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There are many great non-fiction
books about gay athletes - and there are many more with gay
athletes in them. Here, we're compiling a complete list of the
best of those books. If there's one we've missed, please e-mail
us.
Trailblazing
by Eric Anderson
Alyson Books, 1998
Buy
Trailblazing
From Alyson Books: "In 1993, at the age of 25, Eric Anderson was on
top of the world but spiraling toward suicidal depression. As the highly regarded coach of the
long-distance runners at Huntington Beach High School, he had achieved both victory and respect.
As a gay man living in fear and silence, he was close to the edge.
So Eric Anderson came out. In one of the most notoriously intolerant cities in Orange County,
Calif., itself a national symbol of ultraconservatism. And all hell broke loose." |
Jocks:
True Stories of America's Gay Male Athletes
by Dan Woog
Alyson Books, 1998
Buy
Jocks
From Alyson Books: "Jocks explores the differences and similarities between team
and individual sports, and the men who compete in them. It recounts the triumphs of young men who have overcome
homophobia to compete and win, as well as those who used the lessons they learned on playing fields, courts and rinks to
help others "beat" homophobia. Ultimately, Jocks is an inspiring testament to the fact that gay people are, indeed,
everywhere -- and are true champions, too." |
Breaking
The Surface
by Greg Louganis, Eric Marcus
Plume, 1996
Buy
Breaking The Surface
From Amazon.com:
"Breaking the Surface tells the unflinchingly honest story of Olympic
diving champion Greg Louganis, whose athletic success also involved the challenge of breaking free of a lifetime of silence and
isolation. In this frank, powerful memoir, Louganis reveals the whole
story of his life--from a childhood marked by loneliness and self-esteem problems to his present-day battle with AIDS." |
Gay
Olympian: The Life and Death of Dr. Tom Waddell
by Tom Waddell, Dick Schaap (Contributor), Greg Louganis
(Introduction)
Knopf, 1996
Buy
Gay Olympian
From Amazon.com: "Tom Waddell perhaps did more to flout gay stereotypes
than any other American. He was not effeminate; he was a world-class
athlete. He was also a phenomenon--a revelation to mainstream
America when he appeared with his lover in People and on ABC's
20/20 when he was dying of AIDS. Now, celebrated sports writer
Dick Schaap teams up with Waddell to offer an inspiring biography." |
Sportsdykes
by Susan Fox Rogers (Editor)
St. Martin's Press, 1995
Buy
Sportsdykes
From Amazon.com: "A literary anthology that explores, defines, and celebrates the
lesbian sports experience--from softball to ice hockey--Sportsdykes
vividly reveals the life of the "girl jock" in 30 pieces that cover the
politics of sports, homophobia, the zest of competition, and the
steamy eroticism that lesbian sports can generate." |
UNITY:
A Celebration of Gay Games IV and Stonewall
Published by Labrecque Publishing
Labrecque Publishing, 1994
Buy
UNITY
From Prowillen.com:
"Captured by an international team of 35 photographers,
this photo journal contains over 300 full-color images of the 31 sporting events, the opening ceremonies, dozens
of cultural festival events, the closing ceremonies at Yankee Stadium, the Rainbow Roll for the End of AIDS,
the Stonewall 25 march and rally, and many of the celebrities and politicians who took part in this
history-making event." |
Behind
The Mask
by Dave Pallone with Alan Steinberg
1990
Buy
Behind The Mask
From Davepallone.com:
"Dave Pallone was an umpire with two strikes against him.
He worked ringed by fellow umpires aching to get even with him for landing his job
when they were on strike. And he was gay in a sports world where
you were supposed to be straight or get straight out. In this
revealing look at baseball, Pallone traces his life both personal
and public, and offers a behind-the-scenes account of the players,
owners, managers, and umpires...and of outlandish incidents on and
off the field."
More
Information from Dave Pallone's Website |
The David Kopay Story; An Extraordinary Self-Revelation
by David Kopay, Perry Deane Young, Dick Schaap
1977
Buy
The Dave Kopay Story
Kopay's story was a landmark
event: A gay professional athlete telling about his
homosexuality. Revealing and courageous story of the first NFL player to
"come out." Kopay lives in Los Angeles and still does
public speaking on the subject. |
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