Lambda Rising Bookstore has planned a full fall season of book signings and readings for their Rehoboth Beach store at 39 Baltimore Ave. Book signings are free to the public. For information, call 227-6969.
Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Jim Hall, Author Tommy Seven Years
Tommy Seven Years records an intricate story of conflict and accommodation, of fear and love, of wonder and sadnessall flowing in and around three ramshackled rowhouses and an old working-class street on the waterfront in South Baltimore. The book pilots a wild ride through the joints of class structure and gay and hetro-sexuality.
Saturday, Sept. 13 at 4:00 p.m. Sarah Aldridge, Author Nina in the Wilderness
Nina, aged 17, the sole survivor of a plane crash in a remote region of the Amazon jungle, suffers not only from the trauma of the wreck and abandonment in the wilderness but also from the shattering of her life by the loss of her parents. Annie, daughter of two famous people who were once principals in a flamboyant love affair, has made a success as an independent business women but is uncertain about the meaning and direction of her life. She finds herself caught between two exacting problems: her own response to what Nina has come to mean to her, and the resolution of a situation that threatens her fathers reputation as the premier American poet of his generation. Passionate love between Nina and Annie is at the heart of this novel, but it also portrays the love that inspires the devotion of true friendship.
Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7:00 p.m. Michael Lowenthal, Author Gay Men at the Millennium: Sex, Spirit, Community
A provocative and insightful compilation of writings by gay authors on sexuality, spirituality, family, and politics. Assembled by Michael Lowenthal, "one of the most promising rising talents in gay literature" (Washington Blade), this anthologys contributors describe the "state of the community" as it enters the twenty-first century, and examine, clarify, and define those issues that will shape its future.
APA Says Its Okay to be Gay
A resolution by the APA at its convention last week dealt a serious setback to proponents of so-called "reparative" or "conversion" therapy, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
"These therapies amount to nothing more than psychological terrorism and are usually performed by practitioners who harbor intense bias against gay people," said David Smith, HRCs senior strategist. "These practitioners are usually affiliated with extremist religious groups and promote the illusion that sexual orientation can be changed."
The resolution, which passed overwhelmingly, asserts that there is no sound scientific evidence on the efficacy of these therapies. So-called reparative therapy seeks to convert gay people to heterosexuality, which many mental health professionals agree cannot be done. Some have compared these techniques to efforts to make some left-handed people right-handed; they may learn to use their right hands but they still are innately left-handed.
Supporters of reparative therapy demanded that the APA make a statement on these therapies because they have been under intensive debate within the profession and in our society.
"This resolution reaffirms that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality, and there is no reason that gay, lesbian or bisexual people should try to change their orientations," said Kim Mills, another HRC spokesperson. "We stand with the APA and call for an end to discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation."
This resolution strongly reaffirms that homosexuality is not a mental illness and psychologists must not "participate in or condone discriminatory practices with sexual minority clients."
In addition, the APA resolution calls on psychologists to "respect the rights of individuals, including sexual minority clients, to privacy, confidentiality, self-determination and autonomy." And it directs psychologists to obtain appropriate informed consent to therapy when working with sexual minority clients, including minors.
Dance in the Hills... In Your Heels
The Lambda Panhandlers may summer in Rehoboth Beach, but when fall arrives they head for the hills, the West Virginia hills that is. Theyve issued an open invitation to their beach friends to join them, Saturday, September 13, for an Oktoberfest Dance.
The Shannondale Club, 10 miles south of Harpers Ferry in "wild and wonderful" West Virginia, is the site of the event. And youll have a chance to dance every kind of dance imaginablefrom disco to country to ballroom and maybe a polka or twowith DJ Joe Stevens spinning.
Tickets are $20, and space is limited. Call Stuart, 301-601-8521, or Vic, 304-725-7977 to make your reservations.
And, while we are sad to think that any of you might be tired of the "Delmarvalous" peninsula, we all need an occasional change of scenery. So if the sirens song has lost its lure, do what The Lambda Panhandlers dohead for the hills in search of the elusive mountain man. But please, do come back soon.
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8/22/97 Issue. Copyright 1997 by CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. All rights reserved.