Gay Men at Midlife: Age Before Beauty (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies)

"Those of us in our forties and fifties came of age in the 1960s and 1970s--a time when the available commentary on gay life was anything but supportive. Until 1973, homosexuality was a diagnosable mental illness." --from the Introduction by Alan L. EllisToday, that literary blindness is being remedied. Take an in-depth look into the lives of 15 gay men and how they relate to their own aging with Gay Men at Midlife: Age Before Beauty, a fascinating new book that explores and clarifies the issues that confront gay men as they age. What happens to gay men's lives when they reach middle age?The essays in Gay Men at Midlife: Age Before Beauty offer a realistic picture of both the challenges and the joys that present themselves in the lives of gay men at midlife. The book does not gloss over the difficulties of the experience; you will truly come to understand that each gay man is not alone in confronting the pain and mourning that may accompany middle age.The people who frankly, openly, and intelligently discuss their personal lives in Gay Men at Midlife: Age Before Beauty include: psychotherapist/popular columnist Tom Moon (San Francisco, California) professor of philosophy and literature Alejandro Medina-Bermudez (Madrid, Spain) television executive George Pierson (Bethesda, Maryland) multimedia artist Trevor Southey (born in the country now known as Zimbabwe, currently working in San Francisco) activist/researcher Frank Wong (New York) . . . plus 10 more individuals from varying backgrounds! Gay Men at Midlife: Age Before Beauty provides a look at how these individuals are redefining the stereotypes of aging gay men and empowering themselves to find meaning and purpose in the second half of their lives.

“those Of Us In Our Forties And Fifties Came Of Age In The 1960s And 1970s--a Time When The Available Commentary On Gay Life Was Anything But Supportive. Until 1973, Homosexuality Was A Diagnosable Mental Illness.” --from The Introduction By Alan L. Ellis

today, That Literary Blindness Is Being Remedied. Take An In-depth Look Into The Lives Of 15 Gay Men And How They Relate To Their Own Aging With Gay Men At Midlife: Age Before Beauty, A Fascinating New Book That Explores And Clarifies The Issues That Confront Gay Men As They Age.

what Happens To Gay Men's Lives When They Reach Middle Age?

the Essays In Gay Men At Midlife: Age Before Beauty Offer A Realistic Picture Of Both The Challenges And The Joys That Present Themselves In The Lives Of Gay Men At Midlife. The Book Does Not Gloss Over The Difficulties Of The Experience; You Will Truly Come To Understand That Each Gay Man Is Not Alone In Confronting The Pain And Mourning That May Accompany Middle Age.

the People Who Frankly, Openly, And Intelligently Discuss Their Personal Lives In Gay Men At Midlife: Age Before Beauty Include:

• psychotherapist/popular Columnist Tom Moon (san Francisco, California)
• professor Of Philosophy And Literature Alejandro Medina-bermudez (madrid, Spain)
• television Executive George Pierson (bethesda, Maryland)
• multimedia Artist Trevor Southey (born In The Country Now Known As Zimbabwe, Currently Working In San Francisco)
• activist/researcher Frank Wong (new York) . . . Plus 10 More Individuals From Varying Backgrounds!

gay Men At Midlife: Age Before Beauty Provides A Look At How These Individuals Are Redefining The Stereotypes Of Aging Gay Men And Empowering Themselves To Find Meaning And Purpose In The Second Half Of Their Lives.

library Journal

when We Combine Negative Biases About Homosexuality With Similarly Negative Biases About Aging, We Are Left To Confront A Societal Script In Which Isolation, Bitterness, And Regret Multiply With Age. Ellis (coauthor, With Bob Powers, Of A Family And Friend's Guide To Sexual Orientation) Counters This Bleak View Of Middle-aged Gay Men With This Anthology. Sixteen Men (including The Author), Aged Between 40 And 60, Take Stock Of Their Lives, Informed By The Heightened Sense Of Mortality That Comes With These Years. As Is Common With This Type Of Collection, The Contributors Are Diverse In Race And Religion, And, As Is Also Common, The Essays Vary In Quality. While Each Man's Life Has Been Touched By Illness And Death, They Face Their Middle Years With Their Dignity, Humor, Sexuality, And Spirituality Intact. If Some Of The Essays Tend Toward Self-indulgence, On The Whole This Slim But Worthy Volume Redresses The Dearth Of Resources On This Topic. Recommended For Gay Studies, Human Sexuality, And Gerontology Collections In Academic And Large Public Libraries.--richard J. Violette, Special Libraries Cataloging, Inc., Victoria, Bc Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 About the Editor 10 Contributors 12 Acknowledgments 14 Chapter 1. Introduction: The Beauty of Men 16 Notes 21 Chapter 2. A Vipassana Romance 22 Samsara 22 Awakening 24 Lila 26 Note 30 Chapter 3. Breaking Through 32 Note 40 Chapter 4. I'm Still Here 42 Chapter 5. Before a (Prospective) Visit to the Land of the Lotus Eaters 52 Chapter 6. Waking Up on the Other Side 60 Chapter 7. Calvin 74 Chapter 8. In the Center Ring 80 Chapter 9. Voyage to Ithaka 88 Notes 93 Chapter 10. Dutiful Son, Dutiful Friend 94 Chapter 11. The Choice 102 Chapter 12. Tesoro 110 Chapter 13. This Body 116 Chapter 14. Sense of Place 124 Community 125 My Father 129 Forty 133 Chapter 15. A Photograph 134 Chapter 16. Between the Living and the Leaving 142 Getting Ready 142 Aging 145 Sex 148 Love 153 Ending 158 Notes 160 Age Before Beauty Rather than a scholarly analysis of the mid-life issues of gay men, this volume offers 16 diverse personal perspectives on this developmental juncture. Ellis (Harvey Milk Institute, San Francisco State U.) introduces the theme of confronting stereotypes of aging gay men. Bay area psychotherapist-col Dancer from the Dance was published in 1978, and while those of us now in our forties and fifties didn't grow old in a single night, two decades passed, and we did grow older. The 15 essays in this book offer a realistic picture of both the challenges and the joys that present themselves in the lives of gay men at midlife