Coming Home to America: A Roadmap to Gay and Lesbian Empowerment

Despite its sentimental title and jargonistic subtitle, this is a seasoned overview and guide to the future state of the queer nation. Osborn, its lesbian activist author, describes it as ""unabashedly a gay and lesbian movement cheerleader's attempt to inspire optimism during tough times."" In chapters dealing with coming out, activism, community-building, politics and American society's future and the role in it for gays and lesbians, Osborn tempers her hopefulness with realistic warnings about pitfalls and defeats. The book is not an extended locker-room pep talk, and the case studies and personal anecdotes are presented well, and integrated into a powerful whole. Osborn has plumbed her 23 years of activism for enlightening and emotionally charged stories of individual triumph and joy in the midst of intense and extended tribulation, drawing from them valuable lessons. Though she leans on stereotypes to make some of her final points, the book as a whole reads like a summation and a plan for the road ahead offered in good faith and with good humor. (Oct.)