By Ken Tasho (EDGE Contributor) August 8, 2008
When asked by straight people the inevitable question Are You Guys Brothers?, author Brian McNaught laughs it off and tells people that his look-alike partner is actually his spouse. Things weren't always so genial when asked the question in the past. In McNaught's account of his relationship with Ray Struble there are discussions of sexual abuse, alcoholism, and spirituality.
Most chapters in the highly recommended Are You Guys Brothers? are broken out into McNaught's ideas on various topics, from religion, safe sex, aging gay men, and his feelings for his life-long partner Ray. In one of the more intriguing segments, McNaught talks about homosexual men vs. gay men. Is there a difference? McNaught believes so and it may make you think twice when he talks about two similar terms he suggests have very different definitions.
Growing up in conservative families has made Brian and Ray resilient about their relationship. Brutal honesty is a feature of the book and McNaught is upfront about his and Ray's sex life, even bringing up a brief 3-way relationship they were in. However, he doesn't dwell on such life experiences.
The themes in Are You Guys Brothers? are universal and can be used as a guide for both single gays looking for some insight on relationships and those already partnered but in need of a boost. One hopes the straight world reads McNaught's memoir and sees that we're not all monsters and we do all really want to be loved.
McNaught gives us single gay guys hope that there is a soul mate out there for all of us.