http://www.blackgirlgrown.com/2009/07/27/a-belated-thank-you-e-lynn-harris/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed content and context on issues facing women of color as we mature Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.blackgirlgrown.com/2009/07/27/a-belated-thank-you-e-lynn-harris/comment-page-1/#comment-520 K Woodard Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:36:17 +0000 http://www.blackgirlgrown.com/?p=2600#comment-520 A dear male friend of long ago, who Iived in an apartment upstairs from mine and who was "quasi-openly gay," gave me the book and implored me to read it. I say "quasi-openly gay" because, for the most part" he lived his life as a gay man to many others; yet he never came out to me or his parents. After I moved to Texas we eventually lost touch but I think of him often. Anyway, I devoured the book in two days. I was stunned beyond belief but, like you, my eyes were suddenly and shockingly wide open, and I was introduced to a world I didn't know existed. I, too, am thankful to the author for exposing the "down low" world. I agree there's really no tell-tale signs and even E. Lynn Harris failed to explain what those signs are, but I'm eternally grateful to my friend for giving me the book and introducing me to Harris. (Subsequently, I bought and read most of his other books, which were sometimes hard reading.) I think the message my dear friend was sending is just because a man isn't out doesn't mean he isn't gay. This seems so obvious now but it wasn't in the mid-1990s. Godspeed, Mr. Harris. A dear male friend of long ago, who Iived in an apartment upstairs from mine and who was “quasi-openly gay,” gave me the book and implored me to read it. I say “quasi-openly gay” because, for the most part” he lived his life as a gay man to many others; yet he never came out to me or his parents. After I moved to Texas we eventually lost touch but I think of him often. Anyway, I devoured the book in two days. I was stunned beyond belief but, like you, my eyes were suddenly and shockingly wide open, and I was introduced to a world I didn’t know existed. I, too, am thankful to the author for exposing the “down low” world. I agree there’s really no tell-tale signs and even E. Lynn Harris failed to explain what those signs are, but I’m eternally grateful to my friend for giving me the book and introducing me to Harris. (Subsequently, I bought and read most of his other books, which were sometimes hard reading.) I think the message my dear friend was sending is just because a man isn’t out doesn’t mean he isn’t gay. This seems so obvious now but it wasn’t in the mid-1990s. Godspeed, Mr. Harris.

]]> http://www.blackgirlgrown.com/2009/07/27/a-belated-thank-you-e-lynn-harris/comment-page-1/#comment-519 Lisa Johnson Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:36:14 +0000 http://www.blackgirlgrown.com/?p=2600#comment-519 Wow indeed. I read every one of his books. Does anyone know what he died of? Hope it wasn't HIV. Wow indeed. I read every one of his books. Does anyone know what he died of? Hope it wasn’t HIV.

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