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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2003)
¡una fi. 2003 • REVIEWS “ABBA-SOLUTELY FABULOUS!” LIZ SMITH, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST observation in “C hurch of Godly Men” about the increase of not only the frequency but also the strength of her church’s overtly prejudiced comments. She said her head felt heavy and twisted as she listened to the sermons, baffled that they blasted gays as vehement sinners but turned a cheek to the child molesters and scan dalous adulterers sitting in the same pews. Equally, she found it alarming that the church supported the patriarchal attitude that women should serve and not speak. She points to these veins within the Christian church as the reason some of the most outspoken critics of organized religion are ex-members. Bare Your Soul is in many ways a handbook of spirituality, yet, unlike most handbooks, all the pieces are written with passion after years of thoughtful scrutiny of not only each writers internal fabric but with an awareness of a world not in a vacuum. — Gina Daggett B are Y our S oul : T he T hinking G irl ’ s G uide to E nlightenment edited by Angela Watrous; Seal Press, 2002; $16.95 softcover B eyond the C loset : T he T ransformation of G ay and L esbian L ife by Steven Seidman; Routledge, 2002; $27.50 hardcover he way Steven Seidman compares Ellen DeGeneres’ historical coming out on the cover of Time magazine to the mere byline his “Thinking G irl’s Guide to Enlighten Rosie O ’Donnell’s coming out was given in the ment” is an exposé of spirituality, offering 25 entertainm ent section of newspapers, is an essayed snapshots from women of all back accurate analogy of the transformation of gay grounds and traditions. The pieces highlight the and lesbian life in the U nited States. full gamut of beliefs— from recovering Catholics In his coming-of-age book Beyond the Closet, to a post-9/11 switch to Islam to butch agnos the State University of New York sociology pro tics—celebrating women’s spiritual journeys. fessor takes a hard look at the evolution of the Angela Watrous used an even hand when closet. W hat did it mean 20 years ago? W hat she chose the essays, and most of the writing is does it mean now? Not only does he address smooth, accessible and unpretentious. In these questions in a well-considered and astute “Coming C lean,” by the editor herself, she says way, he also offers snapshots of people’s experi she felt like her spirituality surfaced like her ence behind and outside the closet d(X)r. sexuality. “It felt like there’d never been any Seidman profiles queers and paints a diverse decision to make in the first place...the first picture of what it was time I realized I was a like in the closet, which lesbian, it happened the he defines as “less about same way: an immersion denying [homosexuality) in community, a sudden than choosing to conceal awareness and, finally, and manage it. The clos an undeniable pull to et allows one to be in make a choice that the world as a respected, had already been long gcxxl person, despite pos decided somewhere deep sessing a stained identity. inside of me.” Shame, fear, terror and Bare Your Soul is a disgust not only are the balanced, measured and emotional stuff of the enlightening picture of closet, but sustain it." spirituality amid this IM t A few dry patches third wave of feminism, I K \ \ S I I I R M \ I I O \ notw ithstanding, the although, like most au th o r’s expertise on other anthologies, indi O I C A Y \ \ I» sexuality and social th e vidual pieces are hit- I I S RI « \ t i l l ory make his observa and-miss. Yet, I enjoyed tions on the historical the hits and pocketed evolution of being these jewels of enlight queer in America enm ent— a shared view thoughtful and sage— expressed in a com Si even Seidm an carefully considering, pelling way; an experi for instance, how gays ence that, although were dam ned to silence and perceived as unlike my own, opened a door for me; writing aliens in a severely hom ophobic 1950s and and beliefs that were particularly smart. ’60s culture. He even points his finger at the Specifically, Maliha Masood’s “T he Practice governm ent’s attem pts to prevent the accep of Faith" is a standout discussion of conflict tance of homosexuals hy taking away basic between her rigid Islam heritage and the rights, som ething that obviously continues to “rugged individualism” surrounding her in the h au n t th e queer community. United States. Stephanie Groll also hits home Seidman also takes a ltx)k at people who are as she explains in “Million Step Program” how, "straight but not narrow” as well as a young because she had no spiritual foundation, she man who is much more ambiguous and inter worked hard to shrink her body from the view esting than his “heterosexual and proud” stance of the world: “Not by starving myself, but by might lead one to believe. shutting my m outh.” — g d j n Tanessa Dillard also makes an interesting T T BEVONO T CLOSET THE SMASH HIT MUSICAL « SSU A SB A * A mother. A daughter. 3 possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget! JULY 1-13 KELLER AUDITORIUM • SW 3RD & CLAY (503) 790-ARTS or (503)241-1802 ticketmaster Mon-Fri 9a-5p GROUPS OF 20 OR MORE SAVE! (503) 241-1407 www.broadwayacrossamerica.com MAMMA MIA' ORIGINAI CAST RKORDING WAII ARI f ON DETTA BROADWAY TXVts suh|« I to a^rrxy (onvmienrr (tvaryps AT I l d t U K1£3iW
