Sodomy Gods

by David Lauterstein

290 pages, Paperback

Published September 17, 2024

Reviews

[Dyon Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more I keep reading, the more I fall in love with your story and who you are as a person and a professional. Being unapologetically yourself has brought a lot of introspection upon me. Who am I as an individual? How can I push myself to grow and reach for the things that seem difficult but not impossible? As each chapter passes, I feel like I unfold a new layer of my sexuality that I didn’t know I had within me, these little things that sometimes eat me up at night. Sodomy Gods has allowed me to understand my queerness, my yearning to feel part of a community, wishing I had guidance from fellow queer peers, the deeper I go into it the more I see myself in you. A story filled with so much beauty, even if pain and fear were lurking around it; perseverance, authenticity, and community keep our people alive. This is a love letter to keep fighting for our right place as human beings, our love doesn’t make it any different or any less from anyone else’s, we are here and we will never leave, no matter how much they try to turn off our light, we will burn brighter than ever.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is unequivocally a queer love story that showcases to today’s queer youth some of the history that’s been lost to AIDS. There’s love, hurt, sex, hustle, sweat, leather, music, dancing, the White House…, you name it, David and Fred has lived it. Sodomy gods will keep you turning the pages until it’s over. Thank you David for writing your memoir and for finding Fred and bringing the world Nasty Pig. <3

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

First let me offer a warning: if you are uncomfortable with graphic descriptions of gay sex, this may not be the book for you. But there is more to it than just the sex. The story of David, who dreams of a larger, more truthful existence and Fred, the man he loves, it traces their relationship and their desire to open a clothing boutique in New York City. It is mostly a good, enjoyable read. There were just two other books I wanted to read first. There is a part about a third of the way though that gets a little bogged down, but otherwise, this was a good read and features a surprise visit (several in fact) from a very famous designer.

[Casey Pond · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took my breath away. 🩷

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Lauterstein is a true poet(ess).

I don’t think a biography or memoir has ever made me cry, or even get teary-eyed, and the end of this book had me straight-up weeping. Stupidly gorgeous writing about an epic life woven together with a sort of treatise on how the gay community can show up for each other better.

Inspiring, and I don’t mean that in the trite way.

[David Smadja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book. Sure, as a gay, poetry-aficionado, party boy living in NYC, it felt almost like a predicament to enjoy it but that would be undermining the author’s talent.

On the first plan, Sodomy Gods is a beautifully written memoir about the gay scene of the 1990s, a period recovering from the most traumatic moments of the AIDS epidemic. On a deeper level, it is very much a love story as suggested in the opening lines of the memoir: a love letter to David’s husband, sure, but also to the queer community, to oneself, and to believing in the universe’s choices for us. This notion of Amor Fati runs as a common thread throughout the book, with David placing his faith in a higher force, his Sodomy Gods.

Lastly, between the numerous sex scenes and ketamine-fueled parties, this book sparked deeper reflections in me on the queer experience, mainly two.
First, queerness as celebration: that queer people have always existed, and we should keep dancing as those before us did.
Second, on the futility of hiding one’s queerness. While being gay is less dangerous in today’s society (though I raise an eyebrow as I write this), the book made a strong case on me that hiding our identities serves no purpose. As David’s grandmother says: “She told me I could never, ever hide being Jewish, because if people liked me for who I pretended to be, then one day they would end up hating me for who I truly am… It stuck with me—that I was always going to be different and hated just for being me.” Being both gay and Jewish myself, this struck very close to home.

I do wish the book were longer, but that’s okay. While Mugler himself suggested they stick to a niche market, Nasty Pig is now a globally recognized brand and I would have loved to learn more about how David and Fred navigated taking it worldwide, along with the struggles they must have faced along the way until being invited to the White House.

Come for the sexy apparel, stay for the life lessons and poetry.