waiting to be sold in the Book takes the reader through a and up, as its perspective on life is Greenwich Village, roller coaster of emotions – hope, love, new and fresh, and also provides an through used book bins, triumph, despair, loss, break-ups, and excellent example of personification of travels to conferences, true love. a non-living object. his own loves and relationships, and the relationships of his owners and The personification of the books Bob Reviewed by, Sara Rofosky Marcus other books he encounters. encounters are true to life, and one can Queensborough Community College find any person’s characteristics or Library Vividly and accurately depicting quirks portrayed appropriately. events in history and relationships, Depicting stereotypes and non- such as relationships gone astray, stereotypes of the gay and lesbian unrequited love, and book burnings, world, this book does not hesitate to go

Volume 23, Number 1 Page 14

Cunningham, Michael. By Nightfall. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2010. Hardcover. 256pp. $19.99. ISBN: 0374299080.

Peter Harris returns home He’s a beautiful sexy improvident drifter the only fleshed-out sex scene (so to and hears the shower who’s shameless and unreliable, a drug speak) is a heterosexual one – between running. He sees the pink addict who comes to stay with them and Peter and Rebecca. The overtly homosexual blur of his wife, Rebecca, plans to do ―something in the arts.‖ action in the novel is limited to just two behind the frosted glass Rebecca hopes Peter can guide Mizzy kisses, but Peter’s internal thoughts shower door. He looks in. toward something respectable in the arts throughout the novel reflect his obsession She’s facing away from and away from drugs. with Mizzy. him, and the shower seems to have taken away However, Peter’s in emotional turmoil as he This is Pulitizer-Prize winner Cunningham’s twenty years. Rebecca is young again. She tries to conceal his improper attraction to seventh novel. He won the Stonewall turns, surprised, but it isn’t Rebecca; it’s Mizzy. Peter has been straight his entire Literature Award in 1999 for The Hours and Ethan, Rebecca’s younger brother. He says, life, and he tries to explain his surprising won a Stonewall honor book award in 1991 ―Hey‖ and is not the least uncomfortable for attraction to Mizzy’s youth and vitality, to for A Home at the End of the World. Both Peter to see him naked. Mizzy’s reminding him of Rebecca, to books have been made into films. unresolved feelings about his brother who Peter is 44, a handsome and successful died of AIDS, or to Mizzy as the Cunningham’s novels often cover great second-tier art dealer; Peter’s life is filled embodiment of the beauty that he’s been spans of time and space. By Nightfall with the conflict of art vs. commerce -- the looking for in art. When Peter overhears covers only a few days in a small world, but practice and ethics of which artists to Mizzy on the phone buying drugs, he that world embraces art, commerce, represent, which artists to feature in his doesn’t let Rebecca know, because she relationships, and marriage, and those days front gallery, which art to sell to which might send Mizzy away. bring about an epiphany for Peter and buyer. Peter pursues beauty – both physical By Nightfall is told in the third person Rebecca. and artistic – and youth, and he finds both through Peter’s point of view. The title may desire and disillusion. refer to Peter's growing older and losing his Highly recommended for all libraries. sense of youth. Peter's nocturnal

Peter’s wife, Rebecca, is the lovely editor of wanderings also demonstrate his loneliness Reviewed by, Larry Romans a small literary journal. Her 23-year-old and sense of isolation. Vanderbilt University Libraries brother Ethan is so much younger that he is known in the family as Mizzy – the mistake. Despite the gay sensibilities in By Nightfall,

Lee, Tanith. Disturbed by Her Song. Maple Shade, NJ: Lethe Press, 2010. Paperback. 186pp. $18.00. ISBN: 978-1-59021-311-7.

Disturbed By Her Song and lesbian experiences chronicled in the night may, in fact be a werewolf. The is a collection of dark, book. collection successfully eludes any attempts sensual stories we may make at genre categorization, as it ostensibly written by The surreal stories are linked by a common combines the conventions of fantasy, two fictional characters. gothic undercurrent and take place in romance, and horror with lyrical language Writer Tanith Lee gorgeously diverse settings: Victorian and literary allusions. ―channels‖ these gay Paris; a passenger train barreling through siblings and refers to snow-covered Eastern Europe; and Egypt This title is cleverly crafted and them as the real during World War II. recommended for most adult collections. authors. She emphasizes in the There are hints of ghosts in the French Reviewed by, S. Annelise Adams introduction that she hotel, allusions to lovers haunted by Librarian II writes ―as and with‖ the fascinating brother partners they’ve not yet met, and Chicago Public Library and sister as a creative technique and not suggestions that a lithe and sexually as a way to distance herself from the gay voracious man who roams the train at

Page 15 Volume 23, Number 1

Walsh, Haley. Foxe Tail. Skyler Foxe Mystery Ser. Albion, NY: MLR Press, 2010. Paperback. 288pp. $14.99. ISBN: 978-1-60820-234-8.

Skyler Foxe is starting his coach named Keith Fletcher, brusque yet relationships. There is one short but rather first year of teaching gorgeous, and the mysterious fall down explicit sex scene in the novel. English literature at his some stairs by a calculus teacher. The alma mater, James Polk macho head football coach becomes a Foxe Tail is the first gay mystery novel High, located in the suspect as the result of a conversation written by Haley Walsh, although she has conservative Inland Skyler overhears. A cell phone and war written historical novels, short stories, and Empire of southern chalking add further twists to the plot. articles under another name. It is the first California. He is out with of three novels in the proposed Skyler Foxe his close gay friends Foxe Tail also contains a secondary Mystery trilogy. Walsh leaves several Jamie, Philip, and Rodolfo, storyline involving one of Skyler’s students storylines unresolved in Foxe Tail, which and with his best female and the attempts by Skyler to help him. are to be resolved in the second and third friend Sidney, a straight detective, but is novels, Foxe Hunt and Foxe Fire. still in the closet with his mom and Although there could be a few less colleagues at work. The mystery begins coincidences in the storyline, Foxe Tail is Foxe Tail is a delightful read and is when Skyler and Sidney visit a gay dance basically a well written mystery novel. The recommended for public libraries in tolerant club and discover a dead body. It turns out culprit was not apparent to me until near areas and medium-to-large academic that the body was the gay son of the the end of the novel. Skyler is an libraries. uptight principal of Skyler’s school. interesting character. While he is rather naïve and irresponsible for a schoolteacher, Foxe Tail is also available in a Kindle Despite Sidney’s warnings to leave he takes risks to find the murderer because edition. investigating to the police Skyler starts to he is tired of being a victim. Skyler is also conduct his own investigation of the single, never has had a steady boyfriend, Reviewed by,Paul Hubbard murder. Complications arise involving a and is not looking for one. His romantic life Retired Public Reference Librarian new biology teacher and assistant football consists of one night stands and short term

Coyote, Ivan E. Missed Her. Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press, 2010. Paperback. 142p. $16.95. ISBN: 978-1-55152-371-2.

Missed Her is Ivan E. sentence to check me out when I walk by. I tumultuous love, we can envision, through Coyote’s sixth solo book, a nod politely, just enough eye contact to not Coyote’s eyes, ―the propane fireplace on in powerful collection seem suspicious, but not enough that I am the living room and she is sitting with her demonstrating Coyote’s first looking for a fight. … Maybe they saw a legs tucked up beside her on the couch like -rate story-telling skills and dyke; maybe they think I’m a gay man. she does. … Newspapers and magazines ability to gently weave There was definitely something about me. cover the coffee table, and she has a fresh together topics, including Goddamn Fleuvog boots‖ (47). Later, at cup of black tea with cream and sugar in it the complexities of family, another pit-stop outside of Alberta, Coyote on the side table, next to a plate empty gender and sexuality, age, gets propositioned by a man, who opens by save for a scattering of toast community (geographical, commenting on her dog, and Coyote crumbs‖ (129). queer, and otherwise), and wonders, ―It could have been the little fluffy myriad other issues that all seem to point dog. Maybe that’s what he saw. Or the Perhaps the most enjoyable essays in the to the larger idea of finding one’s ―home‖ in boots. Goddamn Fleuvogs, get me every book are Coyote’s playful musings on a complicated world. time‖ (50). gender identity, sex, and sexuality, as demonstrated in ―Hats Off,‖ ―A Butch These thirty short essays will leave readers ―All About Herman‖ highlights Coyote’s Roadmap,‖ ―Throwing in the Towel,‖ and, of wanting more, but with an awareness that inclination to allow her subjects to tell their course, ―Boner Preservation Society.‖ I they are written with the restraint and own stories, in a participant/observer role, don’t want to give it away. You will have to intention of an experienced writer and as she takes us back and forth from present read it. speaker. Coyote’s humor and uncanny to past through her attempt to record her sense of timing shine through the many ninety-year-old grandmother’s history. Recommended for any LGBT collection, in serious themes of this book, giving them a ―Lately her musings have grown somehow school, public, and academic libraries, from lightness that makes for a fun, while more poignant, more emotional, full of adolescent and up. emotionally stirring, read. In ―Straighten regrets (130). … I get the story from her in Up,‖ Coyote reflects on her heightened snapshots, short bursts, late-night kitchen Reviewed by, Jesse Nachem awareness with her appearance and table talk when the lips are loose with the Records Specialist behavior in relation to other people’s whiskey’ (133). Most of the essay is quoted University of California in Oakland perceptions of her, and the dangers that from her grandmother’s letters and talks, can result from her ambiguity. At a pit-stop and seems to channel images from her in rural Northern Ontario, Coyote passes by through Coyote to the reader. As her three men outside, who ―stop in mid- grandmother talks about her first

Volume 23, Number 1 Page 16 Wunnicke, Christine. Missouri. Trans. David Miller. Vancouver, B.C.: Arsenal Pulp Press, 2010. paperback. 134 p. $12.95. ISBN: 978-1-55152-344-6.

In 1832, court reporter—and The poet’s and the outlaw’s lives cross beautiful love story shows two totally conman—Douglas Fortescue during a stagecoach robbery when Joshua, opposite and very memorable characters publishes a poem of blood and now 16, kidnaps Douglas in front of Jeremy who grow more and more alike throughout depravity that brings him overnight and takes him into the Wild West. The their relationship. Chosen as one of the fame within the effete London remainder of the short novel describes GLBTRT Over the Rainbow Project Top literary society. The more fey Jeremy’s obsessive search for his brother Eleven for 2011, Missouri will no doubt Douglas becomes, the more society and the growing love between Douglas and become another classic like Brokeback adores him and the more he holds Joshua. The story culminates with a man Mountain. society in contempt. The possibility trying in vain to rescue a brother who does of a morals charge against Douglas finally leads his brother Jeremy to drag him to America. not want to be rescued. Reviewed by, Larry Romans In the same year, thousands of miles away, The spare prose of this short novel uses the Head, Government Information and Media Cyrus Jenkyns ties a man to a tree, forcing language of almost two centuries ago and Services; his six-year-old son, Joshua, to kill the blends the comic and tragic in a zany camp Vanderbilt University Libraries man. Among the man’s belongings, Joshua approach. The German culture has long finds a book of Byron’s poems and forces a been fascinated with American cowboy life. And Nel Ward preacher to teach him to read. At the age of Wunnicke has authentically depicted Co-founder, 14, he takes over the outlaw gang after his nineteenth-century mid-America, replete GLBTRT Over the Rainbow Project father is hanged. During one of their with sweat, stink, and head lice, showing robberies, he steals a second book of the freedom of a time and place where men poetry, which he reads every day. ruled their world. Critics have either loved or hated the book. We loved it. With surprises around each turn of the plot, this

Alan, Kage. Operation Thunderspell: Gaylias. Austin: Zumaya Boundless, 2010. Paperback.271pp. 15.99 ISBN: 978-1-936144-12-9.

I am a big fan of Kage trying to extract information from a home there is a message about stereotyping the Alan’s first book A Funny office. The action is very fast-paced, as is homosexual community that I found very Thing Happened on my the dialogue, which I found quite difficult to heavy-handed. Way to My Sexual follow. I could not differentiate between the Orientation, so I was very two main characters, and I briefly That being said, with all of its faults, I eager to read his latest wondered whether or not I had missed the found this book to be an enjoyable read, effort. When I read the first book in the series, which had and I look forward to more in the series -- back cover of the book I developed them. This hectic pace, of both perhaps even a prequel that will give the was immediately reminded action and dialogue, is maintained history of the couple as they became a of a series I’ve previously throughout the novel, which made it a fast couple. read: Fred Hunter’s The read once I got a handle on the main Alex Reynolds Mysteries, characters. Operation Thunderspell is appropriate for which I thoroughly enjoyed. Both series any public library and for all adults. The have lovers who are secret agents for Following the dinner party, the action sexual innuendo might a little much for government agencies. The storyline of moves to the master/slave island in the teens, but I have read YA novels with more Alan’s novel follows two lovers who go Pacific, where we’re treated to lots of actual sex. There is a great deal of violence, undercover on a secret island that caters to sexual innuendo, but no real sexual but nothing graphic. guests who want to experience a master/ activity. For some readers, the sexual slave relationship. Think Exit to Eden for innuendo may be all that’s needed, but I Reviewed by, Scott Clonan gays and straights,but with better humor. was disappointed with the lack of intimacy Adult Services Librarian between the main characters. West Charleston Library Operation Thunderspell opens with our heroes at a dinner party, where they are Another quibble: during the final scene,

MacIsaac, Steve. Shirtlifter #1. 2nd Edition. Long Beach, CA: Drawn, Out Press, 2010. 32pp. $5.95. ISBN: 9780979134937. Originally published: Long Beach, CA: Drawn Out Press, 2006.

---. Shirtlifter #2. Long So far, each issue of Shirtlifter tells its first three chapters of a new work, Beach, CA: Drawn, Out Press, tales differently. Shirtlifter #1 is a 32- ―Unpacking,‖ and includes work by 2007. 56pp. $8.95. ISBN: page one-shot, first published in black two other cartoonists MacIsaac 9780979134913 and white. (The second edition was admires. (I’m eagerly awaiting the

MacIsaac, Steve, Justin Hall, reinked and printed in two colors on completion of ―Unpacking‖ in Fuzzbelly. Shirtlifter # 3. better paper.) Shirtlifter #2 Shirtlifter #4 and #5.) Long Beach, CA: Drawn, Out introduced full color, and five of the Press, 2008. 87pp. $10.95. ten stories are autobiographic (Continued page 17). ISBN: 9780979134920. vignettes. Shirtlifter #3 contains the

Page 17 Volume 23, Number 1

MacIsaac, Steve. Shirtlifter #1. (Cont.)

A strong autobiographic element underlies Tagame’s, but there is a definite another bear-lover, with a earthier style– all MacIsaac’s tales. As MacIsaac comments resemblance. Both MacIsaac and Tagame and of Justin Hall, who draws more like in Shirtlifter #2, ―Even when writing pure have an eye for musclebears, and both pay MacIsaac, but who tells a darker story. fiction, elements of my life tend to surface.‖ stronger attention to the characters than For example, the protagonist in ―Unmade the backgrounds, pulling the reader into Like Tagame, MacIsaac does not shy away Beds,‖ the issue-length story from their very personal stories. Shirtlifter #2 from drawing the male nude or gay men Shirtlifter #1, made his living in Japan shows less similarity – MacIsaac having sex, which could lead to challenges teaching English – just like MacIsaac. experiments with many different styles of in more conservative communities. I’d Whether, fiction or autobiography, though, drawing and coloring – but Shirtlifter #3 recommend the entire series, though, for his plots are poignant and carefully shaped, again reminds me of Tagame. public libraries serving established and and the characters are tenderly explored growing GLBT communities, and to using both narrative and art. Fuzzbelly and Justin Hall each penned a academic libraries with collections of GLBT short subject to fit between chapters in literature or art. When I first opened Shirtlifter #1, I was Shirtlifter #3. The brief stories help break reminded of Japanese gay erotic manga up the three chapters by MacIsaac, and Reviewed by, John Bradford artist Gengoro Tagame. MacIsaac’s art is a they each have styles distinct from each Head, Automation & Technical Services little stiffer, his characters more realistic, other and from MacIsaac. I appreciated Villa Park Public Library and his eroticism less fanciful than being introduced to the work of Fuzzbelly –

Currier, Jameson. The Wolf at the Door. New York: Chelsea Station Editions, 2010. paperback. 273p. ISBN: 978-0-9844707-0-9.

Beware! The spirits of the dead his guesthouse, Dalyrymple is stressed questioning his own loss of faith. are restless, and Jameson beyond his control. But as the past history Currier (better known for his of Le Petit Paradis and its former occupants If you’ve been pining for Anne Rice's New short stories) spins a tale of slowly comes to light, and is retold through Orleans, The Wolf at the Door’s lovable New Orleans’ French Quarter in a journal and a previous tenant's research, characters (mostly gay men) and spooky this second novel. the ghosts around the place begin to make happenings might quench your desires. It is more sense. a delightful, casual read, and is Currier presents the struggle of recommended for public libraries. Adults overweight and harried Avery Greene Barely making ends meet and falling behind should treat themselves with this one! Dalyrymple, as he manages the all-but- on much needed repairs, Dalyrymple must dilapidated "Le Petit Paradis." (Misspelling seek why he is being confronted with so Reviewed by, Johnnie N. Gray intentional.) Unable to put down the many restless souls. His friends are more Interlibrary Loan Librarian bourbon when coping with the customers, than supportive, and he utilizes all of their The Paul and Rosemary Trible Library complaints, and otherworldly creatures of skills to keep all souls happy, as well as Christopher Newport University

GLBTRT Officers / Committee Chairs/Steering Committee

Dale McNeill, 2009—2011 Vacant Lynn Evarts, 2011—2013 GLBTRT Co-Chair Chair, External Relations Committee Chair, Rainbow Project Committee [email protected] Committee Page & Volunteer Form [email protected]

Anne Moore, 2010—2012 Vacant Lisa Johnston, 2010—2011 GLBTRT Co-Chair Chair, Fundraising Committee Chair, Stonewall Book Award Comm. [email protected] Committee Page & Volunteer Form [email protected]

Ellen Bosman, 2009—2011 Larry Romans, 2010—2012 Vacant Chair, Stonewall Book Award Celebra- GLBTRT Treasurer Chair, Membership Promotion Comm. [email protected] tion Planning Committee [email protected] Committee Page & Volunteer Form Sarah Wright, 2009—2011 David Vess, 2009—2011 Jason D. Phillips, 2010—2012 [email protected] GLBTRT Secretary Chair, Website, Comm. Chair, Newsletter Committee [email protected] [email protected]

Peter Hepburn, 2010—2013 K. R. Roberto, 2009—2011 GLBTRT Councilor Chair, Program Planning Committee [email protected] [email protected]