Sister & Brother: Lesbians & Gay Men Write about Their Lives Together

In this engaging collection, Nestle (Persistent Desire) and the late Preston (Hometowns) have assembled 30 original essays, some written by well-known figures (Paul Monette, Cherrie Moraga), others by less familiar ones (Michael Lowenthal, Clifford Chase, Gabrielle Glancy) on friendship and solidarity between gay men and lesbians. In the co-written introduction, as in three other pieces, the editors recount in alternate sections the history of their own relationship. The book also includes essays in which friendships founder on the differences not merely between gay and lesbian politics but between men and women: Susan Fox Rogers writes memorably about the intrusion of sexist stereotypes among her otherwise enlightened straight friends; James Merrett recounts marrying his Latino lover's lesbian sister to enable her to get her green card, and his chagrin at her expectations: ``How can a gay man love a lesbian?'' (Nov.)