The Tragedy of Heterosexuality

In the not so distant past, as many of us in the LGBTQ persuassion were growing up, it would often be said-- by others and sometimes by our selves-- "Who would choose to be gay?" The idea was that in this heteronormative world, being LGBTQ was "queer"--  odd, ridiculed and in a sense... a tragedy.  Author Jane Ward is giving us a different perspective... After a life of observing heterosexuals and THEIR culture... she is drawing a different conclusion.  There actually is a tragedy to being heterosexual. Today we talk to her about her new book... aptly titled The Tragedy of Heterosexuality. Jane Ward is Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of California, Riverside, where she teaches courses in feminist, queer, and heterosexuality studies. She is the author of Not Gay: Sex between Straight White Men (NYU Press, 2015) and Respectably Queer: Diversity Culture in LGBT Activist Organizations. With co-host Brody Levesque.