LGBT Book, Film & Video Blog

Sex researcher Fritz Klein’s novel about the causes of bisexuality is a long-winded drama that isn’t worth the effort.

By JERRY DANIELS, JR.
Friday, January 20, 2006

THE REWARD OF reading sex researcher Fritz Klein’s “Life, Sex, and the Pursuit of Happiness” is that he appears to dispel the long-held myth that a domineering mother and an absent or distant father create a gay or bisexual man.

Instead, the novel suggests either may produce an individual who sexually objectifies women, as in the case of married bisexual Randy Gold. Alternatively, he may become sexually impotent as does sex therapist and widower Paul Manes. A founder of the 1970s bisexual movement, Klein pairs Randy with Paul to tell a story about two men who learn to de-emphasize their erections and focus on sensuality and connecting with another.

At the same time, Klein’s story is loaded with implications on human sexuality, appearing less a novel and more a comparative case study at times, perhaps to sell his research on bisexuality.

That research, while not referenced in the book, includes Klein’s formation of a detailed sexual orientation grid, an alternative perspective to Alfred Kinsey’s research and development of the Kinsey scale (see related story on page 43).

More of Don’t bi the book @ Washington Blade, DC