I dreamt of a stranger — I remember, I remember

The Everyday Lives of Gay Men
Autoethnographies of the Ordinary
By Edgar Rodríguez-Dorans, Jason Holmes

Chapter 9 - I dreamt of a stranger
‘I dreamt of a stranger’ explores the effects of CSA (childhood sexual abuse) in the creation of the author’s sexual identity as a queer male. Delving into the personal experiences of the author, the auto-ethnographic essay embodies multiple voices, giving theatric form to images and echoes of trauma but also the experiences of growing up gay in an era of Section 28. There are depictions of cruising, camming, nightclub erotics as well as more harrowing images of public indecency and assault. The essay also explores the re-traumatising effects of going through a public trial as a witness, and the difficulty in disclosing CSA experiences.

Published October 2021 by Routledge

Click to read this essay and the other contributor’s via open access here.