Ryan Kelly

Octagon in the Middle Ryan Kelly

The name Octagon is a perfect metaphor for the life shared on these pages. A multi-sided closed figure bound by straight lines. This book offers the opportunity to look inside the Octagon. To see for yourself that much of the behavior that homosexuals partake in, is the result of the biases and prejudices in our society. Hiding a life is an awesome task, most often accomplished with duplicity and lies, which in turn makes a part of that life invisible. In the beginning stages Ryan realizes that his sexual preference is unchangable, yet he struggles to fit in, to be just like everyone else. As time goes on he realizes that he still has sexual needs, and in satisfing those needs, he often finds himself in precarious and sometimes dangereous situations. After years of anonymous sexual encounters and alcohol abuse he makes the decision to change his life. In the end he has to make the biggest decision in his life. Gay or Straight?