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Straight Jacket

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Despite the subtitle 'How to be Gay and Happy', this isn't very happy reading. It's more about the psychological damage being LGBT in today's society does to you. Although I really don't want to say anything bad about this book because it clearly is very necessary and has had a positive impact on some of those who read it, I did find it a bit repetitive, anecdotal and clunky in parts. I would also have loved more focus on the 'happy' bit, which Todd does do in a few chapters at the end - I found the one on how society could be better improved to help LGBT people particularly fascinating, and worthy of a book by itself! A groundbreaking and controversial book which explores contemporary gay and bisexual culture and asks if gay people are as happy as they could be. Todd explores why statistics show a disproportionate number of gay people suffer from mental health problems, and why significant numbers experience difficulty in sustaining meaningful relationships. It is a call-to-arms for society to protect and nurture young people, regardless of their sexual orientation. Simply put: there was nothing of real substance here. It was just a series of sentiments in big letters stating things like ‘A revolution is needed in the professional understanding of the mental-health implications of growing up LGBT’, followed by a paragraph or two of vague, hand-wavy ideas to make this a reality. It totally captured what it's like to be a teenager: the excitement, the confusion, the horniness. Sometimes I laughed so hard, I thought I was going to puke and die. OK, I’ll go along with your little game... for now at least. I’ll need a while to get washed and dressed first though. Where do you want to meet?”

Straitjacket Stories - Modern Award-winning Straitjacket Straitjacket Stories - Modern Award-winning Straitjacket

And we should respond by continuing to proclaim the better story. Todd shares about some of the routes to recovery that have been helpful to him and others, highlighting especially the role that Twelve Steps groups can play. It’s a good thing that Todd and others have found significant help in these various forms of support. Each form of support is an example of God’s generosity to humanity (what theologians call ‘common grace’). But as Christians we have better and even more powerful answers to offer.The clanking of a metal panel, followed by the sound of footsteps which slowly became louder, brought Amy out of her solitary reveries, as she waited with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation for the maker of this commotion to appear. Seconds later the door opened and a torch beam briefly bobbed and flitted around the walls and high ceiling, before steadying and pinpointing the trussed up woman sitting in one corner of the vast space. As the figure approached, Amy was temporarily blinded, and the first solid clue she received that this was Jenny returning and not some random intruder, came when her visitor spoke. As soon as the theme for the Annual Spring Fancy Dress Party was announced, Sally knew who she was going to go as. Not only that, but she also knew the exact outfit that she’d be wearing. The water was cool and refreshing on Amy’s sandpaper tongue and parched throat, and Jenny allowed her to drink her fill. Silence reigned during this period, with Jenny simply holding the bottle and scrutinising the slim, bound woman before her; that devious smile never dissipating for a second. Once her thirst was quenched, it was therefore left to Amy to initiate communication once more. Then, with the serious business out of the way, Jenny exited the scene with one final teasing remark, barely audible to Amy as a result of the rubber that concealed her ears. I recommend it to everyone I meet. I've bought 15 copies to give to people. In my opinion it should be on every teacher's reading list. Whoever you are - especially if you are straight - go and buy it now. It could help change your life and the world around you. Rankin (Photographer & Director)

Straight Jacket by Matthew Todd | Waterstones

Matthew Todd is one of the UKs leading gay writers. He was the editor of the UK's bestselling gay magazine, Attitude, between 2008 and 2016 where he won three British Society of Magazine Editors Editor of the Year Awards, a Stonewall Journalist of the Year Award and was given the Freedom of the City of London. Prince William made history by sitting for the cover of Matthew's final issue as editor. This is a beautiful, passionately written exhortation for gay men to love themselves more and take better care of themselves. Of course I’ll help you Sal. I still think it’s a daft idea, but if your heart is set on it, then who am I to stand in your way? I bet no one else would be such a fool as to help you out!”

Although not over-familiar with her proposed, still unsuspecting collaborator in this weird venture, one of the few things Amy did know for certain about Jenny was where she lived, as it was only a stone’s throw from her own apartment. And it was also only a short distance away from the venue which Amy had chosen as the location for her incarceration; for didn’t captivity deserve a fittingly isolated and dramatic setting for it to truly create the desired atmosphere and ambience? Amy, however, was so delighted with the sensation of the ever constricting leather around her, that she barely took on board this threat. So, this is what’s going to happen. When I get home tonight I’ll be writing out a letter to the police – anonymously, of course – explaining where you are and that you’re a bit tied up at the moment – if you’ll pardon the pun.” But Amy wasn’t particularly worried by the lateness of her captor’s return. For wasn’t bondage much more scintillating and fascinating when a certain amount of ambiguity as to when you were going to be released was involved? And besides, Amy had been having far too much fun to worry about trivial things such as freedom. My criticism of the book is that the honest portrayal of gay life could well terrify young readers. It did paint a pretty bleak picture, it was honest and accurate but ....

Straight Jacket by Matthew Todd | Goodreads Straight Jacket by Matthew Todd | Goodreads

Matthew Todd is one of the UK's leading gay writers. He was the editor of the UK's bestselling gay magazine, Attitude, between 2008 and 2016 where he won three British Society of Magazine Editors Editor of the Year Awards, a Stonewall Journalist of the Year Award and was given the Freedom of the City of London. Prince William made history by sitting for the cover of Matthew's final issue as editor.Right on time, Jenny appeared, looking slightly jittery, as if she feared that she was walking into a trap of some description. And her apprehension showed no sign of abating in any way when Amy pulled the metal sheet aside and gestured for her workmate to step through the gap. Amy did her best to allay the worst of her invited guest’s fears, but the anxiety she herself was experiencing must have been evident in her voice, and she was sure her explanation must have come across as a fairly lame one. Look, I need to speak to you urgently...it’s about something that’s cropped up at work... and it can’t wait until Monday.” Anyway, if the Royal Mail live up to their promise of delivering second class post in two days, my letter should reach the police station on Wednesday morning. So, if they take the message seriously and act immediately – and there’s no guarantee they will, given how overstretched they always claim they are, resource-wise - you could well be free by Wednesday evening. I do hope so for your sake...” Amy squirmed and writhed in her leather encasement as Jenny spat out these words with venom, and for the first time her struggles stemmed from a genuine desire to break free. Jenny seemed oblivious to the grief her actions were causing, however. Or perhaps she simply didn’t care.

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