Gay In America by Scott Pasfield Chosen for the 2012 Rainbow Projects List
(American Library Association)

"Gay In America captures our diversity, our joys, and our loves—and the undeniable contribution we make to American culture."

"It's a diverse group, which is exactly the point of lenseman Scott Pasfield's captivating new book...Representing a remarkable range of race, class and age, the collection also spotlights gay families, including a father from Snellville, GA, along with the children who call him "Mommy with a beard," and members of a triad in Buffalo, NY, who say of their arrangement, "We highly recommend it!"

"Scott Pasfield's captivating new book, Gay in America, featur[es] images of 140 men from each of the 50 states shot against the backgrounds of their homes: a modernist living room in Manhattan, a nighttime beach in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, the battered backdoor of an apartment in Baltimore...a remarkable range of race, class, and age."

"Like the flag that flies over them, this tapestry of gay male testosterone is a field of stars, uniformly similar yet snowflake-unique in its genetic stitching—each star framed by the bold, ordered stripes of Pasfield's vision...glowingly, marvelously, fearfully individual. Visually, the book glows...presented with deceptive simplicity, identified by first names only, and their city and state...This seemingly rudimentary cataloging of subjects takes on a startling profundity: they are every man. And they are everywhere."

"Sprawling, moving, and lively, Scott Pasfield's Gay in America shows what being a gay male looks, sounds, and feels like in today's USA. An inspiring cross section."

"Gay in America is a validating explosion of raging positivity. Wish I'd had it when I came out."

"I wish I'd had a book like this when I was a gay Christian teenager. It would have helped me learn the truth a lot sooner- I'm just fine the way I am."

"The stereotype of gay men is that they all live in urban environments and prance around in designer clothing saying 'fierce' and giving straight women makeovers. We all know that in reality gay men are much more diverse and mundane. Here is a real picture of what today's gay world is like."

"[Pasfield's] stirring portraits and interviews of out and proud gay men living in all fifty states are intended to help young homosexuals seeking acceptance and understanding from others as well as from themselves...[Gay in America] encourages all who spend time with it, gay or straight, to be true to themselves."

"Within [Gay in America] lies the sprawling, expanding vistas that surround everyday men of every background, color, religion, size and shape in the good ol' USA. Proof we really are greater than the sum of our parts."

"For people living in communities where there are no comfortably out GLBT people, this is essential... This is one of the most important gay books a library can offer teens."

"If the 'It Gets Better' project is a great way to show bullied LGBT youth that there is life after high school, photographer Scott Pasfield's forthcoming Gay in America is the ultimate companion piece, filled with intimate photos and deeply personal stories from 140 gay American men."

"It's slowly being dismantled through increased visibility in the media and wider acceptance, but, like it or not, stereotypes surrounding the gay American male persist."

"I've had a chance to see the entire book and it's well worth the [price]."

"You'll find yourself compelled not only to check out Pasfield's sharp photography but also to read the subjects' personal stories of triumph and tragedy. Gay in America makes a potent cast that gay men in America are, ultimately, just people — copies should be sent to the politicians, pundits, and preachers who try to turn us into a collective boogeyman rather than acknowledging us as the individuals we are."

"The book features beautifully striking portraits of men, accompanied by their stories, which range from humorous to tragic...providing clear evidence that homosexuality and masculinity are not incompatible...a fascinating look at the impact of location on the gay experience...The book is not a refutation of the traditional gay stereotypes that are still present about the gay male community. Rather, it is a testament to the idea that there is no clear 'gay America.'"

"The book takes as its premise from a quote by Abraham Lincoln: 'I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.' From what we've seen, these local men are picture-perfect examples."