Libraries Will Get Free Book For Gay Teens

A crucial new book for gay teenagers is available free to libraries
through a special offer by the publisher.

The book, entitled _Two Teenagers in Twenty_, is a new edition of _One
Teenager in Ten_, originally issued by Alyson Publications in 1983.  The
collection of essays by gay and lesbian youth was praised by _Publishers
Weekly_, _Booklist_, _Wilson Library Bulletin_, and other reviewers, and
soon appeared on many young-adult reading lists.  Editor An Heron has
expanded the new edition with nineteen new essays that reflect the
realities of being young and gay in the 1990s.

The new release creates mixed feelings for Heron, who was editor of both
editions.  "The new title was meant to show that more and more teenagers
identify as gay or lesbian.  We origianally hoped it would symbolize
another cahnge:  that it was easier now for gay young people to find one
another.  Unfortunately, that was not the case.  The sense of isolation
and despair in the stories I receive in 1993 was even stronger than a
decade ago," said Heron.  Tragically, in fact, one contributor committed
suicide before the book went to press.

"Eleven years ago, when we published _One Teenager in Ten_, we wanted to
go one step further," added publsiher Sasha Alyson. "We started a free
pen pal service for gay and lesbian teenagers, and announced it in the
back of the book.  Thousands of kids have benefitted.  Some have written,
years later, to say that this service saved their lives."

"With this new book, we wanted to do still more," continued Alyson.  "So
here's our offer: We'll send a free copy of _Two Teenagers in Twenty_ to
any public or school library that requests it.  By taking advantage of
this free offer, librarians could be offering a vital lifeline to some
teenager on the brink of despair."

The offer is good through July 30, 1994, said Alyson.  Requests must be
made on library letterhead and are limited to one book per library.
_Two Teenagers in Twenty_ will be published in hardcover with a
normal retail price of $17.95.