Ebook Queer Crips Disabled Gay Men and Their Stories Haworth Gay Lesbian Studies 9781560234579 Medicine Health Science Books

Product details Series Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies Paperback 250 pages Publisher Routledge; 1 edition (November 16, 2003) Language English ISBN-10 1560234571

Queer Crips Disabled Gay Men and Their Stories Haworth Gay Lesbian Studies 9781560234579 Medicine Health Science Books Reviews

• This is an important book, the deserves to be in a much wider circulation. The book itself is compiled from a now defunct website. It is a crying shame that I came upon the website as late as I did, and yet I thank the universe that this book exists.
  
  I don't know if I can put into words the feeling of ecstatic pleasure I had at finding, for a lack of a more objective term to describe it, myself in these pages. I am disabled, I am gay. But, if you were to pay attention to most media, you would think that someone like me doesn't exist. An review isn't the place to get into the politics or theory of representation, but I do have to say thank you to the authors. This book is important. It is an oasis in the middle of a drought. More books *should* be written about this intersection, because believe me, there most certainly is one. Unfortunately, that probably won't happen - any time soon. But at least this book exists.
• If I remember correctly, this anthology won a Lambda nomination and it deserved it. It really helps you to work, or ride, in the paths of disabled gay men. Contributors were born with disabilities and later acquired them. The writers discuss finding lovers, whether they want able-bodied or disabled partners, having sex with disabled bodies, prejudice from gays and straights. I must admit that sometimes contributors seemed self-loathing in wanting to ignore their disabilities or wanting to keep away from other disabled individuals. Still, I admire their courage in opening the eyes of many.
  
  Too often in anthologies covering double minorities, the editors are so quick to get contributions that they'll take works that fail to talk of both identities. Here each contributor speaks of both. No one speaks on disability alone or sexuality alone. Moreover, most articles discuss boyhood; those interested in GBT youth matters may especially take note.
  
  I had too big problems with this book. First, the contributors were overrepresented among middle-class and white writers. Some contributors had Spanish names, but the intersection of race, sexuality, and disability rarely came up. Even the title rings of this homogeneity. If you say "crips," to many the answer would be "the rival gang of bloods," not "a word that disabled people may try to reclaim." Further, the editing made all the voices sound the same. Yes, you hear divergent stories, but sometimes it felt like the same writer could have penned them.
  
  Cole Porter became a paraplegic due to a riding accident. Derek Jarman went blind because of AIDS. Arthur Rimbaud may have lost his leg. There are many gay disabled men and we haven't heard enough from them. I thank these authors for helping to start, or continue, that discussion.
• Quality is better than I expected for a used book. Very pleased with the speed and product overall. Highly recommend this seller.