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The God Squad and Bellringer Journeys Across the Rainbow: Inspirational Stories for the Human Race by Dale Colclasure & David Jensen; Rainbow Pride Press, 6525 Gunpark Drive, Suite 150-117, Boulder, CO 80301; www.RainbowPridePress.com; 299 pages; $17.95.
1. We are here to be who we are and share that with others;
Dale Thomas Colclasure and David Jensen, cofounders of Rainbow Pride Press and editors of Journeys Across the Rainbow, have years of experience in business, literature, the healing arts and athletics. (They are also good-looking guys, as their photos show.) According to the editors' "Foreword", the purpose of this book "is to recognize the people who, for the most part, have been quietly going about their daily lives without much recognition or deserved praise; to provide inspiration and instill a sense of pride within all members of the human race." The repeated use of "human race" to describe what is obviously a lesbian and gay book makes us wonder if Colclasure and Jensen were trying to make their book safe for closet cases. While the guys no doubt hope that Journeys Across the Rainbow will sell beyond the queer community, the fact that most of the contributors and virtually all of the issues discussed are LGBT-related will sadly but inevitably limit its outreach. The use of the word "rainbow" by both book and publisher certainly indicates what their target audience is. More than thirty years after Stonewall, it is sad to admit that many members of our community are still oppressed by self-hatred, bigotry and violence, physical and mental illness and various forms of addictions. Though there is much "Gay 101" material in Journeys Across the Rainbow, the lesbigay and trans community still needs a collection of writings like this one. The stories are definitely uplifting. As the editors put it, "The many stories presented to you in this book speak about how people discovered their passion in life, how they found a way of giving back, how they became of service to a higher purpose, how they truly connected with that inner flame and claimed their power to rise above all adversity, challenges, and upheaval." If these stories don't inspire you to improve your own life, perhaps nothing will.
Journeys Across the Rainbow won't win any literary contests: Some of the contributors are not writers and it shows. On the other hand, as a collection of inspirational vignettes, one that can be left by the bedside and picked up whenever needed, Journeys Across the Rainbow is both enlightening and essential. Colclasure and Jensen are already seeking inspirational stories for a new edition of their book, for it is their intent that Journeys Across the Rainbow not be a one-time event. Readers who have "insightful, heartwarming, powerfully moving, and inspirational stories" that they want to share with the world should contact Rainbow Pride Press at the address above. Brief Views:
Exposed: A Celebration of the Male Nude from 90 of the
World's Greatest Photographers by Phil Braham; Foreword by Reed Massengill;
Thunder's Mouth Press; 192 pages; $29.95.
Phil Braham is a photographer and writer whose visual and literary works have graced many a publication. Exposed is a "celebration" of male nude photography that "showcases the male form in an undeniably eye-catching and provocative way." It features "90 of the world's greatest photographers" (Braham included) who are represented by a photo and a brief study by the author. Among the artists featured in Exposed are Tom Bianchi, Roy Blakey, Robert Mapplethorpe, Reed Massengill (who also wrote the "Foreword"), Arthur Tress and Andy Warhol. Though not as comprehensive as similar studies by David Leddick and Emmanuel Cooper, Exposed is a good introduction to a still-controversial art form. The God Squad: A Spoof on the Ex-Gay Movement by Rik Isensee (iUniverse.com; 200 p.; 12.95) The God Squad is change of pace for the distinguished therapist and author of several "self-help" books. A delightful satire on the ex-gay movement, it is the story of Paul, a young man who falls in the clutches of the Reverend Sly Slocock[!] of the "ex-gay" group Escape. Will Paul follow the straight and narrow or will he be led astray by Jimmy, the sexy activist from Homo Nation? Bellringer by Dwight York (Xlibris Corporation; 228 p.; $16.00) Bellringer is a historical novel by an established writer. Set in 1969-70, it tells the tale of Tony Di Angelo, a young college student who comes to terms with his sexuality in the shadow of Woodstock and the Gay Liberation Front. Though they are nothing to write home about, both The God Squad and Bellringer make for good beach reading. Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer who lives in South Florida with his domestic partner. He may be reached at jessemonteagudo@aol.com |
Journeys Across the Rainbow is the first book published by Rainbow
Pride, a small press with a big mission: "to foster positive self-images and
positive self-esteem among the human race by providing uplifting and
inspirational stories in a format that is easy to read and digest. . . . The
founders of Rainbow Pride Press are here to do three things:
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