I wish to live in a society where dialogue is exchanged openly and freely about everything that encompasses Gays, Gay Culture and Gay life. I sincerely hope this information is accepted, more freely exchanged and better understood. I dream of a time when being Gay will no longer mean existing as a second-class citizen because of society’s repressive and harmful stereotyping. We are all responsible in the quest for an environment in which all people can flourish, and for achieving our own true potential.

After many years of experience with convincing, persuading and educating those in my life and those whom I care for – heterosexuals mostly – on Gay life and Gay culture, I decided to write this book. More than a project on Gay people and Gay life, this work is an awakening and eye-opening look at Gay existence. While simultaneously covering all the unique adversities Gays face at work, within family dynamics and in their social life, I hope to create stronger bonds between my readers and the Gay people in their lives. These colorful, creative and brilliant people are your co-workers, loved ones, friends and family members. They exist within your life, and the real-world lives they lead are too often unknown.

The culture we live in and the language we use will be explained in detail and in a way that will shine light on many things that may be unknown to you. Further, I will explore the oppression we have faced from policies that have forced us into a second class citizenship. Together we need to recognize how our actions and behaviors have contributed to this oppression. Negative impacts on the people within all our lives can be corrected and better family and working environments can be created. We can use our collective voices to be a bright shining beacon of hope to carve a New Path Forward to a level, equal and just society for all.

I speak from real life experiences and years of shared knowledge with friends, family and co-workers. I have reached out to friends of mine who are among the educated elite, and to those who have a completely different perspective than I because of their own unique experiences. Their insight, combined with research and dissection of my own experiences, has inspired me along the journey of writing this book. I have put my life’s knowledge into this book: 30 years of personal and professional experience as a scholar, holding a Doctorate in Gay Life. I write for and on behalf of all Gay men and women for acknowledgement of them, their lives, their culture and their community, primarily to educate their family members, co-workers, peers, neighbors and friends. My most gracious thanks to those who have contributed to this project. Your contributions are priceless and I am inspired by your brilliance.

I was cautious about naming this book based on its subject: Everything Gay. I was worried that sales might be lost because of the title. Why was this rooted within me and why did I have such an unsettling feeling deep in my gut? I was nervous about the marketing possibilities with a big red title: Gay. I was worried that my own family and co-workers might look poorly upon the tile. Further, those who need to read this text the most may never do so because the cover turned them off, or because they were too worried someone would see them reading it. But I knew that if I gave in to these feelings I would be giving in to exactly that which I wished to eradicate from our society: The inability to openly and freely discuss Gay life, culture, terms, relations, stereotypes and what prevents us from having true equality. So in big, red letters, the title is proud and it screams, demanding attention!

I sincerely thank you the reader for reading this project of my life. If just one young person growing up, or one mature adult avoid injustice or concealing themself because of this text, then I will feel like the most accomplished man in the universe. I hope you use this information to open a door for all of us to walk a New Path Forward. Life would be boring without a difference of opinion and intense conversations. Early in life we learn our unique identity and there isn’t anything different or abnormal about being Gay.Gay: A New Path Forward