Gay Spirit: Myth and Meaning

Thompson, Mark, editor. "Gay Spirit: Myth and Meaning", Lethe Press and White Crane, 2005, (reprint from St. Martin's, 1987). Navigating Faith Amos Lassen Mark Thompson sets out the guidelines for reading "Gay Spirit" in his preface and lets us know that this book is primarily intended for gay men because when it was originally written gay men had only just begin to "explore issues of spirit and faith". Today things are a bit different but that does not relinquish the relevance of this important compilation of ideas. Gay spirit as defined by Thompson is something we cannot put our hands on; it is "as ephemeral as a wisp of smoke, as insubstantial as a fleeting dream". For many of us it helps us to define who we are yet it is personal and individual. "Above all, gay spirit is a force for good" as well as a force for change and therefore often misunderstood. It has always existed but has not always been visible--it lives within each of us to some degree. By truly understanding our gay spirit, we van better understand who we are and why we are here. The book is conveniently divided into three parts, each dealing with a different aspect of gay spirit. Part I is "Our Place in the World: Culture and Identity" and deals with issues of our place in the larger world. Part II, "The World Within Ourselves: Voices and Visions" looks at the individual and how he sees himself and Part III, "A World of Our Making: Myth and Meaning" deals with where we are going. Some of the authors here are household names--Harry Hay, Malcolm Boyd, Michael Bronski. Others may be new to us (Dennis Altman, Will Roscoe, Geoff Mains) but each has something important to say. "Gay Spirit" is regarded as a classic and has been listed among the 100 gay books that have changed our lives. Thompson looked at all the aspects of gay spirit and skillfully weaves the disciplines of anthropology, history and the politics of sex together. There may not be answers here but there are some excellent questions that will give you a great deal to think about. This was the book that brought the issue of gay spirituality to the public. It is recommended for all us so that we can better know ourselves.

Having owned this book since the first edition came out, I was dumbfounded when I saw there were no reviews of it. I admit to some bias here since I know the author personally, but it is the best summary of current gay thinking on gay spirituality. The thrust of the book is that we gays are different in fundamental ways from straights. One of the most significant is our search for meaning outside of the instinct of perpetuating the species through the family. And when St. Paul kicks you out of church, you start seeking answers outside of conventional wisdom. All gays and lesbians should be acquainted with those who have struggled with finding those answers. Highly recommended