“Soulfully Gay: How Harvard, Sex, Drugs and Integral Philosophy Drove Me Crazy and Brought Me Back to God”
Joe Perez
Integral Books, 2007, 352 Pages

At A Glance: “Soulfully Gay” is a deeply personal memoir exploring the complex intersections of homosexuality, Christianity, mental health, and mysticism, as the author reconciles his Roman Catholic upbringing with his gay identity and experiences with addiction and AIDS.

Overview: “Soulfully Gay” by Joe Perez is a memoir that recounts the author’s journey as a gay man navigating the complex intersections of homosexuality, Christianity, faith, skepticism, mysticism, and mental health. As a recovering addict, survivor of a psychotic episode, and a person living with AIDS, Perez grapples with reconciling his Roman Catholic upbringing with his open gay identity, and distinguishing his authentic mystical experiences from the delusions that led to hospitalization.

This book offers an intellectually rigorous and insightful perspective on the challenges of being gay, combining deep theological understanding and a candid look at political correctness to explore the nuances of identity, belief, and self-acceptance.

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