World Out There Becoming Part of the Lesbian and Gay Community - Softcover

Coming out is not a simple process but a long, complicated series of decision and choices that continues for years and years. After saying "yes, this is who I am" (and telling lots of other people), a newly out person, particularly a young person, may find that he or she doesn't know what to do next. Michael Thomas Ford's The World Out There shows you how to take on the challenge of wending your way through a new world that is complicated, sometimes scary, and amazingly fun.

Ford approaches his task with verve, ingenuity, and imagination. He deals with survival questions (How do you confront homophobia in the workplace? How to tell if you are dating someone?), identity issues (Do you have to love Judy Garland? Do all gay people think alike?), and, most important, sex (the joys of sex; safe sex; sex as an act of love; sex as an act of lust). Ford knows that every life is multifaceted, and he manages to strike a fine balance between public presentation and inner growth. In his portrait of the world out there, cruising, political activism, family, and love are all important. Written in a friendly style and intercut with interviews with celebrities such as Melissa Etheridge and profiles of gay life in specific cities, including New York and San Francisco, The World Out There is a useful, important source book and guide for the newly out, or for anyone seeking a primer on gay and lesbian life. --Michael Bronski

Michael Thomas Ford is the author of several books, including 100 Questions & Answers about AIDS and The Voices of AIDS. His essays and articles on gay and lesbian issues have appeared in magazines including The Advocate, Publishers Weekly, Lambda Book Report, QW, and Current Biography.