Kissing, that human mating dance that can literally sniff out if the second person of any gender is deemable a suitable mate to the first person. Sometimes it's a release of emotions or it's a proclamation of love or just simply foreplay. But thanks to the New York Times, they have inspired me to really think about my top 10 favorite kisses in cinema and what better time to put this out than before Lupercalia, I mean, the Western World's Valentine's Day? Here are my top 10 most memorable movie kisses and I do not discriminate! 

Aaron Davis (Steve Sandvoss) and Christian Markelli (Wes Ramsey) 

in Latter Days (2003)

We all know I love my gay romantic comedies, but this one, including the fantastic Joseph Gordon Levitt, never disappoints me. To sum up "Latter Days" in a sentence: Mormon Salesman goes to Los Angeles and finds himself attracted to the biggest playboy who may or may not be falling for him over time considering the bet he made with a friend to take one of the Mormon boys to bed. Maybe it's the intensity Christian (Wes Ramsey) gives off that makes that first kiss so powerful which ends up making my knees weak. It seems boy on boy make outs are much more beautiful to me than any other gender combination.

Jane Falberry (Judy Garland) and Joe D. Ross (Gene Kelly)

in Summer Stock (1950)

Their names say it all. Gene Kelly, who Judy Garland once dubbed her favorite leading man to kiss and well, Judy f***ing Garland. In "Summerstock," Jane's (Garland) family farm is in crisis and it only "seems to get better" when her sister comes back with a whole theater troupe in tow including her boyfriend and troupe leader, Joe Ross (Kelly). It's all chemistry between Joe and Jane until it finally accumulates after Joe sets the scene that Jane can do the show just as well as her sister could including a very romantic serenade of "You Wonderful You." 

Lukas (Rick Okon) and Fabio (Maximillian Befort) 

in Romeos [Romeos... anders als du denkst!] (2011)

In the German-made "Romeos," Lukas (Rick Okon) is finally taking on the transition from male to female and it's all erratic hormones and v-logs of his progress. But Fabio (ugh, I know, that name!) (Maximillian Befort) comes into his life and Lukas finds himself completely enamored but the question remains: is it better that he tells Fabio that he is in transition or let him simply see him as male? The movie is mostly awkward and full of violent empathy over of how much Lukas is struggling, but it doesn't stop the puppy dog obsession with Fabio. But the payoff? Oh, the payoff! If there was ever a sexy-sweet award for a kiss, "Romeos" wins hands down!

I apologize for the video, but the kiss starts at 3:17, the song isn't bad though!

Margeurite (Greta Garbo) and Armand (Robert Taylor)

in Camille (1936)

Some of the picks for my memorable kisses are purely based on one scene or the build up throughout the movie, but choices like "Notorious" and "Camille" are just consistently knee cap melting! The 1936 MGM production is based on a great book (in fact, one of my favorites) by Alexandre Dumas, fils 's although in the movie, the courtesan Marguerite is more in her mid-20s than the original age of 16. But it's Greta f***ing Garbo and she can do whatever she wants, including that amazing piano scene with film great Henry Daniell but I digress. Marguerite is slowly dying of consumption, but trying her best to keep her finances afloat by making "friends" with as many men as possible. But the "Lady of the Camellias" (hence "Camille" if you were wondering...) as she is known never expected to fall in love with the naive Armand who just wants to take care of her but it's more complicated than that. In a style that is purely 30's MGM and Cukor, the kissing scenes feel otherworldly at least for people who find these old movies a hobby. 

Ennis del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal)

in Brokeback Mountain (2005)

"Brokeback Mountain"'s kisses are like a box of bottlecaps: you seriously can't pick just one! Maybe it's that first kiss before Ennis (Heath Ledger) goes into having sex with a man more consciously or maybe it's that reunion kiss where Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) is pressed against the wall or one of the more dramatic kisses before all goes to hell at the end. No, it's definitely the first kiss in the slight and shockingly real resistance of Ennis pulling back but eventually giving in. Maybe it's more beautiful like that instead of the whole gay cowboy jokes. 

Veronica Fisher (Judy Garland) and Andrew Larkin (Van Johnson)

in In the Good Old Summertime (1949)

Much in the tradition of the movie before them ("The Shop Around the Corner") this is the part where the man (Van Johnson as Andrew Larkin) finally reveals that they've been writing letters to each other for the past year and that he is in love with Garland's Veronica. And oh the results as he speaks those adapted lines from the 1940s Frank Capra film! Although James Stewart spoke them straight with a beautiful romantic intensity, Johnson does one better as he is directed to incorporate the whole room as he backs her underneath the Christmas tree mocking the imaginary man that Veronica thought she was writing letters to. And the touching of her hair and kissing her temple just, ugh! Why can't they make beautiful choreographed kisses like that nowadays?

[starting at 3:54-5:28]

Astree (Stephanie Crayencour) and Celadon (Andy Gillet)

in The Romance of Astrea and Celadon (2008)

The last film from the great French director and writer Eric Rohmer, the period comedy "The Romance of Astrea and Celadon" does more than just represent two lovers breaking up to only fatefully come back together. It is about building a person into the best version of themselves. Adapted from a collection of serials from the 1600s by Honore d'Urfe, the kiss at the end after spending years apart is just a huge relief. The passionate "mini-make out" between Stephanie Crayencour and Andy Gillet is, believe me, a huge relief and a beautiful way to finish a very arbitrary stylistic movie. 

Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman) and Devlin (Cary Grant)

in Notorious (1946)

Who knew that Hitchcock could direct romantic scenes so well? The chemistry between Bergman's Alicia and Grant's Devlin is so electric that even the great Claude Rains's presence is almost upstaged! Bergman plays Alicia Huberman, a party girl and daughter of a German convict, ends up being roped into becoming a spy. She watches over her father's Nazi friends who are stationed in Rio de Janeiro while falling helplessly in love with the government agent (Grant) she works with. Alicia finds herself married to Alexander Sebastian (Claude Rains) and struggling to play both sides of the very dangerous spy game. But those kisses between Bergman and Grant, I just, there are no words! They are romantic yet sexually fueled and even the final scene as they walk down that staircase you know it's love, but somehow you feel really bad for Claude Rains! Only Hitchcock. Only Hitch. 

Diane (Juno Temple) and Jack (Riley Keough)
in Jack and Diane (2012)

I understand this movie is very misunderstood, but there is nothing better than a layered kiss. After just a few hours of knowing each other and trying to figure each other out, Jack (Riley Keough) finally kisses Diane (Juno Temple) and much like their relationship throughout the movie, the kiss seems to progress. What starts out curious and kind of fascinated ends up becoming passionate but ends up creating a symbolic monster (not a werewolf, people!) that is a relationship or a tie from one person to another that you can't get rid of.

Marnie Edgar (Tippi Hedren) and Mark Rutland (Sean Connery)
in Marnie (1964)

Only Hitch. Only Hitch could get past the censors in "Notorious" creating a series of small kisses throughout a scene exceeding the Hayes Office's required three seconds. Only Hitch could zoom into a very intimate kiss between his ingenue and Sean Connery with no subjective intent, but you feel uncomfortable and yet fascinated all at once. After Marnie, a psychologically messed up thief and liar, is caught trying to break into a safe at her work by her boss Mark Rutland (Connery). Before getting fired, she finds herself having a psychotic break and the boss ends up comforting her, but it is he who is kissing her more than she is. Who wouldn't want James Bond to kiss down their faces? Oh, well, me but that's a completely different story.

[starts at :53-1:10]

Truthfully, the one thing that got me through my week was when Josh Hartnett won his guy-on-guy stripes on my new favorite TV show, Penny Dreadful. This show seriously engulfs my past life DNA senses, at least the ones that belongs in Gothic literature/the Victorian era.

 

"But B, you fan-girl hard over any two guys that make out!"

 

That may be very true, but, contextually this is (as I mentioned on the Penny Dreadful facebook page TWICE!) "the reason that I write." After Brona (Doctor Who's Billie Piper) breaks up with our wolf man, American gunslinger Ethan Chandler (Hartnett) who else is to pick up the pieces than the Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney). It seems Gray didn't feel like flirting with Chandler's employer (Eva Green's Vanessa Ives) as he has been but it has been mostly out of fascination of her other worldly powers. He takes the brokenhearted American to an underground gambling club where Ethan is only triggered by the sight of rat blood and animal/human love of carnage. Within the trigger and getting into a brawl, Gray takes him to his home.

 

 

Now see, a lot of people would think that Carney's Gray would be literally trying and eager to hard to get a guy into his bed but strangely, this portrayal of Dorian is probably more bored than Ben Barnes or Hurd Hatfield put together. But this Dorian feels nothing but empathy for Chandler and tries to console this the only way men can -- drinking. But not just drinking anything, we count Chandler having least three glasses of absinthe and under the influence of Wagner's "Liebestod," I like to believe he becomes triggered by the murders he possibly has committed yet is soothed by Dorian's empathy which results in a wonderful confrontation. "It's the Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde. Literally translated it means love-death. It's the very end of the opera; Isolde's lover is dead in front of her. They're on a beach, the waves are rolling in and out. You can hear that in the music, can't you? And her heartbreak, you can hear that."

 

I like to think that Hartnett's Chandler is trapped between hating and feeling humbled that Dorian strangely gets it, hence initially choking him and willingly kissing him either taking a little of  Dorian's immortal bored confidence  or simply being magnetized by the immortal. Chandler begins to cry and you can see the tears under his eyes whether it is alcohol-induced after he shakes his head, giving into either Dorian's "spell" or his own inabilities to accept the killer or Wolf Man (which fans are speculating) within him. But then again, there is no indication of Gray's powers as he looks at Chandler solemnly as if saying with his eyes, "You and I both know what death and heartbreak means." Even Gray seems amazed and humbled when they talk about art and Chandler's love for primitive etchings in a mountain. "They're honest" Hartnett's character says and I think that is what hooked Gray that for once, he doesn't want this guy -- he has possibly seen more in his short life than what Dorian has seen in his longer youthful immortality.  

 

 

Even after I got over the initial lady wood of the scene, Hartnett is a little surprised at himself for kissing him -- but how else does one person try to retrieve something they want out of another? In Michael Cunningham's masterpiece "The Hours" (the book, not the movie!), Mrs. Brown and Kitty share a kiss together because "They are both afflicted and blessed, full of shared secrets, striving every moment. They are each impersonating someone. They are weary and beleaguered; they have taken on such enormous work." So we can say that both of these instances are the same; even before this climatic scene, Gray talks about all of his colognes. "Each produces a different sensation, a different you I could carry away." So there is no doubt that he wants to be a different person and finds something humbling about Chandler's love for the honest. 

 

The sad thing is, is once the episode is out there and for everyone to see, no one is going to analyze this down to it's bare bones as something sad yet empathetic. The LGB community will hoorah Hartnett and Carney for being better actors to flex a sexual ambiguity into their repertoire and bringing LGB characters to the forefront and those who are homophobic or deny the male species of affection towards another with sexual intention or not, will keep doing what they're doing and add this as fuel to their bonfires of dislike. Because, damn it, gayness matters! And this scene is nothing more but two guys kissing with no literary device behind it, right? *sarcasm*

 

Zooey Deschanel, Zooey Deschanel, Zooey Deschanel! Can we get her to be a guest editor like with Victoria Beckham? MAKE. THIS. HAPPEN.

Lord Crawley of Downton Abbey (Dan Stevens) in "the five guys we're all talking about"

"I want to be a fucking feminist and wear a fucking Peter Pan collar. So fucking what?" - Zooey Deschanel

Pimping the bow ties ("The Top 10 Glamour Dos and Don'ts")

Making me love Khloe Kardashian even more than I already am.

"...Honestly, I'm happy with myself if I'm a little heavier. I realized, Why am I Trying to conform to someone else's idea of beauty? I think I'm beautiful either way." - Khloe Kardashian

Most of the products on "Khloe's Best Makeup Advice" are from drugstores! 

Putting lady-love in the pictorial "just kiss me"

...But Glamour!...

Zooey Deschanel doesn't even look like herself! Glamour, you say you don't airbrush or alter your cover photos but after Amanda Seyfried's cover and this month's I'm really starting to wonder about you...

Valentine's Day. Corporate Woman's Magazine. Cashing in on what boy's like but has little about One Billion Rising (although that was last month's...) or self love. Thanks a lot Glamour.

Promoting beauty men love when they're on a woman but the average woman reader are more consumed by what they personally want for themselves. Co-dependence. Happy Valentine's Day!

You really couldn't get some boy-on-boy for the pictorial article "just kiss me" or would that hurt the male powers that be?

6. Manner wie wir (Guys and Balls) (2004)
directed by Sherry Hormann
Cast: Maximillian Bruckner, Lisa Pothoff, Dietmar Bar

A good romantic comedy through sports (Jerry Maguire, Tin Cup, Love and Basketball...); America loves this genre so it finally gets a European and (*le shock!*) gay treatment. So it's obvious that the sport in question would be soccer, and an adorable Maximillian Bruckner as a goalie whose sexual preferences finally come to the forefront in a small German town and gets kicked off his futbol team. Instead, he goes to a neighboring town with the intention of pwning his hometown's team, and there may be a romantic interest in there somewhere. It's just cute, and German boys!

5. Big Eden (2000)
directed and written by Thomas Bezucha
Cast: Arye Gross, Eric Schweig, Tim DeKay

Sweet. Intense. A little dramatic. More sexual tension than Brokeback Mountain (OK slight understatement); just look at the beautiful restraint of Pike (Eric Schweig)! When Sam Hart's health begins to deteriorate, his New York artist grandson who he raised (Arye Gross as Henry) comes back to Big Eden, Montana. But when Henry's high school best friend and crush moves back to town, Henry realizes his torch is still as bright and shiny as ever. But there's some unexpectedness to come. And this is the only movie in the list that doesn't have a sex scene which is why this should be up a little further on my list but the following movies just slay me so much harder than this sweet love story.

4. The Curiosity of Chance (2006)
directed and written by Russell P. Marleau
Cast: Tad Hilgenbrink, Brett Chukeman, Aldevina da Silva

Another great movie that involves beautiful tension. Gay men in the movies know tension! But this is the only movie next to Big Eden that isn't focused on the whole "coming out" aspect (which btw, shouldn't even be a factor in gay movies). And for being a high school movie, The Curiosity of Chance barely touches on it!

Want to see a gay love-letter to John Hughes? In an undisclosed area of Europe in the '80s, military brat and theatrical Chance Marquis moves to a new town and new school where he befriends Twyla (Aldevina da Silva in my sub-list of this post of one of the two best "fag hags" in the movies) and photographer Hank. Despite having become a target by the high school bully, Chance finds himself crushing on the jock and the friend to the bully who just has to be his neighbor as well. But one night he enters a drag bar and everything radically changes.

3. Romeos ...anders als du denkst! (Romeos) (2011)
directed by Sabine Bernardi
Cast: Rick Okon, Maximillian Befort, Liv Lisa Fries

Again another German movie, this isn't 100 % a gay-boy movie although it loos it. Rick Okon plays Lukas Leonhard, although biologically Lene (if I have this detail wrong, I have looked everywhere, I heard the biological name in the movie, if someone knows this, correct me!) is tracking his progress in an online transgender forum. We see the effects of shooting up hormones and everyone reacting to Lukas finally making the final arrangements for surgery although still having breasts.

Simultaneously, Lukas's old friend Ine (Liv Lisa Fries, number one "fag hag" on my sublist) insists that Lukas, although still living in the female dormitories and doesn't know where to go, gets a social life instead of sitting in his room. That certainly doesn't help when Lukas finds himself attracted but disgusted with Fabio, a total Christian from Latter Days albeit a European one. Fabio's everything Lukas isn't, which repulses Lukas for how Fabio's body is perfect but his is still in transition. And there may be some sexuality behind it....

I'll admit, I have only seen this once because having been in a relationship with a transgender in second puberty it was exceptionally painful to revisit those emotions and feeling helpless but despite all of that, this movie has stayed with me and deserves a high place on my list.

2. Latter Days (2003)
directed and written by C. Jay Cox
Cast: Wes Ramsey, Steve Standvoss, Mary Kay Place, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Jacqueline Bisset

One of my eternal favorites with a "gay tale as old as time" which seems to be more of a person-to-person subjectivity of sexuality than ones actual preference (until it happens). But yes, uptight, conservative and and Elder Davis (Aaron) on his first mission in California where he meets Christian, an out-and-proud manizer and clubber, when they live next to each other. Christian's friends bet that Christian had no chance of getting Aaron in bed. But as things happen, opposites attract until they allow it to happen. And... as Aaron says in the narration at the end "And it's beautiful."

1. Velvet Goldmine (1998)
written and directed by Todd Haynes
Cast: Christian Bale, Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Toni Collette, Eddie Izzard

Although not a specific gay movie (but is any of my number one LGBT movies even a specific gay storyline?) Velvet Goldmine is one of the best with a sub-storyline of Christian Bale... Batman... slowly coming into his own as a gay man and evolving into a reporter who is on the hunt for who shot Brian Slade, a David Bowie-like rockstar.

He interviews everyone involved with Slade, his old manager (Michael Feast), Slade's ex wife (Toni Collette) and even has a sexual encounter with grunge rocker (influenced from Lou Reed and Iggy Pop) in the flashbacks who he re-meets. But as simple and suspenseful the movie sounds, that's just the bones of it. It shows the rise and fall of the glam era but also an element of magic that goes all the way back to Oscar Wilde himself. The soundtrack is badass! It's an expressionistic movie and it's wonderful and I got to watch it in a film class! Who can really say that?


Honorable mentions: C.R.A.Z.Y., Sommerstrum (Summer Storm), Beautiful Thing, I love you Phillip Morris, Get Real 

After damn near killing myself on Oscars day with organizing every post under labels, posting FOUR posts in one day and gaining three new followers by relentlessly commentating on every last move of the award show. I was exhausted and took a well-deserved break. Now I'm back and singing Julie Andrews... or the Golden Filter, whichever version of the song you prefer! (Speaking of new followers; God dag (good afternoon in Norwegian) @emhill, @fabulousmalibu, and @adoaboutfashion)

Smash Keeps Smashing My Face in With Love

Unfortunately this doesn't mean I stop watching Glee, but to take a break from a wonderful train wreck you can't stop watching you can stare at new Broadway legend Megan Hilty (Wicked) channel Marilyn Monroe so well you'll immerse yourself with Marilyn Monroe's life with the two girls: Katharine McPhee the Norma Jeane aspect, fresh faced and inexperienced and the other the business-woman and addict. So no one should be surprised that I rented a MM marathon of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Niagara and Don't Bother to Knock. But as for my favorite Marilyn movie? It's a tie between Gentlemen... and The Prince and the Showgirl.

Best moment in series 1 thus far?

Rufus Wainwright's Love Song to His Daughter

What's better than a father singing to his daughter on his new album? Well when Rufus sings to his little Viva, he creates a song that is about family, two men raising a little girl together and the end result is just beautiful and a little heartbreaking because his voice can do that to you!

Lissy Trullie's New Video

Where do I start? Is she channeling Ryan Gosling in Drive like Nylon Magazine featured? Or the fact she's more effingly beautiful than the last time I saw her? Or she looks extremely badass... or what's with the driver? Either way, this short 2 minute song is not enough for my everlasting girl-crush on the LGBT figure.

Regina, Regina, Reh-ge-nah! (Like She Says in Pavlov's Daughter)

The great songstress is back! So of course stereogum made her a feature causing most of the cynics to grumble that her time is over -- hardly. Her new song, All The Rowboats from the upcoming "We Shaw From The Cheap Seats" LP in later Spring. All The Rowboats sounds like Apres Moi Part 2, strong and piano-driven and she sounds better than ever. Oh Regina, never stay away for too long!

Peggy Sue Got Video

It feels like only yesterday the historical Englert Theater was so packed for the Kate Nash concert I had no where to sit after being on my feet all day at my old job, my hamstrings murdering me in bad shoes until ... Rosa Slade attracted me to the stage and my eyes were glued to British girl-band Peggy Sue. Two years and a new album later, they finally release a second official music video for upcoming album Acrobats, Cut My Teeth and who else but the Nylon blogs has the video.

Criznittles Indie Darlings Do the Voice

Charlotte Sometimes

Criznittles, the strange username that releases magic at the beginning of every month with a 200 track torrent, epic song after epic song (well, it's touch and go for me and other picky music listeners) from his site Indie/Rock Playlist always knows talent when he hears it... or gets it recommended to him via facebook.So what happens when two girls that was on September and October playlists of last year make a debut on The Voice? Well, besides scream sacrilege that they would "sell out" but they have great songs, established LP's and EP's and now it's a matter of time the female singer-songwriters Lex Land and Charlotte Sometimes get that exposure they need.

Lex Land

Lex Land is like a Regina Spektor on guitar with intelligent lyrics and a beautiful voice that can get both serious and playful (case in point "Oh My" was on September's playlist) with country singer Blake Shelton as her coach, she may get more than just exposure. And my beautiful favorite Charlotte Sometimes (nee Jessica Charlotte Poland), vocalist and guitarist with lyrics that are more in the catchy realm of Charlotte Martin. Charlotte Sometimes has been almost a Indie/Rock Playlist veteran having been on both September (with "For You") and October's (with "Headaches") playlists but my personal favorite is "Waves and The Both of Us." She is also being coached by Shelton which makes me nervous that they won't be pitted against each other because I wouldn't know who would come out alive. VOTE THIS!

Hairspray's Nikki Blonsky Covers Gaga

Despite having been working in a hair parlor shop (all Hairspray puns begin and end hear) for the past year or so [since the "Huge's" cancellation] in order to keep it real, singer and actress Nikki Blonsky's soundcloud  and twitter account may have been bombarded with commands of her making a comeback after having put out an mp3 of her covering Lady Gaga's "On The Edge of Glory." Where Gaga's signature scratchy Emile Autumn-like voice (yes hardcore fans, I went there) puts out an angst in the song, Blonsky's smooth Broadway-trained voice makes the song joyous in a Godspell kind of way. The sad thing about her is is that no one wants to create roles for a large girl unless you're Melissa McCarthy shitting in a sink. That's not Blonsky, like what director Adam Shankman said in the Hairspray commentary, "It's like you stepped out from an old MGM film, where does THAT come from?" Cue Blonsky's adorable giggling.

Glee, in my world, is always a touch and go affair -- from Season 2 on, but Season 2 Glee gave fans a great service in the angelic doppelganger child of Gene Kelly and Michael Jackson, Darren Criss. To ask me to rank the following ten performances would just be too difficult - so in no particular order...

1. Jane Lnych (Coach Sue Sylvester) does Madonna's "Vogue"
2. Heather Morris (Brittany Pierce) does Beyonce's "Run the World (Girls)"
3. Darren Criss (Blaine Anderson) does Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream"
4. Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams) and Harry Shum Jr. (Mike Chang) do Michael/Janet Jackson's "Scream"
5. Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel) does "Rose's Turn" from Gypsy
6. New Direction Does Jackson Family Medley (ABC/Control/Man in the Mirror)
7. Heather Morris (Brittany) does Britney Spears's "I'm a Slave For You"
8. Chris Colfer (Kurt) does "I'm The Greatest Star" from Funny Girl
9. Chris Colfer (Kurt) does The Beatles "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
10. New Directions Does Journey Medley (Faithfully/Anyway You Want it/Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'/Don't Stop Believing)

What are the top books that immediately pop in your head to recommend to others that are not only your favorites, it should be someone else's favorites in order to contribute to a better world? Too difficult to come up with a list? Well, I know my top 3 indefinitely.


"Letters to a Spiritual Seeker" edited by Bradley P. Dean, Authored by Henry David Thoreau and Harrison Gray Otis Blake

Henry David Thoreau is a genius and is quite quotable in this book, where he even delves into the female sex, the essence of spirituality, praising nature and even religion itself - which seems appropriate for the letters written are being sent to Blake, an ex-Unitarian Universalist minister back in 1848 who wished to pick Thoreau's brain  on all aspects of religion and life and the job is done in a way where poetry, prose, and correspondence meets perfectly. Best quote? It is a tie between Thoreau's“The warmth of celestial love does not relax, but nerves and braces its enjoyer.” and a very true statement, for me anyway, according to Dane that “Religion is never spoken because the deeper truths of human experience cannot be communicated directly from person to person.”  Why? Because awareness according to spirituality/religion is becoming more defined or blurred depending on where you are from - this book seems to explain to your unconscious that spirituality/religion, the words and labels are irrelevant to the point it comes to one word that should truly matter: lifestyle.

 Eros the Bittersweet by Anne Carson

Again stylized between literary types of poetry and prose, and that is more apparent in the Aesthetics of "Eros" than Thoreau's naturistic writing, Anne Carson discusses what Eros means - not as a Greek God, but more about what Psappha (or her English spelling Sappho) believed about Eros as passion, specifically for its glykopikron (which literally translates to the sweet bitter). The main thesis is supported by literatures ranging from  Sappho's lyrics to Plato's Phaedrus but done in an original way that the sensitivity of the subject is emulated in form. You will become more enlightened, especially if you are a writer or artist, about what true love is, especially through the eyes of an ancient society that highly regarded passion. Best quotes? Too many to count but the most memorable: “No one in love really believes love will end. Lovers float in that “pure portion of anxiety,” the present indicative of desire.”  “When you fall in love you feel all sorts of sensations inside you, painful and pleasant at once: it is your wings sprouting. It is the beginning of what you mean to be.”

Art Objects by Jeanette Winterson

Most known as a lesbian advocate and writer, Jeanette Winterson wiped that off that preconceived notion right away in one essay in Art Objects in a way that I do not have the quote exactly, but she advocates she is a writer first and loves second, the gender of her preference is irreverent to her writing. At least that's post-Oranges are not the Only Fruit. But in every single essay she has in this collection, she puts forth an astounding command of language and narrative over something such as memoir. While I spotlight on "A Veil of Words" the most for its importance in GLBT society, the other short essays are cute, quirky, and somehow have an underlying profound message. The why for this book seriously needs no reasoning, it's right out there in such quotes as “The Queer world has colluded in the misreading of art as sexuality. Art is difference but not necessarily sexual difference, and while to be outside of the mainstream of imposed choice is likely to make someone more conscious, it does not automatically make that someone an artist. A great deal of gay writing, especially gay writing around the Aids crisis, is therapy, is release, it’s not art. … It is true that a number of gay and lesbian writers have attracted an audience and some attention simply because they are queer. Lesbians and gays do need their own culture, as any subgroup does, including the sub-group of heterosexuality but the problems start when we assume that the fact of our queerness bestows on us special powers.” and “It would be a pity of lesbians and gay men retreated into the same kind of cultural separatism. We learn early how to live in two worlds, our own and that of the dominant model, why not learn how to live in multiple worlds?”

I would include Inga Muscio's "Cunt" but for reasons that are pretty apparent as well that doesn't need much embellishment.