Growing up gay in the South race, gender, and journeys of the spirit

"This groundbreaking new book weaves personal portraits of lesbian and gay Southerners with interdisciplinary commentary about the impact of culture, race, and gender on the development of sexual identity. Growing Up Gay in the South is an important book that focuses on the distinct features of Southern life. It will enrich your understanding of the unique pressures faced by gay men and lesbians in this region--the pervasiveness of fundamental religious beliefs; the acceptance of racial, gender, and class community boundaries; the importance of family name and family honor; the unbending view o."@en
"Growing Up Gay in the South gives voice to the extraordinary struggle of lesbian and gay adolescents as they try to define themselves in a homophobic society. Through the lives of these "sexual rebels," Sears tells stories of courage and triumph in the face of defeat. Growing Up Gay in the South artfully blends the distinctive features of Southern life into the biographies of young people who must make sense of their sexual identities and struggle in a hostile world. Sears gives visibility to a largely invisible population and in doing so he has made a wonderful contribution to the body of information on gay and lesbian youth. - Foreword."