Description
Book SynopsisThere has never been a more crucial time for an intimate and thorough examination of the ways in which sexuality informs people’s lives. In Living Sexuality: Stories of LGBTQ Relationships, Identities, and Desires, the authors use autoethnography and personal narrative to provide first-hand accounts of the connections between sexuality, particularly LGBTQ identities, and the everyday experiences of relationships. Each story also invites readers to understand how sexuality informs communication as it occurs within diverse cultural contexts. In addition, the stories often focus on taboo issues overlooked or ignored in mainstream research about sexuality. Discussion questions appear at the end of each story that should stimulate engagement by students, instructors, and researchers.
Trade Review"Living Sexuality explores the diverse ways that people who identify as LGBTQ experience and live their sexualities. The authors show how sexualities are constructed, changed, and understood, and how desires and relationships with family, friends, and partners are animated in day-to-day social practices. Unique in its attention to everyday details, embodiment, and emotional vulnerability, the autoethnographic stories add both a personal and conceptual dimension to our understanding of sexuality, evoking a rich and textured experience of the complexities, fears, joys, and sorrows of living LGBTQ lives. Discussions at the end of each chapter will stimulate lively and introspective discussions in classrooms, particularly those focused on human sexuality, queer studies, and gender. This is an important and welcome addition to the literature on LGBTQ issues." - Carolyn Ellis, Distinguished Professor Emerita, Department of Communication, University of South Florida "Living Sexuality makes good on its claim that engaging stories provide valuable insight into the lived experience of desire, identity, and communication. Berry, Gillotti, and Adams (with welcome trans cameos from their colleague Billy Huff) exhibit their diverse and complementary strengths in personal narrative and authoethnography. Through the LGBQ(T) stories they tell across ably disposed chapters, and across the arcs of their lives to date, we understand better how relational communication matters in complex contexts of friendship, family, mentorship, religion, sexual liaison, partnership, and more. They offer much to reflexively contemplate as we strive as queer people to communicate better with those who share the sexuality of our daily lives." - Charles E. Morris III, Professor and Chair, Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies, Syracuse University, Co-Editor, QED: A Journal in GLBTQ Worldmaking "Demonstrating that sexualities should be more naturalized and less subject to ideological critique, Living Sexuality weaves the deeply personal, sometimes painful, and often joyful experiences of authors Keith Berry, Catherine M. Gillotti, and Tony E. Adams into a thinking/feeling experience not soon forgotten. Whether celebrating The Golden Girls or musing about monogamy, the authors offer meaningful, productive, and candid accounts of their sexual being. This book is a must for my next Sexuality & Communication seminar." - Jimmie Manning, Chair and Professor, Communication Studies, University of Nevada
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1. Ode to the Boys Keith Berry 2. The Closet Tony E. Adams 3. Mental Gymnastics Catherine M. Gillotti 4. Walls Billy Huff 5. Things I Don’t Have to Do Keith Berry 6. Queer Duck Tony E. Adams 7. True Companion Catherine M. Gillotti 8. Relational Gifts Keith Berry 9. The Girls Tony E. Adams and Keith Berry 10. Language Matters Tony E. Adams 11. Rumination Catherine M. Gillotti 12. The Sexual Relationship Billy Huff 13. Monogamy Tony E. Adams 14. The Joy Catherine M. Gillotti 15. Things I Must Still Do Keith Berry 16. Refrain Catherine M. Gillotti 17. Resilient You Keith Berry 18. Estrangement - Pride - Forgiveness Tony E. Adams About the Authors
