Description
‘We are complicated; we are a weird, beautiful, wise, stupid, vulnerable, dangerous form of life. Outsiders simply learn to recognise this picture of humankind sooner than the rest.’ - Sir Antony Sher
‘People describe me as over the top, but nobody’s ever told me what the top is I’m supposed to be over.’ - Maggi Hambling
‘I have a strong sense of having ridden on the hard work and struggle of a lot of people who were more committed and clear-sighted than I ever was.’ - Alan Hollinghurst
The arrival of civil partnership in Britain in 2005 was welcomed with a Sun editorial celebrating the forthcoming wedding of Elton John and David Furnish. Beneath the headline ‘Gay Pride’ the newspaper - once doggedly hostile to homosexuality - claimed the event would ‘lend a touch of stardust’ to modern Britain.
The Way We Are Now is a compelling account of the way the world has been transformed for millions of gay people within a generation. Lesbians and gay men discuss their lives and work with remarkable candour.
A proportion of the royalties will be donated to Stonewall.
Table of Contents
Alan Hollinghurst. 2004 Booker Prize winning author of The Line of Beauty discusses life as a writer, on representing the lives and experiences of gays, on pleasure-seeking, drug-taking, and the significance of acceptance by the literary mainstream.
Anthony Sher. Born in apartheid South Africa and now established as one of the UK's leading actors, Sher reflects on sexuality, anti-Semitism and exile.
Brian Paddick. The highest ranking openly gay police officer has become a hero for those who believe the police should become more liberal, and a hate figure for traditionalists and homophobes.
Craig Jones. The Most senior gay naval officer, on life in the armed forces following the historic decision to lift the ban on gay and lesbian servicemen and women.
Daniel Harbour. A young London-based writer explores family values.
Damon Galgut. Award-winning South African novelist finds himself a guest at the wedding. He discusses the idea and feeling of belonging.
David Starkey. Acclaimed popular historian and the queen of social and political commentary on the pleasures and importance of freedom and self-inventiveness.
Helen Munro
Irshad Manji. Controversial 'Muslimrefusenik', author of internationally best-selling The Trouble with Islam Today, and capitalist lesbian, on the essence - and importance - of queerness.
Jane Czyzelska (Editor of Diva)
Maggi Hambling. Celebrated painter, sculptor and printmaker describes how she's never been "in" the closet.
Matthew Parris. Former Tory MP, journalist and political commentator on equality and self-pity as the final closet
Rashida X. Chairperson of Imaan, the social support group for British LGBT Muslims, writes about growing up as a Muslim and as a queer and how those identities became one.
Robert Taylor. London-based photographer and artist on both the personal and professional opportunities and challenges of sexual, racial and cultural difference.
Sarah Weir
Stella Duffy. A successful writer, actor, improviser, and comedian, on 'seeing the invisible women'.
Stephen Hough. A celebrated concert pianist on musicality and the familiarity of friendship.
Stewart Brown
Tony Peake. A poignant, witty, and thought-provoking testimony of a gay grandfather.
V.G. Lee
Author(s)
Ben Summerskill, Ben Summerskill is Chief Executive of Stonewall. As a journalist he worked for the Standard, Observer and TimeOut.
Reviews
'a fantastic book on modern queer life.'
Queer Oxford Magazine, Summer 2006
,
'[I]t's good to remind ourselves that change for the better does happen and often in ways that are quite subtle. Reading The Way We Are Now...is one such way of doing this....it's a loving and inspiring read.'
The Morning Star, 16/10/2006,
Title mention in piece by Ben Summerskill
Ben Summerskill, The Guardian,
"
While there’s little in the way of analysis, it’s a moving and inspiring read”-
Morning Star Newspaper, November 2006.
Steve Andrew,