RH: Tell me about how you decided to do this book.
CG: It was a process. One of the criticisms I'm very aware of is
that I'm capitalizing on my brother's fame. Initially, I felt that I
couldn't write a book, because people would say that I was just
trying to make a buck. But my colleagues and peers, as well as
people that I met on the road, began telling me that I should write a
book because not everybody can go to a town hall meeting or see me
on TV, and I finally realized that they were right.
RH: How did you feel about doing the research and interviews?
CG: In all honesty, I was able to cheat a little bit, in that my
co-writer Chris Bull had just completed Perf
ect Enemies with John Gallagher, so he had a lot of
background information. I would express a feeling about something,
and he'd respond, "I have documentation for that." But it was still
very cathartic, although distressing, to go through the material and
find that my brother had said and felt things that were an affront to
me after he'd been informed that I was a lesbian, things I'd never
known before because I hadn't bothered to pay attention. That was a
huge wake-up call, but it came with the realization that he's not the
only one taking those positions.
RH: One of the things that interested me as soon as I started
reading is the success you had in ignoring Newt's policies for so long.
CG: Looking back, I think that if in 1987, Newt had said
something to mom about me besides, "It's her life, she has a right to
live it the way she wants to," something like, "Love the sinner, hate
the sin," maybe I would have felt the need to talk to him or do some
research about his beliefs. But I didn't feel the need. I had no desire
to become politically aware then.
RH: Ignoring the personal aspects of your political awakening for a
moment, do you see other members of our generation becoming
similarly active?
CG: I do. Obviously, my data is skewed, because when I go to
meetings or rallies, I generally get a crowd that's already active or
inclined to be active. But when I speak at colleges or high schools, I
see people even younger than we are realizing that something needs
to be done and they can do it. That's very encouraging to me.
RH: You seem to have kept in touch with your working-class
background instead of becoming a 'celebrity,' but it's clear that the
last year has changed your life significantly.
CG: I don't have anything but good thoughts about the
circumstances of my life. I'm not sure if I'd have been able to live
with myself knowing that I could have done something to make a
change and then not doing it. It's changed my lifestyle -- and I mean
that in the real sense of the word 'lifestyle' -- but I've matured with
it.
RH: And through your activism, you've become pretty good
friends with Chastity Bono.
CG: It's been very cool for both of us to have each other to talk
to about having a prominent right-wing relative that you have to
deal with. Her relationship's a lot more intimate, because she knows
her father a lot more than I know my brother, but it's still very
helpful to share our experiences.
RH: What are some of the other positive consequences of your new
fame?
CG: There are bonuses -- getting to meet certain people,
getting to be in certain places at the right time and experiencing
history -- but to me it's still about the feedback and the interactions
with the people out there. At an event recently, during the question
and answer period I was asked, "Where do you get your energy
from?" Most of it comes from people who come up to me and tell me
that I'm doing a great job or that they appreciate what I'm doing. If
people were criticizing me at every turn, or if I weren't getting any
feedback at all, it would be a lot harder for me.
