Identity Envy Wanting to Be Who We're Not

Gay men and lesbians present humorous and hard-hitting accounts of the need to belong . . . somewhere Why would a lesbian raised in a Jewish home have a sudden desire to be a tough-talking Catholic girl? And why would a gay man travel to Ireland in a desperate attempt to escape his hillbilly roots? Identity EnvyWanting to Be Who Were Not explores the connections gay men and lesbians have to religions, races, ethnicities, classes, families of origin, and genders not their own. This unique anthology takes both humorous and serious looks at the identities of others as queer writers explore their own identity envies in personal essays, memoirs, and other creative nonfiction. Gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered, intersex, and other sexual minorities often feel marginalized by mainstream culture and have a need to belong somewhere, to claim a group as their own. This surprising book presents stories of identity envy that are humorous and hard-hitting, poignant and provocative, written with energy, wit, and candor by many of your favorite writers-and some exciting newcomers. Identity EnvyWanting to Be Who Were Not includes: Gerard Wozeks King Fu-infused Chasing the Grasshopper Max Pierces fantasy of being a Child Star that helped him through a troubled family life Lori Horvitzs Shiksa in my Living Room D. Travers Scott's EuroTex Perry Brass's A Serene Invisibility: Turning Myself into a Christian Girl Jim Tushinskis ode to Lost in Space, The Perfect Space Family Al Chos unlikely identification with Laura Ingalls Wilder characters, Farmer Boy Irish-American John Gilgun wishes he could be one of those Italian-American Boys Joan Annsfire rejects her Jewish heritage to become Catholic schoolgirl Corinne O'Donnell in The Promise of Redemption Andrew Ramers Tales of a Male Lesbian city slicker Mike McGintys life with the cattle folk, You Picked a Fine Time to Leave Me, Helen and much more! Identity EnvyWanting to Be Who Were Not is a must-read for anyone who appreciates good writingespecially gay and lesbian readers who know what its like to wish you were someone else.