Hide and Speak: How to Free Ourselves from Our Secrets [Hardcover]

Kittredge Cherry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1991

Coming out of the closet is the definitive experience for many lesbian and gay people. In "Hide and Speak: How to Free Ourselves From Our Secrets," Kittredge Cherry provides a program to guide readers through the process of discovery, acceptance and appropriate disclosure of a lesbian or gay sexual orientation. This multi-stage process helps readers to gain insights that can change their lives. "Hide and Speak" also examines the spiritual dimensions of coming out and draws connections between lesbian and gay issues and other personal secrets, including addiction and childhood abuse. Complete with practical exercises, "Hide and Speak" inspires lesbians and gay men to break silence and begin to speak.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Ostensibly, this book is about the impact of keeping or telling secrets on ourselves and others. However, most of the material concerns the problems facing gays and lesbians who want to "come out." Using her experience as a lesbian minister, Cherry (author of Womans word , Kodansha, dist. by Farrar, 1987) writes sincerely and gently about homosexual isues. She includes exercises designed to foster self-discovery. Aside from these exercises however, her book's potential usefulness is weakened by her philosophical rather than practical approach. Also, most of the information is not new. Readers would do better with Mary Borhek's Coming Out to Parents ( LJ 8/83) or Testimonies: A Collection of Lesbian Coming Out Stories (Alyson Pubns., 1988). For large collections of alternative literature.
- January Adams, Somerville
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Most of the material concerns the problems facing gays and lesbians who want to "come out." Using her experience as a lesbian minister, Cherry (author of "Womansword," Kodansha, 1987) writes sincerely and gently about homosexual issues. She includes exercises designed to foster self-discovery. ---Library Journal

I can't remember reading a happier combination of the self-help and the inspirational quite as clear, readable and remarkable, quite as affirming as Kit Cherry's "Hide and Speak."... "Hide and Speak" is a book of loving and caring. It's genuine. And because it is genuine it is one of the few books with important messages for all of us who hide. I am by nature a "yes, but" kind of person. No matter the advice, no matter the formula for success, I always have a "yes, but" response. Kit Cherry has anticipated all the "yes, but" responses, at least all mine, and for me that's where the real value of the book lies... Finally a word about style. I should have trusted my friend who recommended this book, for she is herself a warm, understanding and caring. ...The author... understands that thre are differences in the basic natures of the male and female... and she explores those differences in approving ways. She understands and accepts the realities of the world as it is out there and helps us all, male and female, to go with the flow... If...pastors dare have required reading lists for their congregants, "Hide and Speak" should be near the top, right below "The New Testament." ----"For All the Saints" Journal -- Book Description

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 155 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins; 1 edition (July 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062501658
• ISBN-13: 978-0062501653
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,424,329 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kittredge Cherry is a lesbian Christian author, art historian and minister. She founded JesusInLove.org in 2005 to support LGBT spirituality and the arts. It promotes artistic and religious freedom and teaches love for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. She was ordained by Metropolitan Community Churches, an LGBT-affirming Christian denomination, and served as its National Ecumenical Officer. One of her primary duties was promoting dialogue on homosexuality and religion at the National Council of Churches (USA) and the World Council of Churches.

A native of Iowa, Cherry has degrees in journalism and art history from the University of Iowa, and a master of divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. Her books include Lambda Literary Award finalist Art That Dares: Gay Jesus, Woman Christ, and More, "Jesus in Love: A Novel," and Equal Rites: Lesbian and Gay Worship, Ceremonies, and Celebrations, Hide and Speak: A Coming Out Guide and Womansword: What Japanese Words Say About Women. She currently edits the Jesus in Love Newsletter on LGBT spirituality and the arts and blogs regularly at the Jesus in Love Blog.

The New York Times Book Review praised her "very graceful, erudite" writing style and her poetry has won several awards. Her books have been translated into German, Polish, Chinese and Japanese. She has also written for Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal. Cherry and her partner live in Los Angeles.