JOY! ENJOY!
By MITCHELL MENEGU
HIGH GEAR/JANUARY 1978
Page 16
(Dr. Charles Silverstein and Edmund White. The Joy of Gay Sex: An Intimate Guide for Gay Men to the Pleasures of a Gay Lifestyle. Crown Publishers, Inc. $12.95)
Like the two best-selling books with similar titles dealing with heterosexual relationships, The Joy of Gay Sex offers its readers not so much information that they are not already likely to have but an attitude toward that information that can make having it a greater pleasure. Throughout their discussion of various aspects of gay life, Silverstein and White promote the ideas suggested in the title, that gay sex should bring joy.
After an introduction that sets forth the authors' premises and their reasons for writing the book, the material is arranged in encyclopedic fashion, with short articles on subjects beginning with "androgyny" and ending with "wrestling." The kinds of subjects treated can be indicated by noting that within twenty pages one finds entries on such important topics as "first time," "friendships," "growing old," and "guilt." In-
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Yes to be gay today especially in show business is so commonplace it's not even news anymore. So the next time we see a Charles Nelson Reilly on TV, a Nureyev dancing, a Flowers puppeteering, a "Chorus Line" preening, a Manhattan Transfer camping, a straight disc-ing, (especially at Traxx and hundreds of similar discos around the country) we can proudly shout and stand proud we are the avant-garde, the minority that's setting the social, entertainment, fashion pace not only in the U.S. but around the world.
Want more proof? Read on.
Cleveland State University Film Series has upcoming: Feb. 5a film that depicts the gay beginning of the play's author William Inge in "Dark At The Top Of The Stairs." Feb. 12 "The Boys in the Band" a gay play that hurts our image but worth seeing. Mar. 1 "Desperate Living" by the same John Water that gave us transvestite "Pink Flamingos. Mar. 10 Warhol's "Trash" with Joe Dallesandro (nuff said for the knowing.)
'By the way, what happened to the projected filming of "The Front Runner" with Paul Newman? Speaking of books Patricia Nell Warren has a new one out in paperback. Not as good but it's interesting. Gordon Merrick's "An idol for Others" also doesn't equal his ""The Lord Won't Mind" but it's read-' able. The best of gay books now available: "Monty" (Montgomery Cliff), "Memoirs" (Tennessee Williams); "The Best
terestingly, the briefest entry, one sentence, is for
"homosexuality."
Although I stated that most readers are likely to know the facts given in the book, I should add that many of us have considerable misinformation or doubts about the validity of what we think we know. This book serves to clarify many matters about which there may be confusion. Furthermore, the discussions gain additional clarity because the authors have chosen to use throughout the book the vernacular of gay men.
The most significant quality of the book is its advocacy of ? positive attitude toward gay sex and the gay lifestyle. The writing achieves a tone which in itself supports this attitude. While they treat the subject seriously, the authors convey their own sense that gay life and gay sex can be fulfilling through a breezeiness of expression that seems to invite the reader to follow them to the same level of pleasure and the same sense of emotional security about their gay life. The authors make judgments about long-term relationships as opposed to brief encounters. They instead emphasize the positive gains of-
no
Little Boy in the World" (John Reid), "Rubyfruit Jungle" (Rita Mae Brown), "The Joy of Gay (and Lesbian) Sex" (that's 2 books). And for the gay comedy record of the year get your record store to order "Out of the Closet" released by Capitol Records. In closing save your money going to N.Y. L.A. etc. "Traxx" is now open at 1273 West Ninth Street and it's "big city" gay in every way. How Hank Berger and crew could
have taken the old Adonis and Show Boat Theatre and convert it into a disco like this (in 7 weeks) staggers imagination.
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the
This tropical paradise can be a lot of fun as well as expensive. Personally I prefer to go with a lover. Hawaii 'calls' me about once a year, and it is always with a sad ‘aloha' that I say goodbye and return to the mainland.
(For more detailed info, pick up a copy of the BOB DAMRON ADDRESS BOOK America's foremost travel guide -available at most bars, baths and book stores throughout America. Or, send $6.00 for your copy (which includes packing and shipping charges) to BOB DAMRON ENTERPRISES, P.O. Box 14-077, San Francisco, CA. 94114).
WILDE OSCAR IS COMING
fered by both types. They also show awareness of the difficulties that can arise in a longterm involvement and the potential for emotional frustration from a one-night stand. All of their remarks seemed to me eminently sensible and their position responsible in its concern with the individual's fulfillment while having regard for the sensibility of the person with whom he might have a sexual relationship.
One way in which this book differs from the few other similar manuals that I have seen is its authors' promotion of anal intercourse as the desired end of all gay sex. For many readers who have found what they consider the ultimate joy in oral sex, Silverstein and White's considering fellation as ideally merely part of the gay sex process may be surprising. However, the authors' enthusiasm for anal intercourse is certain to awaken interest in those who have never tried it or who have had unpleasant experiences with it. The authors recognize some of the attitudes and physical circumstances that stand in the way of pleasure from the practice that they advocate, but, taking their method from Masters and Johnson, they
suggest ways, in the entry on "first time," for the initiate to prepare
himself both psychologically and physically to find the pleasure that the two authors apparently find in this activity.
The volume contains numerous illustrations that deserve mention. The sepia line drawings by Julian Graddon throughout the text are realistic without being photographic. They have the virtue of presenting figures of varying physical qualities, ages and races engaged in sex so that the book avoids the sexist promotion of an "ideal" physical type. The partners engaged in sex are also pictured in such a way that their joy is apparent. Near the beginning of the book is a series of color prints by Michael Leonard that are attractive for their color, their use of softened realism, and their erotic quality that avoids all the grossness of pornography. Ian Beck has contributed three groups of colorful and amusing paintings in the style of Greek vase paintings, Japanese prints, and Indian minatures.
The Joy of Gay Sex has been produced with attention to detail that earns its publishers the right to charge as much as the
price of Dr. Alex Comfort's books for straights. The publishers have also issued a companion volume, The Joy of Lesbian Sex, which can be properly reviewed only by a gay woman. The expense of purchasing the book can be reduced and the joy of owning it and experiencing what it suggests increased by finding a friend with whom to share both.
FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH
Faith Community Church of Springfield, Ohio, will meet each Sunday Eve. 7:30 P.M. at the Y.W.C.A. 250 E. High St. beginning Jan. 8. The newly organized church will have a complete program of activities directed to the spiritual, religious and educational needs of the Gay Community, as well as to the community at large. The church will be under the direction of the Rev. Dr. David L. Downing. Plans are being made to affiliate with The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Comof Los munity Churches Angeles, Calif. For further information you may write to Dr. Downing, 136 E. Southern Ave., Springfield, Ohio 45505.
CLEVELAND BALLET
with
"America's Greatest Ballerina" -Rudolf Nureyev
CYNTHIA GREGORY
6 Performances Only! Jan. 20-22, 26-28 Evenings at 8:30 P.M. Sun. Mat. Jan. 22 at 3 P.M.
hanna
THEATRE
TICKETS NOW!
at Hanna Box Office, 2067 East 14th TICKETRON Locations
Ballet Box Office, Suite 330, 1375 Euclid
INSTANT PURCHASE: Call 621-3634, Charge by Phone with Visa/Master Charge
Repertory:
(A Cleveland Premiere) BRAHMS QUINTET LAURA'S WOMEN
SUNTE CARACTERISTIQUE
and
(Jan. 20-22:) GRAND PAS de DIX and
(Jan. 26-28-) US
Student/Senior Citizen Discount available in advance at Ballet Box