Based on over six years of fieldwork, Sandra L. Faiman-Silva's The Courage to Connect traces the transformation of the well-known Cape Cod community of Provincetown from its nineteenth century origins as a Portuguese fishing town to its present status as a welcoming, sexually diverse tourist enclave. The book critically examines the history of the Portuguese ethnic community and the local economy, as well as the nature of intersections between gay and straight culture in areas such as public education, local government, and the police. Using queer and critical culture theory to deconstruct day-to-day local encounters, it lays bare the roots of social conflicts and how they can be resolved. Capturing the pathos and joy of a community that has struggled to accommodate radical social changes, The Courage to Connect serves as a model for understanding how communities can construct themselves to overcome their differences.
