Out of the Shadows: The Psychology of Gay Men's Lives

by Walt Odets

The challenge for gay men today is to recognize and acknowledge guilt and attempt to work it through by allowing themselves to have the lives they want. Without unfounded guilt, our lives are more expansive, fulfilled, and happy.

Authentic lives are internally rooted lives. In an authentic life, our life in the external world is relatively coherent with our internally held values and sense of self. The authentic adult life thus seeks validation first internally, and only secondarily from others.