An emotional journey of resilience, sequins, and hope
The prized possession you value above all others…
My puppy dog.
The unqualified regret you wish you could amend…
Not following up with a friend when they said they were in love with me.
The temptation you wish you could resist…
Cookies and cakes, they are my downfall.
The film you can watch time and time again…
Salt, with Angelina Jolie.
The person who influenced you the most…
It’s a fictional character, Arnold Beckoff from Torch Song Trilogy.
The event that altered the course of your life…
My first dream about another guy. Pretty much confirmed I was gay.
The song that means the most to you…
Vogue
The happiest moment you will cherish forever…
Celebrating my 50th birthday while taking a cooking class in an Italian castle with friends.
The unfulfilled ambition that continues to haunt you…
Playing Arnold Beckoff in Torch Song Trilogy.
The way you would spend your fantasy 24 hours, with no travel restrictions…
Traveling to Venice and wandering around and taking a gondola ride with the love of my life.
The figure from history you would most like to buy a pie and a pint…
Elizabeth Taylor, but not sure if she’d be up for a pint.
The piece of wisdom you would pass onto another person . . .
Always be true to yourself, especially if you are gay. Ignore the negative comments from society and family. You are solely responsible for your happiness; you do not have to live up to their hope and dreams – just your own.
The treasured item you lost and wish you could have again…
My beloved puppies that passed away.
The crime you would commit knowing you could get away with it…
Breaking into the jewel vault where the royal jewels are kept and wearing them all. Talk about sparkle!
The philosophy that underpins your life…
If you can’t show me the respect I deserve, then you have no place in my life.
THANK YOU
Book Title: A Life in Letters: A Story of Resilience, Sequins and Hope
Author: Rodney Rhoda Taylor
Publisher: Cresting Wave Publishing
Cover Artist: Brian R. Barilleaux, Rodney Rhoda Taylor
Release Date: July 9, 2024
Genre: Non-fiction/Memoir
Themes: Coming out, Awareness, Societal Expectations
Length: 23 580 words/ 140 pages
It is a standalone book.
Heat Rating: No sexual content
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
From sudden pop-ups, ruined pajamas, glittery gowns, and conversations with God – a collection of letters that covers it all.
Blurb
A Life in Letters chronicles a gay man’s journey as he navigates the ups and downs of life through his letters. From the innocent correspondence with Santa Claus and asking for a Cher doll, through the trials and tribulations of puberty, sudden pop-ups, coming out, drag queens, heartbreak, and the joys of a Cosmo, we learn how the author maneuvers through the many curve balls life throws at him. Throughout, it’s a story of hope, courage, and strength.
Dear Masculinity,
I have spent years trying to figure out who you are, and I am no closer to solving this mystery than I was when I first started. You are an enigma—a puzzle that cannot easily be solved. I know as much about you as I know about the moon’s backside. Why is that? (Well, not the moon part…) Why is your identity so vague?
All I know is that for years, both the straight and gay communities have told me that I don’t act like you, that I act like a girl, and that I’m too effeminate. But neither constituency can provide me with a definition of who you are. The straights can’t define you because, for
them, you are based on some ancient notion of what a man should be. And the gays can’t represent you because, for them, you are based on some overhyped-up sexual fantasy drawing created by Tom of Finland. And no one can measure up to an entire community’s sexual fantasy. I mean, damn—based on those two concepts, I was/am never going to fit into anyone’s idea of what being “masculine” is. The one element both communities agree on is that “men” are not supposed to have “feminine” characteristics. And if they do, then they better watch it, or they will be deemed … undesirable.
That leads to this question: Isn’t the whole preoccupation and belief that boys and men are supposed to act one way and girls and women are supposed to act another a bit … archaic?
Why do boys have to be masculine? Why do girls have to be feminine? And why, on God’s Green Earth, can’t either sex just “be”? Sans labels? If boys want to play with Barbie—so be it. If girls want to play football—so be it.
Let’s just say it: the idea of “masculinity” is out-of-date. It’s based on an out-of-date assumption that “men” are the more vigorous sex. These days, one’s strength is no longer strictly judged to be a “physical” attribute. These days, it is more (correctly) about a person’s inner drive and determination, regardless of the chromosome lottery.
Women have become quite “strong,” in my definition because they have had to fight their way out of being dominated by “masculine” men and more than a few ill-informed women. Then there are those men, like me, who get their nails done, walk with a swish in their step, shape their eyebrows, and act in a way that society says is “feminine.”
Our folks have always been deemed “not masculine” because of the way we act/appear. Yet many of us live on our terms—and do not welcome others’ ideas of how we should “act.” It takes a strong person to live their life that way. Especially considering the condemnation one can receive for doing so.
So, which is truly the strong, masculine person? The individuals who think Penis=Superior/Stronger? Or those who have had to fight to live on their terms despite the adversity they receive from the world for doing so? And which gender are they?
Thoughts?
Feminine and Proud
Rodney Taylor is a San Francisco State University graduate with a degree in Creative Writing. Initially exploring various writing paths, Rodney found a niche in playwriting, creating several short plays, including Eros, Poolside, Good-Bye Cupid, Fairy Godmother, Baby Christina, Motherly Advice, and P.S. I Love You. Their passion for theater culminated in co-founding Left Coast Theatre Co., an LGBTQ theater in San Francisco, with Joe Frank. After a brief hiatus to focus on personal well-being, Rodney is now reviving their writing career. Shifting focus from plays to comedic short stories, Rodney travels the country with their chihuahua, searching for a place to call home.
Author Links
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