Straight Women, Gay Men: Absolutely Fabulous Friendships
by Laura Rafaty, Robert H. Hopcke, Robert H. Hopche

In an era when men and women are alleged to be from different planets and unable to communicate with each other, gay men and straight women seem to communicate almost effortlessly. Perhaps it's because this is not a relationship undertaken for convenience or forced by societal pressure but one that is carefully chosen on the basis of common interests, mutual respect, and real affection. Or perhaps it's because, freed from the stereotypical male-female roles, gay men and straight women relate to one another simply as people. Straight Women, Gay Men celebrates the importance of these friendships.

A Couple of Friends: The Remarkable Friendship Between Straight Women and Gay Men
by Robert Hopcke, Laura Rafaty

In an era when men and women are supposed to be from "different planets" and unable to communicate, many gay men and straight women seem able to connect almost effortlessly. Perhaps it is because this is not a relationship of convenience or forced by societal pressure, but a friendship based on common interests, mutual respect, and real affection.
Whether they are commiserating about love lives or getting the insider's perspective on what men or women really think, gay men and straight women often turn to one another for the real scoop. And they can count on each other to say, "you look fabulous," "thinner," or "younger" - whichever is needed. Best-selling author and psychotherapist Robert Hopcke and Tony-nominated producer Laura Rafaty combine poignant stories, psychological insight, and commentary to explore this common but often ignored bond.

Card catalog description
"What makes the friendship between straight women and gay men so special? And why can these friends of the opposite sex connect so quickly and communicate so effortlessly? Whether they are commiserating about love lives or trying to figure out which "team" a desirable man "plays for," straight women and gay men can always turn to one another for the straight scoop on the opposite sex. And they can always count on each other to say, 'you look fabulous,' 'thinner,' or 'younger' - whichever is...

Fags, Hags, and Queer Sisters: Gender Dissent and Heterosocial Bonds in Gay Culture
by Stephen Maddison

Fags, Hags and Queer Sisters is a provocative account of the importance of women and cross-gender identification in gay male culture. It offers a range of cultural readings from Tennessee William's classic A Streetcar Named Desire and Forster's 'gay' novel Maurice through Pulp Fiction, queer lifestyle magazines, Roseanne, slash fan fiction, and Jarman's Edward II to Almodovar's camp classic Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Theoretically sophisticated, yet passionate, accessible and opinionated, Fags, Hags and Queer Sisters takes issue with many of the sacred cows of contemporary gay politics, and offers a number of new concepts in lesbian and gay theory.

Uncommon Lives: Gay Men and Straight Women
by Catherine Whitney, Christine Henny

"Dedicated to men and women who wrestle with tradition, invent new options, take risks and live creatively," Whitney's book will be of aid and interest to those men and women who defy the strictures of approved societal relationships. Whitney explores a number of unique, loving relationships, which may include children--not an option for gay men at one time. That is now changing, and Whitney looks at how the disclosure of homosexuality affects relationships between gay dads and kids. Further, as she points out, some gay men realize that though they are more sexually attracted to men, their primary emotional relationships are with women--a stance once thought of as exploitation or a comfortable front. It is this struggle between the physical and emotional that Whitney emphasizes. Surveying more than 1000 people, she comes to no grand conclusions yet finds that there are many who must create new ways to live and love. A subject of wide interest. Highly recommended.

WHY GAY GUYS ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND
by Jeff Fessler, Karen Rauch

A collection of illustrations and witty words reveals the sterling qualities that endear gay men to women through a series of humorous contrasts of a gay guy's perspective with that of a straight guy. 35,000 first printing.

Between Gay and Straight: Understanding Friendship Across Sexual Orientation
by Lisa M. Tillmann-Healy

It started as a class project-- a young, married, small-town white woman interviewing a gay acquaintance and his circle of friends. From this developed a three year exploration of the complexities of carrying on gay-straight friendships. This reflexive, thoughtful, and compellingly-written study moves from gay bars to softball leagues to visits with families and friends, both gay and straight. During its course, the author develops a growing understanding of the differences between the two communities, the difficulties of developing bonds across groups, and the inherent rewards of seeking (and being) the Other in contemporary society. She explores sexuality, marriage, lifestyles, and the meanings of friendship, culminating in a boisterous dissertation defense attended by her new community of friends. As a study of a gay community, a narrative of personal development and change, and an exploration of the use of friendship in conducting research that transforms both participants and researcher, Tillmann-Healy's work will be compelling reading for scholars, students, and the broader community.

Navigating Differences: Friendships Between Gay and Straight Men
by Jammie Price

This is an excellent and unique resource. It's written in a kind of silted, academic style--but that's no matter. Understanding how gay and straight male friends relate to each other, both in good and bad ways, is a topic you won't find treated much anywhere else. If you have a good friend who's gay, or a good friend who's straight, you'll come to appreciate him *much* *much* more from reading this. I think it makes a great gift, too, after you come out to someone.

Gay Men's Friendships : Invincible Communities
by Peter M. Nardi

Representations of the gay community have come a long way since the bitchy banter of The Boys in the Band. In Invincible Communities, Peter M. Nardi makes it clear how powerfully supportive and influential friends can be in the lives of gay men. "Over and over again," notes Nardi, "I hear and continue to be told a central narrative of gay men's lives is that of how important their friends are to them, how this 'rich network of friends' is like a family, how sex has been a dimension of their earlier friendships with some of their friends, and how, for some, their friends mean more and last longer than do their romantic relationships." Basing his study on 30 interviews and the results from a questionnaire survey of 161 gay men, Nardi explores the ways masculinity is organized and expressed in contemporary America. Interestingly, in discussing "Friendship as Kinship," Nardi challenges the gay commonplace that we create "families of choice" through our friendships with other gay people. Suggesting that the metaphor of friends-as-family is a "strongly American concept," an adaptation to a conservative political culture, he points out the "gay-bi boom" has revalorized the nuclear family unit, albeit with same-sex parents and often the involvement of interested third parties: donors, ex-partners, coparents. Part history, part sociology, Nardi's study will interest psychologists, activists, and students of gay culture.

Fag Hag
by Robert Rodi

Secretly in love with an unattainable gay artist named Peter, Natalie Stathis subtly poisons all Peter's romances with men until Lloyd Hood, a gay survivalist gun shop owner, enters Peter's life.

Loving Someone Gay
by Don Clark

Mixing anecdotes, stories, philosophy, and advice, Clark offers readers a fully rewritten 20th-anniverary edition of his popular guide for gay people and those who want to love and support them. The new edition brings his readers up to date on the political stands of lawmakers and the general public attitudes toward gay issues, which have changed significantly in the last two decades. In an especially practical and useful chapter, "Professional Help," teachers and librarians, doctors and nurses, psychotherapists and counselors, and others are all given practical advice about how to support gay people in their professional lives. Also, parents, neighbors, and friends will find Clark's words of advice to be soothing and useful. Revolutionary when it first appeared and still absolutely necessary, this book is perhaps the most important work in a gay studies or self-help collection and is highly recommended for all libraries.

Is He Gay?: For Every Woman Who's Met the Ideal Man and Is Wondering-- Why Hasn't He Tried to Kiss Me?
by Ed Baker, Chris Busick

Once upon a time, a fabulous woman met her ideal man... He was warm and considerate, openly shared his feelings, always understood her thoughts, loved to cook, and had a killer wardrobe. In short, he was perfect. She waited patiently for the inevitable day when he would sweep her off her feet and kiss her... And waited...and waited... But all she got was erratic calls and friendly hugs... The day came when she could wait no longer. What was the holdup? She was forced to ask herself some really tough questions. Is he shy? Is my butt too big? Does he have an unspeakable injury? Is he gay? Sound familiar?

The Other Side of the Closet: The Coming-Out Crisis for Straight Spouses and Families, Revised and Expanded Edition
by Amity Pierce Buxton

Candid, compassionate, authoritative—a rich source of insights, information, and practical guidance… "The first major work on the topic." —Gay Community News "A much needed comprehensive study of what happens to husbands, wives, and children during the coming-out crisis.".; —The Reverend Jane E. Vennard, founder Task Force for Spouses of Gays and Lesbians "The new enlarged edition adds important factors, especially children’s reactions to a parent’s coming out. Well-researched and insightful." —Fritz Klein, M.D., author of The Bisexual Option "Anybody practicing in this area would be well advised to read this book." —Professor Arthur S. Leonard, New York Law School In two million marriages, one spouse is gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Having a spouse or parent disclose his or her same-sex attraction is a shattering experience fraught with pain, confusion, anger, and a profound loss of self-esteem. Amity Pierce Buxton spotlights this exploding phenomenon and reports constructive coping strategies that spouses and children have used to resolve problems of sexual damage, family breakdown, deception, and homophobia. Illustrated throughout by riveting personal narratives, this expanded edition of The Other Side of the Closet traces the family’s journey from initial trauma to eventual transformation. This invaluable source of information for spouses, families, and professionals is based on Dr. Buxton’s eight years of research, including interviews with 1,000 straight spouses and children, her own personal experience, and her counseling work with spouses of gay, lesbian, and bisexual partners.

Bisexual and Gay Husbands: Their Stories, Their Words
by Fred Klein (Editor), Fritz Klein (Editor), Thomas Schwartz (Editor)

Paperback: 505 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.29 x 8.36 x 6.06
Publisher: Haworth Press; 1st edition (January 15, 2002)

Husbands Who Love Men
by Arleen H. Alwood, Aileen H. Atwood, Jack Edward Siemsen, Dr. Aileen H. Atwood

Jan Mittleider, Professor, Physical Education, College of Southern Idaho
"Aileen Atwood is candid, compelling, compassionate, credible and courageous as she addresses problems wives and children face when a husband and father is gay."
Lorrie Wilkes, R.N., MS., JD., Family Law Attorney, Nurse Consultant for Dartmouth Hitchcock

"Dr.Atwood's book should be read by any woman who has herself, or someone close to her, experienced the loss of a husband to another man. Family law attorneys and mediators will find the book helpful in understanding and resolving family conflict where a spouse's same sex lover is involved."

When Husbands Come Out of the Closet
by J. Gochros

An absolute 'must read' for anyone in the field of social work or public health or questioning minds interested in justice and peace of mind about their or their partner's sexuality. Everyone, especially those who need to begin their search for equality and reality would benefit from this book. Social Workers need to get a handle on this book in order to provide the best possible information on this little talked about subject. This is definitely in line with the NASW's Code of Ethics. This book gives society an idea of how to address this complex psychosocial issue with compassion and justice.

My Husband Is Gay: A Woman's Survival Guide
by Carol Grever

After 30 mostly happy years of marriage, Carol Grever's husband told her that he is gay. As she discovered, the phenomenon is relatively common, because many gay men believe they are at economic or social risk if they don't marry. In My Husband Is Gay: A Woman's Survival Guide, Grever shares her story and those of 25 other women of varying ages and backgrounds. Although most of their marriages ended in divorce, some of those who divorced were successful in preserving a healthy friendship with their husbands. Grever provides practical guidance (including professional resources and advice on telling the children) and positive support for women who suddenly find themselves in a marriage that is not what they thought.