He is amazed to discover that there is gay life outside of the ghetto. But, like many Manhattanites who gaze across the Hudson, his discovery is shallow, of short duration, and without a great sense of local context. Signorile writes with great force and conviction. Were the argument decide solely on the craft of his words he would win hands down. But the contest isn't so simple.
Ideas do count for something, and so does proof of assertions.
By those measures his book is far less convincing. It is perhaps best to approach much of it as closer to fiction rather than scholarship. Still, despite its significant flaws, it is essentially a kind hearted book, and a great, fun read. Enjoy it, but don't take it too seriously. Return to top Copyright 2001 and earlier dates by Independent Gay Forum Inc. and the individual authors.