Brave Journeys: Profiles in Gay and Lesbian Courage

by David Mixner, Dennis Bailey

From a top-gun pilot in the U.S. Navy to an authority on antigay violence, from a member of the Clinton administration to a leading Shakespearean actor, Brave Journeys tells the stirring stories of seven intrepid men and women who effectively challenged the status quo and thereby altered the political and societal landscape of the world we live in.

David Mixner, author of Stranger Among Friends and himself a renowned activist, political adviser, and White House insider, presents a vivid account of seven heroes of the gay rights movement who put their careers and lives on the line in their quest for equality.

Written in collaboration with Dennis Bailey, Brave Journeys is David Mixner's eloquent tribute to gay men and lesbians who have made a difference. Rich in private bravery and public risk, these profiles comprise a vivid map of the gay rights movement over the last fifty years -- and individually they testify to the power of courage to force change against profoundly overwhelming odds.

Genres: Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Russell Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit that I didn’t fully examine David Mixner and Dennis Bailey’s Brave Journeys before I purchased it. I saw the subtitle Profiles in Gay and Lesbian Courage and knew that this was a topic that I was passionate about. So my expectations were quite different from what this book truly is. I expected profiles of an assortment of gays and lesbians, perhaps ten to twenty pages devoted to each. What Mixner and Bailey have written are lengthy, in-depth profiles of six—four women, two men. Each of these people is remarkable and deserves to be profiled. But, I guess, guided by my expectations, I grew weary of the fifty-plus pages on each. I learned about six outstanding examples of gay and lesbian courage. What I wanted, I suppose, was to learn of the many examples out there, perhaps making inroads in modest, but effective, ways. Brave Journeys is a wonderful book. It’s just not the book I wanted to read.