A Queer and Pleasant Danger: The true story of a nice Jewish boy who joins the Church of Scientology, and lea ves twelve years later to become the lovely lady she is today

Kate Bornstein

May 2012 · Sold by Beacon Press

About this ebook

The stunningly original memoir of a nice Jewish boy who left the Church of Scientology to become the lovely lady she is today
 
In the early 1970s, a boy from a Conservative Jewish family joined the Church of Scientology. In 1981, that boy officially left the movement and ultimately transitioned into a woman. A few years later, she stopped calling herself a woman—and became a famous gender outlaw.

Gender theorist, performance artist, and author Kate Bornstein is set to change lives with her stunningly original memoir. Wickedly funny and disarmingly honest, this is Bornstein's most intimate book yet, encompassing her early childhood and adolescence, college at Brown, a life in the theater, three marriages and fatherhood, the Scientology hierarchy, transsexual life, LGBTQ politics, and life on the road as a sought-after speaker.

This ebook edition includes a new epilogue. Reflecting on the original publication of her book, Bornstein considers the passage of time as the changing world brings new queer realities into focus and forces Kate to confront her own aging and its effects on her health, body, and mind. She goes on to contemplate her relationship with her daughter, her relationship to Scientology, and the ever-evolving practices of seeking queer selfhood.


“A singular achievement and gift to the generations of queers who consider her our Auntie, and all those who will follow.”
—Lambda Literary

“Breathless, passionate, and deeply honest, A Queer and Pleasant Danger is a wonderful book. Read it and learn.”
—Samuel R. Delany, author of Dhalgren

Ratings and reviews

I found the early sections on Scientology an extremely engaging read that I couldn't put down. Later chapters were very good, just not as grab you to keep reading.

Moving, lifelike, insightful and honest. I identified with so much, even though we're so different. Loved the wordcraft and the ease of reading it. It was suspenseful, playful, touching and naughty. Deepest gratitude to you and yours. --a UU minister.

About the author

Kate Bornstein is an author, playwright, and performance artist whose work is in service to sex positivity, gender anarchy, and  building a coalition of those who live on cultural margins. Her work recently earned an award from the Stonewall Democrats of New York City and two citations from New York City Council members. She is the author of four award-winning books.