Amy took a deep breath and blurted out - in the same harassed, agitated state that she’d revealed her passion for bondage - the assertion that she knew Jenny to be siphoning off money from the firm they both worked for, and that really she should have gone to her line manager with her concerns, but had decided that there were other ways that the situation could be resolved to their mutual advantage. Sally was about to apologise for asking so much of her friend, but suddenly realised that Angela was smiling broadly. Todd is a former editor of Attitude, the UK’s best-selling gay magazine. In this book, he faces head-on the reality of a major problem within the LGBT community: ‘Despite more LGBT people than ever before, thank goodness, leading happy, successful lives, it is becoming increasingly clear that a disproportionate number of us are not thriving as we should’ (p.9). Speaking much too fast now, Sally explained that she was going to go as Pat Benatar, and that she planned to recreate the image from one of the singer’s album covers. As she spoke, she made her way across the room to where her vinyl LPs were housed. She knew exactly where the relevant record was and retrieved it easily. With fingers visibly trembling, she held the cover up for Angela to peruse, not once daring to catch her eye as she did so.

Straight Jacket by Matthew Todd | Goodreads Straight Jacket by Matthew Todd | Goodreads

My only other observation was that the first 2/3 of the book explore the issues and really brought up some strong feelings for me. The final part outlines places to seek help (in the Uk) and some ideas for solutions. My problem here is that the solutions posted often were in relation to drug or alcohol related issues. If your issues are in relation to just mental health the suggestions were a lot more limited and sadly less helpful. If only this had been written twenty years ago I can only imagine the lives that could have been saved sooner. This is a hugely important book for everyone. It's changed the way I see myself, other people and the world. Paris Lees, author and British Vogue Contributing EditorA groundbreaking and controversial book which explores contemporary gay and bisexual culture and asks if gay people are as happy as they could be. Todd explores why statistics show a disproportionate number of gay people suffer from mental health problems, and why significant numbers experience difficulty in sustaining meaningful relationships. It is a call-to-arms for society to protect and nurture young people, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Straight Jacket by Matthew Todd (Paperback) – Queer Lit Straight Jacket by Matthew Todd (Paperback) – Queer Lit

The footsteps recommenced, only now, instead of reducing then increasing in volume, they continued to fade slowly away. Jenny’s voice also receded, until Amy could only just make out the gist of her words. So what makes you think I won’t tell anyone about this little perversion of yours? And what exactly has this got to do with work?” One of the most powerful books, sensitively and elegantly written, I think, that I have ever read. Lord Michael Cashman CBE Hotjar sets this cookie to identify a new user’s first session. It stores a true/false value, indicating whether it was the first time Hotjar saw this user.A really brilliant and moving read for everybody, especially LGBTQI+ people’– Olly Alexander, star of It’s A Sin

Strait-Jacket (1964) - IMDb Strait-Jacket (1964) - IMDb

That was her friend’s comment when Sally avoided the issue, although Angela also said that the secrecy was intriguing her. A sincere and heartfelt cry to the gay community to come out of denial about the impact of childhood pains on our lives today. Yes, this has also all been done before, from ‘The Velvet Rage’ by Alan Downs to the 2015 Chemsex movie, which Todd does reference fairly often. Does he add anything new to the debate? I really don’t think so; even his promise of ‘lifting the lid’ on the editorial process at Attitude magazine does not live up to the hype at the end. My criticism of the book is that the honest portrayal of gay life could well terrify young readers. It did paint a pretty bleak picture, it was honest and accurate but .... And anyway, if we did have a deal, I seem to recall that it was something along the lines of “one good turn deserves another”. Well that means that we’re already quits in my book. Because I kept my side of the bargain by tying you up, and you promised in return to keep quiet about my little underhand dealings at work. But letting you out again? That would be a second favour. And as far as I’m aware, I don’t owe you another.”This is a beautiful, passionately written exhortation for gay men to love themselves more and take better care of themselves. Finally, however, at around ten thirty and having watched television and drunk two bottles of wine between them, Angela stated that it was time for her to be on her way home. After all, she had to be up for work early tomorrow. For a split second, Sally had this wild idea about asking whether Angela would agree to leave her like this overnight, and then call in on her way to work to release her. But she decided that maybe that was taking things a bit too far. After all, the need to go for a pee was getting near, and she didn’t relish the prospect of spending the night in damp tights. So, when Angela tried again to begin the release programme, Sally reluctantly gave in and allowed her friend to loosen the straps and liberate her arms from their confinement. She lifted her arms as best she could, just in case Jenny had somehow forgotten the circumstances in which she languished, and needed her memory jogged as to what Amy was alluding to. Jenny, of course, needed no such reminder. But when she finally spoke, there was no hint of her being in any way disposed to grant Amy’s request. Todd outlines this understanding in three parts: part one explores the roots of LGBT shame, part two the unhealthy ways that LGBT people seek to escape the pain of this shame, and part three the road to recovery. In each part, Todd draws on his own experience, stories of those he knows, and interviews with various experts and practitioners.