Straight to Normal - My Life as a Gay Man

‘God is the reason why I am who I am. Nature is the reason why I am who I am. I don't want to die because of who I am.’ as a fifteen-year-old Sharif D rangnekar could not fathom why he felt aroused watching men dance in a jermaine Jackson music video. He soon found the ‘answer’ in a book that told him that this was just a Phase and it would end once he got married. He almost did. Straight to normal is the autobiography of a gay man who had to battle bouts of confusion vulnerability fear dejection and depression and also unlearn the normative definition of lust love and everything in between in order to thwart the desire to kill himself and find a reason to live. Through the twists and turns of hate and affection love and break-ups violence and near peace he finally finds the courage to speak for himself and others like him. After several failed attempts to write this book due to the fear of the law and society as a fifteen- old gay man who does not want to see a single person losing hope and life Sharif has written his story where he describes how he gained an identity but lost a near lifetime looking for love and companionship. Through this book he hopes that anyone who feels pressure to appear ‘straight’ finds the strength to be who they are.