Straight Acting: Gay Men, Masculinity and Finding True Love

By Angelo Pezzote

Drawing on his years of experience as a gay psychotherapist and advice columnist, Angelo Pezzote offers readers relationship strategies and tips on subjects that include coming out, dating, how to avoid falling for a player, how to maintain a sizzling sex life and how to ditch the macho act to get - and keep - the love they want.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0758219431
• ISBN13: 9780758219435
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Kensington
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Excellent! Very insightful and a must-read for every gay male.

I learned alot about myself and others by reading this book. Great advice copuled with humorous and spot-on observations.

I'm Not Gay But Loved IT!!!

"Straight Acting," This is a hit!! I ripped through it. I'm I a singer. I've been in the entertainment business for a thousand years. I have many gay acquaintances but no really close gay friends. The book did for me what going to Temple for the first time did. (I'm Jewish) After reading Dennis Schleicher's book "Forbidden Love with a Married Man: E-mail Diaries," Dennis had a review on one of his websites and I had to buy Straight Acting. Have Fun, -Bette

The Only Self-Help Book You'll Ever Need

Everyone can learn something about self-discovery and courage from "Straight Acting," as this is one of the most complex books to have been written about masculinity, and finding true love. Straight Acting is a book in which virtually every gay man will see himself. The author Angelo Pezzote has provided us with a thorough and much-needed guide to dealing with the complex issues involved in all aspects of masculinity and homosexuality. This is a book that you could find yourself reading time and time again. Be Safe- Dennis Schleicher, support group counselor & best-selling author of; Forbidden Love with a Married Man: E-mail Diaries

EXCELLENT EDUCATION

THIS BOOK IS ABOUT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES AND FACTS I STRONGLY RECOMMENDED ! YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE SOME THINGS NOT ALL! BUT MOST OF ALL ACCEPT YOURSELF IF YOU CAN NOT CHANGE SOME THINGS THAT IS NATURAL FROM BIRTH! "YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL" BY CRISTINA AGUILERA

Finding and Building Relationships

Pezzote, Angelo. "Straight Acting: Gay Men, Masculinity, and Finding True Love". Kensington. 2008. Finding and Building Relationships Amos Lassen Probably the biggest problem of being gay is finding a place to be yourself and next to that is the finding and building of a relationship. Angelo Pezzote in "Straight Acting" maintains that the reason for that is simply the concept of masculinity. The stereotypical idea that gay men are unmanly still prevails in the world today. In order to make up for this many gay men adopt a "macho" or straight acting behavior that in turn blocks the from being who they are and therefore they have trouble expressing their real feelings and are unable to begin or maintain lasting relationships. Pezzote tells us that we should stop limiting ourselves and reach beyond the ideas of the way "real man" behave, thereby leaving behind the outdated ways that have created problems in attempting to find a deeper level of intimacy. Pezzote is a gay psychotherapist and writes an advice column so he s familiar with these issues. He gives us ways that are practical and well thought out and using these we can begin to form more serious relationships. He also includes valuable tips on such matters as coming out and dating, how to maintain a very exciting sex life, understanding and navigating through open relationships, how to avoid falling for the wrong man and much, much more. But the primary emphasis of this book is on how we can learn to be true to ourselves. We have been socialized to believe that being gay is unmanly and shameful. By assuming the tough façade, we create barriers and hide our ability to love. Pezzote places the blame for this on the homophobic and heterosexist American culture and shows how the media reinforces this. Hollywood provides us with images of who "real man" are--successful, unemotional, strong, athletic and heterosexual. Being gay puts us out of the ideal and we are viewed as feminine and weak and all men are assumed to be heterosexual until they are proven to be otherwise. Because society does not accept as us as real men, we take on society's idea that being manly means being masculine. We work out to excess, dress in the mode of Abercrombie and Fitch or camouflage and cut our hair. Likewise we demand out partners to do the same. We advertise ourselves as "straight acting" whatever that means. Pezzote says we can change this by simply healing our sense of inferiority and the fear that underlies it by accepting ourselves and loving ourselves. This book needs to be read by all who feel insecure about who they are and by those who are secure but under false pretenses. It is a welcome addition to our canon.