On Being Different: What It Means to Be a Homosexual

Presents the thought-provoking book about being homosexual in the United States.
This updated reprint of the book that resulted from Miller's essay "What It Means to Be a Homosexual," first printed in The New York Times Magazine in 1971, includes the original essay, an afterword by the author, a foreword by Dan Savage, who initiated the It Gets Better Project, an afterword by Charles Kaiser, excerpts from personal letters and a never completed forward, and an obituary for Miller, all of which serve to emphasize the essay's importance to the gay rights movement. The essay was a response not only to a particular homophobic article, but to prevailing homophobia in American society, and Miller discusses the social consequences of his identification as a gay man, as well as his hopes and fears about the future. Though first published over forty years ago, the essay remains pertinent and powerful today. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
The groundbreaking work on being homosexual in America—available again only from Penguin Classics and with a new foreword by Dan SavageOriginally published in 1971, Merle Miller’s On Being Different is a pioneering and thought-provoking book about being homosexual in the United States. Just two years after the Stonewall riots, Miller wrote a poignant essay for theNew York Times Magazine entitled “What It Means To Be a Homosexual” in response to a homophobic article published inHarper’s Magazine. Described as “the most widely read and discussed essay of the decade,” it carried the seed that would blossom intoOn Being Different—one of the earliest memoirs to affirm the importance of coming out.For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,500 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Originally published in 1971, Merle Miller's On Being Different is a pioneering and thought-provoking book about being homosexual in the United States. Just two years after the Stonewall riots, Miller wrote a poignant essay for the New York Times Magazine entitled "What It Means To Be a Homosexual" in response to a homophobic article published in Harper's Magazine. Described as "the most widely read and discussed essay of the decade," the article was developed into the remarkable short book On Being Different - one of the earliest memoirs to affirm the importance of coming out. Merle Miller (1919-1986) was an editor at Harper's Magazine, Time and The Nation and was the bestselling author of several books, including the novel A Gay and Melancholy Sound and Plain Speaking, a biography of Harry S Truman. Dan Savage is the internationally syndicated columnist of 'Savage Love' and the author of several books. Charles Kaiser is an author, journalist and blogger. His books include 1968 in America and The Gay Metropolis.