| As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Jo came out much later in life, after 20+ years of marriage to a man—to a wide array of different points of view from others who also came out later. The memoir explores her experiences and informs much of the ideas in this unique volume of writing. One part memoir, one part social discussion, and every part honest, Jo’s voice is unique–and her experiences inform much of the conversations she has about coming out.
In fact, coming out is only the beginning. Once out, Jo explores the many different ways members of her community may have a slow, sometimes painful journey to their authentic life. With honesty, humor, and deep insights, Surviving the Closet is essential reading.
With both humor and insight, Surviving the Closet is essential reading for anyone—gay or straight. The right of women and all people with non-conventional sexual orientations or gender identities to live a safe and open life is a story of global human rights and a celebration of diversity.
Publication Date: November 7th 2023
Price: $25.99
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-7389452-2-1
About the Author: JO DELUZIO:
Jo(anne) DeLuzio was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. She attended Western University in London, Ontario where she graduated with her Master of Clinical Science, with a speciality in audiology. Jo has practised audiology in a variety of facilities around the Greater Toronto Area for the last 40 years. She also holds a PhD in Speech-language Pathology from the University of Toronto. Currently, Jo teaches in the graduate program of Speech-language Pathology at the U of T.
Outside of the audiology world, Jo writes about the oppression of people who are LGBTQ+ both in Canada and globally. In her spare time, Jo enjoys bowling with her wife in a gay league. She is a terrible bowler but finds validation and acceptance in gay spaces. She currently resides in Toronto, Ontario with her wife and her two youngest children, who are currently learning about the process of adulting. Jo has had the privilege of parenting six children, and she considers surviving all those teenage years as one of her most remarkable accomplishments.
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Jo is available for interviews. Discussion points include:
- Many women are coming out later because their kids are grown and/or they grew up in an era when it wasn’t acceptable to be gay.
- Women of a certain age were programmed as little girls to be kind and helpful, serving their family, their husband, and in many cases, their God.
- Sexuality can be fluid in women, and sometimes women don’t understand their sexuality until they are older.
- Sexual and gender identity can unfold slowly, and feeling safe and comfortable in one’s own skin can take a lifetime.
- In some cultures, and some countries, coming out can mean isolation, harassment and even death.
- “As a child, I adored the beautiful thick hair and impossibly wide eyes of all the Disney princesses. Looking back, I am not sure if I wanted to be a princess, or if I just wanted to be with one. I have survived the closest. Life is indeed a journey.”—Jo Deluzio
- Many celebrities have started coming out later in life. Glennon Doyle (40), Rebel Wilson (age 43), Wanda Sykes (age 44),Cynthia Nixon (age 38) are a few examples. It was Nixon who said, “Falling in love with my wife was one of the great delights and surprises of my life, but it didn’t seem like I became a new person, or like some door had been unlocked. It was like, I have fallen in love with different people in my life and they’ve all been men before. This is a woman and she is amazing.”
- In contrast to much of the contemporary queer literature predominantly authored by younger voices within the queer community, Surviving the Closet can provide an insightful and relatable perspective from someone with more life experience that older members of the community are seeking to read.
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About RE:BOOKS:
RE:BOOKS, a prominent independent publishing house in Toronto, was established by renowned 10x bestselling author, Rebecca Eckler. With a mission to champion the idea that “what’s good is read and what’s read is good,” RE:BOOKS is dedicated to delivering captivating stories that even Eckler herself would love to devour. No book snobs allowed!
RE:BOOKS helps women get their books published—from the big idea to the bestsellers’ list. No excuses. No sugarcoating. By curating the most exciting titles in Canadian publishing, they continue to inspire readers, offering a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction titles.
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