Between Gay and Straight: Understanding Friendship Across Sexual Orientation: Understanding Friendship Across Sexual Orientation (Ethnographic Alternatives)

This is a study of a gay community, a narrative of personal development and change and an exploration of the use of friendship in conducting research. It started as a class project a young, married, smalltown white woman interviewing a gay acquaintance and his circle of friends. This developed into a three year study on the complexities of gaystraight friendships. The study explores sexuality, marriage, lifestyles, and the meanings of friendship, and through it the author develops an understanding of the differences between the gay and straight community, the difficulties of bonding across groups and the rewards of seeking and being the "other" in contemporary society.

Lisa M. Tillman-Healy is a recent Ph.D. in communication from University of South Florida and teaches at Rollins College.