Beyond Shame Reclaiming the Abandoned History of Radical Gay Sexuality

Foreword by Michael Bronski A bold, unapologetic celebration of gay male sexual culture in the 1970s The radical sexuality of gay American men in the 1970s is often seen as a shameful period of excess that led to the AIDS crisis. Beyond Shame claims that when the gay community divorced itself from this allegedly tainted legacy, the tragic result was an intergenerational disconnect because the original participants were unable to pass on a sense of pride and identity to younger generations. Indeed, one reason for the current rise in HIV, Moore argues, is precisely due to this destructive occurrence, which increased the willingness of younger gay men to engage in unsafe sex. Lifting the “veil of AIDS,” Moore recasts the gay male sexual culture of the 1970s as both groundbreaking and creative—provocatively comparing extreme sex to art. He presents a powerful yet nuanced snapshot of a maligned, forgotten era. Moore rescues gay America’s past, present, and future from a disturbing spiral of destruction and AIDS-related shame, illustrating why it’s critical for the gay community to reclaim the decade. As founding director of the Estate Project for Artists with AIDS, Patrick Moore pioneered the concept of preserving artworks as historical artifacts of the AIDS crisis. He has worked extensively in gay/lesbian civil rights and AIDS activism and is the author of two novels, This Every Night and Iowa. Moore lives in Los Angeles. “As a detailed examination of the ways in which rage gives depth to art, Moore’s book has no peer in recent memory.” —Publishers Weekly “Moore’s point of departure is as refreshing as it is daring . . . calling gay men to return to the sexual vanguard.” —Out “Essential reading for anyone seeking an imaginative interpretation of recent gay history.” —Library Journal “A provocative, wistful book . . . Moore’s yearning is touching and his politics refreshingly incautious—a romantic affection for the entirely unromantic.” —The Advocate