Out There
Dispatches from My Personal Wilderness
Lance Garland’s revealing memoir Out There is about how, as a gay man raised in a fundamentalist Christian home, he sought a “cure” for his gayness by becoming a Navy SEAL, but later found the courage he needed to live an open life.
Throughout his life, Garland faced homophobia, institutional barriers, rejection, and a lack of self-esteem. His parents responded with shock and horror when he came out to them just before his twentieth birthday. At another time, discouraged, directionless, and drinking, he scavenged for jobs to get by and worked as a canvasser for an environmental nonprofit. But he also pursued physical adventures that are detailed in-depth, as with disturbing accounts of SEAL training exercises that took him and others beyond their limits. Later, he forged a career as a firefighter and developed a passion for mountaineering.
Garland emphasizes the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility in work and social environments, wherein a lack of representation means that negative stereotypes can fester. In addition to dissecting the effects of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policies, he writes about overcoming his fear of being recognized as gay to become a proud advocate for gay rights. He also found solace and healing in nature. He uses colorful and poetic language to describe nights on phosphorescent seas, the power and majesty of the mountains, and the intimacy of wilderness trails. His supportive family members, friends, mentors, work colleagues, and LGBTQ+ communities are also celebrated for the help they provided when it came to overcoming challenges that could not be handled alone.
Out There is a powerful memoir about a lifetime of work to overcome barriers to equality and inclusion.
Reviewed by
Kristine Morris
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
