November 10, 2006

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

eveningsout

The pain of the closet is audible in McGreevey's book

by Terri Schlichenmeyer

Do you find it hard to be true to yourself? Can you walk into a room full of people and be who you know you are in your heart? Or are you self-conscious inside, knowing that there's a you that everyone sees but nobody really knows?

What if you tried to deny who you were, until your hidden life

exploded in an unfortunate, messy, public way?

While millions of gay men and women have come out of the closet while living in relative obscurity, what new issues emerge when that coming out process involves national headlines?

In the new audio book The Confession written and read by James E. McGreevey, you'll hear how painful covertness can be.

As he was growing up in New Jersey, McGreevey had the perfect American life. His parents were excellent

felt warmly toward women, but he says he was not attracted to them in the way that other men were.

When he met a woman he loved and respected, he was delighted. They were married and had a daughter, but the marriage didn't last. Later, McGreevey met another woman, married again and became a father

once more.

The Confion

JAMES E MCGREEVE

role models who stressed education and encouraged excellence in McGreevey and his siblings. McGreevey's father was a veteran and taught his children staunch patriotism. Theirs was a secure home in a solidly middle-class neighborhood.

McGreevey says that his religion was one of the most important things in his life, and attending Mass was something that he loved to do. He went to a Catholic school, taught by nuns and steeped in tradition and morality. McGreevey says that he entertained thoughts, at one point, of becoming a priest.

Throughout his growing-up years, McGreevey felt a pull toward other boys and men, an attraction that he didn't particularly feel toward girls. Still, he dated female classmates to the point of gaining a reputation as somewhat of a ladies' man. He

And then he fell in love-real-live, headover-heels, smitten, silly-grin-on-his-face in love with another man who worked in his office.

time,

By this McGreevey was governor of the state of New Jersey. Although he initially denied his homosexuality and hid his relationship with his lover, the whispers of scandal soon became a roar. In August 2004, after much soul-searching, McGreevey finally told the truth to his constituents and himself and resigned his political post.

Although it's nice to

use your imagination when reading, some books are better listened-to. The Confession is one of them. McGreevey narrates this political memoir himself, which adds so much more to the meaning and feeling behind what he's written.

The pain he endured comes out so clearly in this audio book, that you can almost see it in the air around your car speakers. No mere performer could have conveyed the real emotions that McGreevey displays himself, nor the sharp internal conflict between his religious belief and his personal desires. I was extremely glad he did the voice work on this honest and raw memoir.

They say that politics makes strange bedfellows. You might want to add "religion" into that mix and pick up a copy of The Confession in audio. It is truly fascinating.

Advertisers!

As is your opportunity to let our readers and your customers know about upcoming holiday sales and specials! The Gay People's Chronicle is publishing Holiday Coupon pages from November 17th through December 22nd

Prices for the coupon ads are very economical.

Chronicle Holiday Coupon

YOUR COUPON HERE FOR AS LOW AS $30

Call David Now! 216-631-8646

Chronicle Holiday Coupon

YOUR COUPON HERE FOR AS LOW AS $30

Call David Now! 216-631-8646

•Advertisers under contract (or non-profits) with an ad in the same issue as the coupon $80 •Advertisers under contract. (or non-profits) without an ad in the same issue as coupon $45 •Non-contracted advertisers that just want a coupon ad $60

Call David @ 216-631-8646 ext. 10

Chronicle Holiday Coupon

Not Valld. For Bemonstration purposes only.

Traxx

Free Well Drinks During Happy Hour!

216-555-0001

See our ad on page 171

Sirens & Uniforms

Sat

Nov

18

THE

with DJ

Jerry

Griffith

ORBIT

GRID.com

NIGHTCLUB

Home for the Holiday Thanksgiving Weekend

Wed, Nov 22

Dance Floor OPEN See who's back in town

Thur, Nov 23

DickDAZE

Hottest Male Strippers $3.25 Long Islands

Fri, Nov 24 Drag & Dance Party with Erica Martinez

Sat, Nov 25

Dance! Dance! Dance! at Cleveland's Best Dance Club

"CLEVELAND'S BEST DANCE CLUB!” --Free Times 2006

1437 St. Clair Avenue

Cleveland, OH ⚫ 216.623.0113 Captain Morgan www.thegrid.com

HIV

Case Management • Dental Services

Home Delivered Meals Home Health Care • Hospice Care ⚫

Medical Laboratory Testing Mental Health Counseling Nutritional Counseling Outpatient Primary Medical Care • Prescription Medication Assistance • Substance Abuse Treatment • Support Groups • Transitional Housing Assistance Transportation Assistance ⚫

kia MMR moun

If you or someone you know is living with HIV/AIDS, the Ryan White Title I Program offers free medical and social support services to eligible persons who are uninsured or underinsured in Northeast Ohio.

we can

help.

For additional information about The Planning Council and Ryan White Services, call:

216-348-3986

www.cuyahogacounty.us/ryanwhite

All inquiries are strictly confidential.

Services are funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Information provided by: The Cuyahoga Regional HIV Services Planning Council.