Synopsis of text:
Coming from a restrictive Midwest Catholic background, S. struggles with a loss of faith that coincides with his awakening sexuality. After graduating from medical school, he risks coming out to his family and is immediately rejected. Feeling like a stranger in his own home, S. eventually finds love, purpose and friendship in L.A. Soon thereafter, a new, terrifying disease (that will later be identified as being caused by HIV) begins to sicken members of his community. In the setting of uncertainty and homophobia, S. is attacked and left for dead. Recovering, S. refuses to testify against his attacker whom he recognizes as someone who lives on the "down-low" whom he previously treated for thrush (a sign of AIDS). This radical act of forgiveness is read by his community as an act of betrayal and self-loathing, but S. truly sees it as an act of justice. Feeling once again like a stranger in his own home, he impulsively decides to abandon everything and live a monk-like existence in Africa healing the sick. This idea turns out to be as stupid as it is naively idealistic. He ends up in the middle of a civil war with no clear idea of what he will do or how he will do it. After his "rescue" by a tough French-African woman doctor, he follows her to Timbuktu and there in the Sahara discovers real acceptance for the first time and romantic love. The novel concludes with S's reexamination of his belief in God after he himself discovers that he has AIDS.

Fragments of text will be posted regularly at www.queerskins.blogspot.com. I hope they will inspire you to create new images or to repurpose old ones for this unique storytelling experience.

All images and videos will be used under a creative commons, attribution, non-derivative, non-commercial license. If your work is chosen, you will be credited on the site. I am open to many points of view.

My prior hybrid media novel (also free and under creative commons, non-commercial, attributive copyright) can be viewed at www.reconstructingmayakovsky.com. Thanks. Vera X.