Gay Men and The New Way Forward

by Raymond L. Rigoglioso

“Gay men are just like everyone else.” “Gay men are inherently different.” Both statements contain truths. In the drive for equal rights and social acceptance, so many in the LGBT movement have emphasized gay people’s commonalities with straights. But what if gay men’s differences were distinct gifts? What if gay men—and you—played important and singular roles in the human family? From a perspective seldom considered in mainstream gay—or straight—culture, Raymond L. Rigoglioso, founder of Gay Men of Wisdom, takes a fresh and open-hearted look at the critical roles that gay men play in the world. Organized around 14 Distinct Gay Male Gifts, Gay Men and The New Way Forward shows how gay men have emerged from a history dominated by victimization to become teachers for humanity. It proposes that, when we understand how we contribute to the health and vitality of society, LGBT people can make an entirely new case for equality and begin an important new era in our movement. Written as an invitation to self-discovery, Gay Men and The New Way Forward includes a self-assessment to help the reader discover how he serves and heals humanity, reinvents manhood, and frees and enriches the human spirit.

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 2, 2015

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many self-help books have been published that focus on gay men's lives. Having read several of them, at first I found Rigoglioso's book to be a bit derivative, and he does frequently quote previous books on the subject. But he has regrouped many philosophies in a somewhat unified way.

Perhaps for younger gays, and even the older yet newly out gay men, this will provide insight into facing our struggles: self-hatred, oppression, and a lack of focus to strengthen ourselves. Drag, cruising, and even effeminacy vs. masculinity are explored as aspects that need to be acknowledged as part of our lives.

Several themes are covered, from religious and spiritual aspects, to ways to find community that isn't based on the clichés of gay life (bars, porn, sex, etc.)

Numerous charts and bullet points reiterate empowering aspects of how gay men can re-envision their purpose in life, and how to find self-esteem and build productive lives and a sense of community.

(Also, as journalist who proofreads work daily, I found the persistent font glitch of lower-case T's having a curly edge that bumps into the previous letters a bit annoying. It's a minor complaint.)

[Malcolm McPherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it is important to acknowledge our commonalities with the rest of humanity gay men have a particular positive role in the world and our own gifts to offer humanity. The book benefits from the addition of the personal stories from the author's coaching practice and other work with gay men.