This work studies recent cinematic and television depictions of gays and lesbians. But in more recent years, thanks in part to the success of such films as Philadelphia, The Birdcage, To Wong Fu and In & Out, and television programs such as Will & Grace, a collective effort is underway to construct a positive new public image for gays and lesbians. In the past, representations of alternative lifestyles on film were, even in their most explicit forms, faint and ambiguous, and the television industry was even more conservative. If others fail to see you that way, consider it their loss.
Hateful knee-jerk phrases can stick in your mind, like a worn-out song you never liked in the first place, but you should learn to see yourself as beautiful and wonderful. Try to inform others and get along with others, but never base self-acceptance on whether others accept you. From "Reactions to Homophobia": Treat other people's insecurities as their weakness, not as a reason to hate yourself or remain silent. Though Holding Me Together focuses heavily on gay themes, it also examines universal themes and will appeal to countless readers. Many of the poems and essays in this collection also appeared in various magazines and newsletters. It also includes several new or newly revised works. This revised, second edition begins with an updated version of his multi-part essay "Reactions to Homophobia," followed by poems and short essays on a variety of topics, such as writing, AIDS, religion, violence, family, friendship, and gay relationships. Simolke's publisher, iUniverse, named it an Editor's Choice selection.
The first edition of Holding Me Together received a StoneWall Society Pride in the Arts Award.