BOOK REVIEW | Straight Up
Straight Up
By Michael Stevens
The subtitle for the book Straight Up is “The Church’s Official Response to the Epidemic of Down Low Living.” Personally, this reader has not seen where any church has addressed this in the past few years since the down low lifestyle has been increasingly getting attention. Looks like, the author, Michael Stevens has touched upon a greatly needed conversation in the church with his new book.
A few years ago, J.L. King, author of “On the Down Low”, appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show to talk about the lifestyle in which married men secretly had affairs with men. That show set-off a world wind of articles and conversations all over and was followed up by other books, including a follow-up book by J.L. King’s ex-wife.
The church as Michael Steven writes has long been an institution that has simply closed their eyes to homosexuality. They have especially ignored homosexual tendencies found in their own choir loft and pulpits. The author expressed special concern about this “blinded eye” approach in particular in African American churches. Steven spends most of the book shattering myths about the down low lifestyle with biblical scripture, in context. Most of these men claim to be bisexual making this “label” appear to be cool, but not necessarily making them homosexual. Steven includes a special chapter for the “sista”s and signs. The most important advice for women is to make sure the man is not merely attending church, but has a bone fide relationship with God.
Straight Up is a short, but insightful read. Stevens does not bash people for their sexual choice, but instead pleads with the reader as well as the church to minister to individuals involved in this lifestyle rather than ignore or judge. With AIDS still a formidable force world-wide, this book was released in a timely manner. This would make a great book for a discussion or forum.
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