Official Book Release

 

Straight Into Gay America:
My Unicycle Journey for Equal Rights
By Lars Clausen

Soulscapers; $16.95; Original Trade Paperback; July 2006;
ISBN: 0-9719415-1-3; 352 Pages; 6"x9";
Illustrations and BW Photos; Distributed by QP Distribution LLC,
www.straightintogayamerica.com

"Nothing less than a sacred journey… Lars Clausen reveals the painful and the awesome throughout his stories...We are on the brink of LGBT equality in this country, and we need more people like Lars to help make equality a reality for everyone…Straight Into Gay America is a light for the journey ahead and a bridge across the divide between straight and gay.

PFLAG Executive Director, Jody Huckaby


About the Book:
Lars Clausen unicycled from Vermont to Virginia to discover everyday LGBT life and share the stories he encountered. From anti-gay preacher Jerry Falwell to the gay-rights directors of HRC, PFLAG, and Soulforce, Clausen's personal journey as a Lutheran pastor forced difficult choices between the exclusionary status quo of his church and the inclusive commitment of Jesus.

In Straight Into Gay America people shared their lives with the Guinness World Record–holding pastor who unicycled 1,000 miles for equal rights.  Through roadside encounters and overnight stays, Clausen has crafted a story of everyday people living through the most polarizing political and religious battles of our times.

Clausen's purpose in creating Straight Into Gay America is to help build the wave of equality conversations in the United States. To help achieve this goal, Clausen is giving his book away free, one page a day, delivered by email.  Anyone who visits www.straightintogayamerica.com can receive pages and add to this conversation.

About the Author:
Writing expresses Lars Clausen's hope to foster community and discover a deeper personal honesty.  His first book, One Wheel – Many Spokes: USA by Unicycle is a "stepping out" story, and achieved space from his normal routines by unicycling through all 50 states while exploring Native land and history.  On the ride Clausen set two Guinness World Records. Straight Into Gay America: My Unicycle Journey for Equal  Rights, is a coming-out story, combining personal exploration with active advocacy for the kind of world that Clausen hopes we can become.

Clausen hold degrees in Mechanical Engineering from U.C. Berkeley and from Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois.  He is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. His Master of Divinity degree comes from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California.

Clausen lives with his family in Chelan, Washington, on the east side of the Cascade Mountains.  He is married to Anne and together they are raising their children KariAnna (12) and Kai (10).
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Book Specifications:
Title: Straight Into Gay America:
My Unicycle Journey for Equal Rights
Author: Lars Clausen
Publisher: Soulscapers
Price: $16.95 Original Trade Paperback
Copyright: 2006
Page Count: 352
ISBN: 0-9719415-1-3
Categories: Gay/Lesbian, Politics, Religion, Travel
Website:
www.straightintogayamerica.com

Additional information, including press quality images,
is available at
www.straightintogayamerica.com.

All Soulscaper titles are distributed by QP Distribution LLC.
888-281-5170

Contact:
Lars Clausen
PO Box 74
Chelan, WA 98816
lars AT straightintogayamerica.com