News
2006-09-20
Nation's first
openly gay governor embarks on book tour
McGreevey
launches book tour
Former New Jersey
governor James McGreevey, who resigned i
Former New Jersey
governor James McGreevey, who resigned in 2004 over a
gay extramarital affair, is touting his newly released
memoir Tuesday with an appearance on Oprah Winfrey's
show and a nationwide book tour. His book, The
Confession, hits stores Tuesday, coinciding with
the airing of his hour-long interview on the
Chicago-based television show.
McGreevey, 49,
who announced his resignation on August 12, 2004, writes
in the book that he was forced to quit after a man he loved,
who was put on the state payroll as homeland security
adviser, threatened to reveal the governor's
homosexuality unless he was paid millions to stay quiet.
Two years later, McGreevey says he's moved on and is now in
a committed relationship with Australian-born
financier Mark O'Donnell.
McGreevey on
Tuesday acknowledged that his book contains some "messy,
shameful, sinful" passages, adding that he felt he had to
come clean about his personal and political life. "The
danger is when people have to act out in dark
shadows," McGreevey said. "If people can be who they
are in the bright light of day, can celebrate their
uniqueness, their individuality in public, and be held to
the same rules, that's what promotes a moral fabric in
a society." (AP)
(An exclusive
interview with Jim McGreevey appears in the October 10
issue of The Advocate, on newsstands September
26.)
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