Author Description

About the Book: Gaysia: Adventures in the Queer East While Asia, by dint of its enormous population, must logically be home to more gay people than any other continent, it is also the place where we are least likely to read about them. Till this book came along. 'Of all the continents, Asia is the gayest. Deep down, you've probably had your suspicions all along, and I'm here to tell you those suspicions are correct.' So begins Gaysia, Benjamin Law's wildly witty investigation of gay life in the biggest continent. We follow him as he takes an in-depth look at resorts for gay nudists in Bali; transexualism and three formal genders in Thailand; China's underground gay resistance; Japan and 'the most breathtakingly messed-up porn'; religious fundamentalists of all persuasions keen on 'curing' homosexuality in Malaysia; sex workers and the spread of HIV in Myanmar; and the decriminalisation of homosexuality, gay pride parades and encounters with gay royalty and a popular spiritual guru in India. Hilarious, perceptive, and poignant, Gaysia is a refreshing look at an aspect of Asia that has gone ignored too long. About the Author: Benjamin Law Benjamin Law is a Brisbane-based writer and a frequent contributor to Frankie, The Monthly, Qweekend and Good Weekend. He has written for over 50 Australian and international publications (including The Australian Financial Review, The Big Issue, Smith Journal, Sunday Life, Crikey and Travel and Leisure: South East Asia) and has been anthologized in The Best Australian Essaystwice. His debut book The Family Law (2010) was shortlisted for Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards Reviews Not just a delightful romp through the seedy bars, luxury hotels and courtrooms of Asia-it also, without any cloying sentimentality, tells the touching story of entire cultures slowly learning to accept and proclaim who they actually are.- Mihir S. Sharma 'Gaysia is like a Louis Theroux documentary in book form'- Books+Publishing 'Benj