Sara L. Boesser is an Alaskan human rights advocate. Boesser earned a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Washington.

• Chapter 1 PrefaceChapter 2 AcknowledgmentsChapter 3 Introduction to the AuthorChapter 4 Part One: The Personal Price of Silence: What Are the Personal Costs for Individuals Who Pass as Heterosexual?: Secret Lives: The Veil of Silence; What is the Price for Children Who Realize They Are "Different"?; What is Passing's Price as IndividuaChapter 5 Part Two: The Fabric of Our Lives: What Are the Costs to Society?: What Are the Ripple Effects When People Pass? How do the Societal Pressures that Demand Passing Hurt Everyone?Chapter 6 Conclusion: Silent No More: The Personal; The Political; Beyond Silence; Everyone Can Come Out, A-ZChapter 7 Contact Information: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG); Bisexual Resource Center; Transgender: The International Foundation for Gender Education(IFGE); Intersex Society of North American (ISNA); Straight Spouse Network (SSN)Chapter 8 EndnotesChapter 9 ReferenceChapter 10 IndexChapter 11 About the Author

Silent Lives is a graphic and accurate description of the high costs of the closet, not just to individuals but to society, written by a human rights activist who knows what she's talking about. Frequently posed, thought-provoking questions make this book appropriate for group discussion. I highly recommend it for people who sincerely want to know what they can do to further the cause of justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gender, and intersexual people.