Perfect Light: Personal Writings by Gay and Lesbian Buddhists

by Donald Weise

Collected for the first time in more than a decade are 22 personal essays speaking to the spectrum of LGBT experiences—within both American Buddhist and LGBT communities—including but not limited to the role sex and sexuality does or does not play in practice; the need for a spiritual component to LGBT identity; private struggles that have led one to Buddhism, as well as struggles individuals have experienced within Buddhist circles, such as sexism; the influence of LGBT Buddhist forerunners on today's practitioners; dating outside of Buddhist circles; establishing and affirming an open gay identity within a spiritual space with ancient traditions; the question of celibacy and more.

300 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2012

About the author

I've been in independent book publishing the past 20 years, mostly in LGBT literature. I've served as Publisher of Magnus Books, Alyson Books, and Senior Editor at Carroll & Graf Publishers. Magnus is now part of Riverdale Avenue Books, where I'm partnering with friend and Publisher Lori Perkins.

Among the many authors I've worked with are Gore Vidal, Edmund White, David Mixner, Alan Cumming, John Rechy, James Purdy, Ann Bannon, Edward Albee, Mart Crowley, Samuel R. Delany, Leslie Feinberg, Christopher Bram, E. Lynn Harris, Marijane Meaker, Keith Boykin, Dennis Cooper, and Kate Clinton.

My own three award-winning books include Black Like Us: A Century of Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual African American Fiction; Time on Two Crosses: The Collected Writings of Bayard Rustin; and Fresh Men: New Voices in Gay Fiction. I'm also co-editor of The Huey P. Newton Reader with Black Panther Party founding member David Hilliard. My most recent book, The Long Walk to Freedom: Runaway Slave Narratives, is the first book of writings by fugitive slaves.

I was named by Publishers Weekly as an industry "Change Maker" and listed among Out Magazine's "100 Most Intriguing Gay Men and Lesbians" of the year.