Lou Sullivan (1951–1991)

This is...difficult to review. On the one hand, reading someone's diaries -- rather than a memoir or autobiography -- is compelling because diaries are by their nature raw, unfiltered, honest. On the other hand, it consequently often feels scattered, nearly incoherent. And many of Sullivan's raw unfiltered thoughts are off-putting, even upsetting or offensive -- see, for example, Sullivan's reports of having or wanting to have sex with his own siblings (?). Ick, to say the very least! But of course, on the other hand, it feels wrong to rate so harshly the record of a life that ended so tragically. Sullivan's descriptions of the last years of his life, after being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, are genuinely heartbreaking in spite of Sullivan's sometimes cavalier attitude towards it. You can't help but feel that it's all just so unfair. It certainly has worthwhile insights into the history of trans activism (and particularly gay trans activism) and HIV/AIDS for those looking to go beyond summary, but I wouldn't recommend starting here.… (altro)