Includes bibliographical references (pages 387-392) and index.

This collection presents the best gay and lesbian poetry written from 1950 to the present, with some 200 poems by 94 writers. Cutting across class, gender, and color lines like nothing else in American literature, this anthology offers a thoroughly refreshed report and exploration of our deepest social, sexual, political, and spiritual realities. With contributions from the well-known -- James Baldwin, Allen Ginsberg, Judy Grahn, Frank O'Hara, Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, Tennessee Williams -- to the as yet unknown, this is the distillation of thousands of sources, published and unpublished. Here, then, is the entire range of the crucial experience and expression of an extraordinary people. Biography, photograph, and bibliography for each poet are included. -- From publisher's description.

Lambda Literary Award, 1988.