Review of
Melissa Etheridge "The Truth Is...My Life In Love and Music"
by Gabrielle

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SPOILER SECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO NOT READ IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE SPOILERS
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Family incest, nonmonogamous relationships, women who love men who decide to love women who at the last minute decide to love men again are all things our heroine and best gal rocker have encountered. The amazing thing I took away from this book is Melissa's passion and drive to create her music. Without a doubt it appears as if her music truly has been the therapy that has helped her navigate her emotionally tumultuous life.

Dare I discuss Julie? What the hell is up with this chick? She hits on our Melissa, makes the first move on Melissa, and then wants Melissa to hang out with her and her ex-husband. Then to top it all off, once she gets a divorce from the forever-infamous Lou Diamond Philips (otherwise known as the man who lost his wife to Melissa Etheridge) Julie feels the need to have sex with k.d. Lang. Excuse me?? How on Earth do you even bring this up to your partner? "Honey, I am unsure of my sexuality and this new relationship. I think I should have sex with the butch singer down the street. Is that ok with you while we build this new relationship?" What the hell? Then to top it all off, this chick cheats on Melissa with a man BEFORE they have their first child. I did mention to my partner that if I EVER behave this way she is to DUMP ME IMMEDIATELY (strangely enough she agreed whole heartily)!!!!!!!!!

I had a long term serious relationship with a man before I met my partner. I had never been with a woman before I met my soulmate. I really felt a connection with Julie Cypher and what I perceived to be her commitment to her life with Melissa. I know the challenges (as do many other women) of coming out later in life. My partner and I got tickets to the HRC Equality Rocks concert and had the time of our lives. It was so wonderful to see Ellen and Anne and Julie and Melissa there. The lesbian community had examples of what lesbian life could be like in today's society. It hurts to know now that all of that was a lie. It is hard to not to feel as if Anne and Julie used lesbianism and their partners for personal gain. Especially due to the fact that they both now claim to be "no longer gay." Last time I looked, people referred to that as BISEXUALITY! Perhaps they need to look a little closer at their place on the Kinsey Scale.

(For more read Gay No More or Wishful Thinking? in the Hot Topics section.)

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