Out in Time
The Public Lives of Gay Men from Stonewall to the Queer Generation

The civil rights of LGBTQ people have slowly yet steadily strengthened since the Stonewall Riots of June, 1969. Despite enormous opposition from some political segments and the catastrophic effects of the AIDS crisis, the last five decades have seen continual improvement in the conditions of the lives of LGBTQ individuals in the United States. As such, the realities and challenges faced by a young gay man coming of age and coming out in the 1960s is, in many profound ways, different from the experiences of a young gay man coming of age and coming out today. Out in Time explores the life experiences of three generations of gay men -- the Stonewall, AIDS, Queer generations -- arguing that while there are generational differences in the lived experiences of young gay men, and each one confronts its own unique historical events, realities, and socio-political conditions, there are consistencies across time that define and unify the identity formation of gay men. Guided by the vast research literature on gay identity formation and coming out, the ideas and themes explored here are seen through the oral histories of a diverse set of fifteen gay men, five from each generation. Out in Time demonstrates how early life challenges define and shape the life courses of gay men, demarcating both the specific time-bound challenges encountered by each generation and the universal challenges encountered by gay men coming of age across all generations and the conditions that define their lives.

Perry N. Halkitis is Dean and Professor at the School of Public Health at Rutgers University. For over two decades, Dr. Halkitis's program of research has examined the intersection of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, drug abuse, and mental health burden, and the biological, behavioral, psychosocial, and structural factors that predispose these and other health disparities in the LGBTQ population. His most recent book, The AIDS Generation: Stories of Survival and Resilience, was a 2014 Lambda Literary Award nominee and recipient of the American Psychological Association Distinguished Book Award in LGBT Psychology. He is the recipient of numerous awards from both professional and community-based organizations. Throughout his career, Dr. Halkitis has fought for the rights of those infected with and affected by HIV, and has been an outspoken advocate for the health of the LGBTQ population.