Overview

On May 25th, 1976, in St. Louis, Missouri, a postal employee fell down an elevator shaft on his way to work and perished from the earth. That day, his closeted fifteen-year-old son's mind shattered. The shadow known as 'Elevator Boy' was born out of necessity to survive the tragedy. Pity is his sworn enemy, and rejecting it became his ultimate survival skill. Wearing shields of protective armor, like cool hair in the '70s or muscles in the face of AIDS, the shadow would fight anyone or anything that looked like sad-eyed condolences."" This autobiographical account takes readers on a journey from the highest highs to the lowest lows-presented with openness, candor, and raw honesty. ""Elevator Boy"" guides us through the author's early trauma, the streets of Hollywood in the 70s, and the era of AIDS, when print media thrived and local LGBTQ+ activists paved the way for the rights we have today-rights that are once again at risk. These pages contain lessons, pearls of insight, and delightful accounts of a rich and inspiring life journey.

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9798317814410

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Reviews

""Not many gay runaways can boast a transformation as remarkable as David M Stern. Told with such honesty, David's journey from a traumatically scarred Hollywood Boulevard hustler to respected publisher in a sea of sharks is both gut-wrenching and uplifting. All the while, his heart of gold guided and delivered him to tell his unbelievable story."" -- Louie Mandrapilias, author of Flew Too High ""This book is about a period of LGBTQ+ history that is vitally significant to all of us. David tells the story from a unique perspective with all the humanity intact and gleaming."" -- Don Kilhefner, LGBTQ+ rights activist, Jungian psychologist. ""Your style is like a word song where you take us through a time in our community that was as magical as it was painful."" -- Sam Smith, former Chairman of the Board, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. ""I love how the stories are connected to songs. I see this as a teaching tool for runaway youth to help them feel less alone. I can imagine you leading discussions about this at gay youth centers. Bravo!"" Dan Allen-Rowse - author of Foreign to Me ""Your book arrived in my hands at precisely the right time in my life. It is not only eminently readable and entertaining but also compelling and transporting for me. You are a master. All people need this book. I can't put it down."" John P. - A husband dealing with the trauma of his spouse's Alzheimer's

Author Information

David M Stern spent over 25 years building platforms for the LGBTQ+ community. He co-founded IN Publications-which later acquired its competitor, Frontiers Media, publisher of Frontiers magazine, the Gay and Lesbian Yellow Pages. Mr. Stern founded the Frontiers Awareness and Education Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to training the next generation of LGBTQ+ media professionals and their allies. He also created an events division that organized the first Lesbian and Gay Wedding Expo. Above all else, Mr. Stern considers himself to have the soul of a poet. He has published two books so far, a children's holiday book titled ""The Tailor's Gift,"" and his own remarkable memoir.

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