Ask the Author: Michelangelo Signorile
Answered Questions (4)
Michelangelo Signorile
Well, it's all relative. Of course we have gained much. This movement has experienced enormous progress and we've made our case and won because of people coming out -- and being visible. But not only can rights be chipped away at, as you say -- and we've seen that with women and African-Americans -- but we have so much more to get. We've really won very little, and this is why the first chapter of "It's Not Over" is titled "Victory Blindness." We're caught up in this heady victory of marriage equality but we have no federal civil rights protections of any kind. It seems years off and will require enormous work -- not sitting back and thinking we've won.
We just saw a major issue -- Indiana and Arkansas "religious liberties" bills -- play out in the media, and while we may have own the media battle, with major figures and companies coming to our side, people lost protections. In Arkansas they quietly signed a horrendous bill stripping rights away for LGBT in localities weeks ago, and no one payed attention. And in these current bills even the "fixes" were nothing -- we have no protections. So again, people need to wake up to that.
In the book and point to how the right is organizing and show it, but I also through what we need to do, not just as a movement but individually. it requires taking various steps, empowering ourselves, not being blinded and not settling for less. The Epilogue is 7 actions people can and should take, LGBT and straight who support equality, that can get us beyond tolerance to true equality.
We just saw a major issue -- Indiana and Arkansas "religious liberties" bills -- play out in the media, and while we may have own the media battle, with major figures and companies coming to our side, people lost protections. In Arkansas they quietly signed a horrendous bill stripping rights away for LGBT in localities weeks ago, and no one payed attention. And in these current bills even the "fixes" were nothing -- we have no protections. So again, people need to wake up to that.
In the book and point to how the right is organizing and show it, but I also through what we need to do, not just as a movement but individually. it requires taking various steps, empowering ourselves, not being blinded and not settling for less. The Epilogue is 7 actions people can and should take, LGBT and straight who support equality, that can get us beyond tolerance to true equality.
Michelangelo Signorile
Hi Rob -- I didn't see this earlier, not sure why! That is a great question and the answer is no and yes. (Well you did ask if the purpose OR audience changed and they are two different answers.)
I think the purpose has always been the same: to inform and inspire. I think all of my books have been about using journalism, history, personal experience and research and analysis to show people something I think is important and urgent and to inspire them to take action. At least, that's how I'd like to think it works.
As to the audience, I think that has changed. It's grown, and I don't think necessarily in numbers as much as it's become broader. People come out now and identify themselves at much younger ages, so I often hear from many young people, while many older people who are with me from way back still write me about work past and present. And so many straight allies now read my work -- so many moms, dads and family members of LGBT people. I assume that, since most of this in recent years has been about response to my online writing -- I've not written a book in years -- that it will translate to my new book as well.
I think the purpose has always been the same: to inform and inspire. I think all of my books have been about using journalism, history, personal experience and research and analysis to show people something I think is important and urgent and to inspire them to take action. At least, that's how I'd like to think it works.
As to the audience, I think that has changed. It's grown, and I don't think necessarily in numbers as much as it's become broader. People come out now and identify themselves at much younger ages, so I often hear from many young people, while many older people who are with me from way back still write me about work past and present. And so many straight allies now read my work -- so many moms, dads and family members of LGBT people. I assume that, since most of this in recent years has been about response to my online writing -- I've not written a book in years -- that it will translate to my new book as well.
Michelangelo Signorile
Well, I hate to say, read my book and find out. But IT'S NOT OVER really makes a case throughout that builds toward the Epilogue, where 7 key actions or ways of re-imagining things are offered readers -- what we each can do in our own lives and collectively to make real change. But I do feel for people to understand exactly what I mean they have to see how it builds throughout the book and the case made with real evidence. A lot of it is really based on looking back, and the key is for people to not be blinded by changing perceptions of reality.
Michelangelo Signorile
The idea for this book has been percolating in my mind over a period of years as events were moving rapidly in the LGBT world. It still seemed there was a disconnect between victories celebrated and facts on the ground. It's a long story but the timing finally happened, where the book idea just gelled and it became the perfect time to write it, and the timing of publication seems just perfect.
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