"Gay men are just like everyone else."

"Gay men are inherently different."

Both statements contain truths. In the drive for equal rights and social acceptance, so many in the LGBT movement have emphasized gay peoples commonalities with straights. But what if gay mens differences were distinct gifts? What if gay men-and you-played important and singular roles in the human family?

From a perspective seldom considered in mainstream gay-or straight-culture, Raymond L. Rigoglioso, founder of Gay Men of Wisdom, takes a fresh and open-hearted look at the critical roles that gay men play in the...