Category: Gay/Lesbian/Bi Publisher: Sharon D. Smith
ISBN-10: 0615147267
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 93
Copyright: 2007
ISBN-13: 9780615147260
Love and Liberation is about the challenges and lessons to be learned in lesbian relationships. However, the book is designed for all women, including women in the heterosexual community. The book deals with topics such as failed relationships, the joy of being away from certain people in your life, and the importance of friends and family. Other topics of concern are homophobia and religion, politics, gays in the military, and coming out.
Love and Liberation is about the intimate relationships of lesbians, bisexual women, and even heterosexual women. Heterosexual women are included in the discussion because they, too, have been in situations where they have questioned whether or not they should move forward and leave their mates or stay and weather the storms that plague their relationships. Love and Liberation focuses on the challenges that usually come with these relationships from the perspective of a lesbian who offers guidance for all women to take control of their relationships and find their happiness.
Unlike some lesbian literature, Love and Liberation has nothing to do with sexual erotica or short stories. Although these literary genres deserve merit, Love and Liberation is essentially a tool to help others deal with some of the things that may be happening in their relationships or perhaps things they have encountered in the past, but never fully got over. I felt it was very important for people to be able to find healing from some of the things they experienced and move on with their life. It was even more important for me to offer my own personal experiences as an example so that others would know they're not alone.
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Excerpt
Listed below are excerpts from Love and Liberation. The first excerpt is from the chapter, "Confessions," which talks about how I felt prior to writing this book. The excerpt listed here defines how women will feel when they have achieved liberation. The second excerpt is from the chapter, "The Cost of Liberation," which focuses on the responsibility women have to themselves and others, and God, in order to achieve liberation. The excerpt listed here discusses the sacrifices women must make in order to be liberated.
From "Confessions"
I'm glad things happened as they did. I'm glad that I didn't have to fold when I was dealt what seemed like a losing hand. I'm glad those former relationships and friends are out of my life. Perhaps my life would have been different had I laid down my hands and given up. But I do not operate in that level of fear, anxiety, and anger anymore. So, when you are dealt the "right"? hand, you will know it. It will be impossible for you to keep a steady, poker face. You will be excited and ready to experience anything. You will smile more. You will brazenly walk down the street and people will feel the energy that's coming from you. There will be a remarkable amount of confidence in everything you do and everything you say. People will look to you for guidance and will lean on you because of your strength and good character. You will have no fear. People will gaze upon you and wonder what is wrong with you. They will ask if you are drunk or stark mad. They will see the level of poise, tenacity, and enthusiasm you have for life. When this happens to you, and it will, brace yourself for what is yet to come. The world will have to stop and let you pass by first. You will be changed. You will be a new person. You will be liberated!
From "The Cost of Liberation"
The key to being liberated, however, is not missing who or what you leave behind or wishing misfortune on anyone. Instead, it is important to be able to speak on these things with indifference and in some cases, with passion and an indisputable amount of courage. This gives you the freedom to do anything you choose. If you have been liberated from a physically abusive relationship, surely you wouldn't desire to be with your abuser again and you wouldn't miss being kicked or hit in any kind of way. But when you leave that relationship, you feel better. The wounds may take time to heal and you may need additional counseling, but in the end you will feel great because now your body belongs to you again. You may even find yourself in a position to mentor others and be a role model to other women.
Liberation, however, comes with a price tag. What are you willing to give up? What are you willing to do to experience the euphoria of being liberated? If your life depended on it, who would you be willing to say goodbye to? The price for liberation is high because it requires you to be an active participant in the liberation process. It also requires you to recognize and accept the fact that you have an obligation to be honest with yourself and everyone you meet.
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