As a long time activist, I was heartened to read this book (Strongly reccomended by various literary reviews).

In high school, I was one of the few Heterosexuals who would openly agitate for GLBT equality. I really think my friends and I could have used this book as an inspirational tool.

Although I still can occasionally get discouraged with the rather slow pace of GLBT equality, this book reminded me that my friends could have lived in a much more hostile climate, and that I and my parents and straight friends are not the only ones concerned about injustice perpetuated in the name of "family values"

I was also impressed with how many of the people I knew from conversation and/or newspaper headlines. If there was any proof that GLBT issues are becomming mainstreamed into society, this was definently it. Contributors include some of the headliners in the past 10 years from safe schools, to marriage and scouting.

What prevented the book from being redundant was the fact that each of the stories were presented in (at least for me) unprecedented depth. I really got a good sense of what these people were feeling from outrage to defiance and justice.

Varying in sex, race, age and geographical background, each contributor has an important goal. Even North Carolina, home to the infamous Jesse Helms, is not imumne from diversity organizing. Simmilarly, neither is an avowedly "liberal" Texas private school when one teacher realizes even that place contains homophobia.

Knowing news outlets (including the sympatheic ones) have to use soundbites and abreviated stories because of space contraints, I really appreciated the hollistic portrayal of each of the individuals. I really got a good sense of how much they had to endure (and still do in some cases) to remind the world that it really is not us vs. them.

I just got done reading this book, and cannot adequately praise the depth and scope of the essays. Some of the contributors are already infamous, others are starting out, but they are connected by an unyielding spirit of equality and justice.

The seriousness of the message is lightned up by antecedotes. While this is uncessary for seasoned activists, it is a practical method to draw potential allies in. GLBT rights remains a controversial subject despite progress and the open minded majority need to break the ice and show newcomers that it is not "their" problem alone.

Although I am a seasoned activist who had already read on gay and lesbian studies, I appreciated that there was a professional anthology for people like me. This book is a direct rebuttal to the Christian Reich that support for GLBT rights is incompatable with heterosexuality.

Each of the speakers is clear headed, articulate and compassionate. Because the above traits have been used by discriminatory forces, it was refreshing to see them applied in a sensible context.

At a time when equality and social justice are at a premium in Hawaii, this book gives me a much needed boost. I wish I would have thought to send a copy to each Hawaii Supreme Court Judge before they choose on the side of hatred and injustice. Being a pollyanna, I keep thinking that such narrow mindedness is just a lack of information. Thank you Dan for reminding us of hope for tomorrow.

Excellant book, tells the stories of how athletes were treated when they came out to friends, family, and teammates.

I bought Dan Woog's Jocks a few years ago, and after a few of the reads posted a 5-star review of it. And I give this book the same review. It is an excellent insight into the competitive world of sport, and how so many athletes suffer.

Being someone who loves more of the less-known sports, I found the inclusion of those kinds of sports very welcome. They give me valuable insight into how those sports have a slightly different view of things, but still have the same problems.

A definite thumbs up.

those who know folks into either or both !! These stories are truly inspiring and insightful, heart-renching and awe-felt! The author did a great job of capturing the role models like Warren Cohn, and the heros like Rafael Cruz Rivera in a way that serves to provide a path for youths as well as pride for some parents. It reinforces the notion that men and women can still be gay and athletic, that being homosexual doesn't force one to leave their masculinity at the door. Well done Dan Woog, and more importantly well done to those whose stories you told.

When my son expressed an interest in playing soccer I decided I better learn a little about the sport. I found this great book at our local library and loved it! Each chapter was useful and informative with tips on such things as how to be a supportive parent, choosing equipment, how the game is played with different number of children and so on. I loved the book so much I ended up buying a copy myself :-)

I am a freshman at Macon State College, and I had to read this book for my education 2000 class. I though that this book was a little hard to read. I followed the book somewhat, but it took reading the passages at least twice to try to comprehend why the author was telling this particular story. I think that this book could be improved if it had fewer stories from other people and had more feedback from the author.

School's Out is an overly expressive interview about students and teachers who are seeking approval from their straight and bigot communitiies. We all know teachers and principals as well as students who take years and years to come out of the closet. I guess we all know the Mr. Andersons and his partner. But it was totally amazing how the so-called jock or the so-called dyke took extra precautions to keep their sexuality hidden from parents. The west coast is a lot different from the east coast gay/lesbian partners. After all, San Francisco is where the Gay Pride movement began, and the strongest voice of Tom Ammiano changed the attitude of many schools from heterosexual parenting to homosexual thinking. I was really concerned about the constant use of the word "faggot" because I am sensitive about my own minority status. With all the advocacy we do, the major thrust is to break through the silence in schools so that we can normalize the discussion of gay/lesbian issues. The homosexuals do not have a voice, so organizations such as BANGLE are an outlet for them. Many students need this support. I learned interesting things from this book, such as the rainbow scarves, double ear piercings, and pink triangle pins. I think everyone should read this book for future reference with the same incidences in schools.

Woog has written a truly wonderful book. It is a direct back hand to the outrageous notion that there are no gay people in todays education. Through a series of interviews, Woog tells the story of gay students, teachers and educators who came out in school and have worked to educated others. America has this great notion that their schools are gay free, but this book slaps them all in the face. If your an educator, student, straight or gay, i think you'll find this book is filled with great insight and knowledge. No matter what sexuality you are.

I enjoyed the book. It took me back to my days as a competitive swimmer in high school and made me wish that I had had the self-awareness and confidence to come out then. The stories of the struggles these men went through as they came to terms with their homosexuality and what to do about it in their sports life are interesting, enlightening and a little sad. Woog has done a good job of telling these stories. One day soon, hopefully, there will not be a need for a book like this. Until that time, Jocks can help a lot of struggling young people see that others have gone through what they are going through and have not only survived, but thrived.

I would like to see Dan Woog follow this book up with a similar book featuring professional athletes in America, particularly in the mainstream sports of baseball, football, hockey and basketball. All of the stories would have to be anonymous or use pseudonyms, but it could be fascinating anyway.

Jeff in Pittsburgh

Woog has unified the diverse hopes and fears among gay athletes and coaches of all levels into a common ground- the facing of those fears and meeting of those hopes. Taking account of these gay men, those both open and in the closet, Woog brings a greater understanding to their pain and triumph, as well as the roads they have traveled to get where they now are. Woog is objective with both the positive and negative experiences, and brings out the true meaning of althetics to both team and individual, along with the struggles of these gays men to be a part of the athletic circle. Reading this book was positive and meaningful, and gave a good look at just how diverse levels of homophobia exist within different sports themselves as they do within society. Woog brings the sub-culture of gay athletics up front, showing the agonies and triumphs in this realm that are overlooked. Having read this book alongside Patricia Warren's "The Front Runner" (the fictional story of a gay man and his gay coach/lover competing into the 1976 Olympics) gave an even greater depth and aspect to Warren's book as well as a greater understanding of the painful and euphoric extremems gay athletes endure. My one hope is that Woog writes a second book, with either new accounts of these proud gay athletes, or a follow-up of those already shared in his book.

I've read the 7 reviews, and decided to take the book anyway. And I was not disappointed.

The book is very honest, Dan Woog makes it very clear in the foreword what the book is about, nonwithstanding the negative comments made by possible readers.

I've only started reading the book, but it already has me commiserating with the various people who have had to endure abuse and hatred at the hands of their peers, colleagues, team mates and the world at large.

This is a book to wake you up from the fantasy that the jocks always have it easy. They don't, and we as gay members of society should show our support openly for those who have had the courage to come out of the closet, and give encouragement to those still in there to come out too and live fully.

Mr Woog's book lacks style and has... this big measure - "coming out". Coming out is an individual thing and personalities vary. Lives vary. Every interview was preoccupied with whether the guy was "out" or not. The problem was that the related stories showed no correlation with sexual status. The book was badly preoccupied with this one fact.

Gay Men; Straight Jobs was a very poor attempt to interview a group of interesting men. Mr Woog seemed to have a set formula (a very poor formula at that) which he followed with each man he interviewed. The book provided little insight into the interviewed men's lives and provided a very dull read. There was no attempt by the author to tie threads of commonality or diversity between the different people. Life is not whether you are out or not; its how you lead your life which is important.

Depending on your point of view, writer Dan Woog might be either a maverick or a pioneer. In his earlier "Jocks" series, Woog may well have essentially initiated the diaglogue that acknowledged that there are gays in pro sports. Here, in "Gay Men, Straight Jobs," Woog again takes on the challenge of portraying gays realistically: as they behave and as they are expected to behave based on societal expectations and demands. And it's from that perspective - profiling the gay man within the framework of institutional mores - that makes Woog something of an academic sociologist. An array of occupations perhaps traditionally thought to be exclusively straight are presented here by their gay workers: police officers, fire fighters, upscale Wall Streeters and even television news reporters. What emerges is how workers in those and other fields manage to balance their sexual orientation with the expectations and mores of their respective professions, and how those expectations relate to the larger society. To gain any meaningful information from this book, particularly if you're a gay man struggling to fit into your own social and occupational frameworks, it's best to read the book as something of a self-help guide. Don't expect any simmering accounts of gay sex: if you want that, look elsewhere. More important than that, you might find something here that has actual long-term benefits.

As one of the subjects Mr. Woog chose for the book (park ranger) I was pleased to see how he treated my very personal story. Those who know me gave me great feedback on how accurate his depiction was and, more importantly, several people who are struggling with coming out at work have contacted me for help. The writing shows compassion and humor. My friends who have read it highly recommend the book as do I. Though I was a little shy about it, I'm glad I told my story to Mr. Woog.