Believing he had been born into a family who never loved him for who he was caused JL Homan to feel unloved, unwanted, and lost in ‘OUT HERE IN THE STARS. Having an identical twin brother who was more “normal” than he was made matters worse.
JL/James discovered his love for dance in the mid-sixties while attending college at the University of Wisconsin. In the early seventies, while working at Marshall Fields selling men’s underwear, he joined a local dance company. Within three years, he had moved to New York City to pursue a career in dance. He received his first Actors’ Equity Card when chosen to participate in the summer stock season for the St. Louis Municipal Opera company. His next gig in Pittsburg’s Civic Light Opera’s Oklahoma! spurred him on to his much-desired ambition. It was during this time that he met a man named Chris, an acquaintanceship that burgeoned into his first romantic relationship.
When James turned thirty-five and wasn’t getting the dancing jobs he once did, he turned to corporate America for his income, first as a word processing operator, then as an executive administrative assistant. He ushered at the New York State Theater on the side to keep his hand in the arts, and it was there he met Harold, the man who become the love of his life. James and Harold held many common interests and together were the happiest they had ever been in their lives. They spent fourteen enjoyable years in each other’s company until things took a drastic turn when Harold became ill.
JL Homan’s memoir of his life before, during, and after his time with Harold takes readers on an emotional journey through self-reflection and pivotal introspection. His insight into how it felt to be a member of the LGBTQ community during divergent decades and how he tackled the subject of his identity is enlightening, insightful, and oftentimes disheartening. Homan uses honesty and candor to create a credible understanding of what he’s endured throughout his life. His candidness about who he was and who he became, his use of vivid descriptions, and his ability to weave together a cohesive story from a jumble of experiences, influences, and emotions make this story a compelling and memorable read.
Author JL Homan reveals his trials and tribulations as a member of the LGBTQ community in ‘OUT HERE IN THE STARS, reflecting on challenges and self-discovery in an approachable, authentic style that will give inspiration to others in similar situations.
~Florence Osmund for IndieReader