If I remember correctly, this anthology won a Lambda nomination and it deserved it. It really helps you to work, or ride, in the paths of disabled gay men. Contributors were born with disabilities and later acquired them. The writers discuss finding lovers, whether they want able-bodied or disabled partners, having sex with disabled bodies, prejudice from gays and straights. I must admit that sometimes contributors seemed self-loathing in wanting to ignore their disabilities or wanting to keep away from other disabled individuals. Still, I admire their courage in opening the eyes of many.
Too often in anthologies covering double minorities, the editors are so quick to get contributions that they'll take works that fail to talk of both identities. Here each contributor speaks of both. No one speaks on disability alone or sexuality alone. Moreover, most articles discuss boyhood; those interested in GBT youth matters may especially take note.
I had too big problems with this book. First, the contributors were overrepresented among middle-class and white writers. Some contributors had Spanish names, but the intersection of race, sexuality, and disability rarely came up. Even the title rings of this homogeneity. If you say "crips," to many the answer would be "the rival gang of bloods," not "a word that disabled people may try to reclaim." Further, the editing made all the voices sound the same. Yes, you hear divergent stories, but sometimes it felt like the same writer could have penned them.
Cole Porter became a paraplegic due to a riding accident. Derek Jarman went blind because of AIDS. Arthur Rimbaud may have lost his leg. There are many gay disabled men and we haven't heard enough from them. I thank these authors for helping to start, or continue, that discussion.
