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Mike Jones kisses and tells

In his new book, I Had to Say Something: The Art of Ted Haggard's Fall, the gay escort gives up the gory details of his relationship with the head of the National Association of Evangelicals. Beyond the kink is a narrative both personal and observant.
An Advocate.com exclusive posted May 15, 2007
Mike Jones kisses and tells

As the sun rose in the early-morning sky on November 1, 2006, Mike Jones sat quietly in his apartment, staring at the telephone. He was at the same time reluctant and eager, knowing that his life was about to change. Picking up the receiver before the second ring, he took a deep breath and was patched through as the guest on a local drive-time FM radio talk show. Jones, a gay escort from Denver, was about to break the cardinal rule of his profession--he was going public with the identity of a client.

The ink is still drying on the pages of the latest offering from Manhattan-based Seven Stories Press. In I Had to Say Something: The Art of Ted Haggard's Fall, Jones recounts, with the help of biographer Sam Gallegos, how his decision to speak out just before the midterm elections catapulted him into the public eye, changing his life and, perhaps, the face of national politics.

Within days of Jones's revelation, which dominated the national media cycle, Haggard disappeared from public life. He resigned from his role as the leader of the National Association of Evangelicals, came under investigation by his Colorado Springs–based megachurch, and checked in to an Arizona facility for "restoration" to address what he termed his “repulsive and dark” desires.

Most people will skim through this book to find the lurid details of Haggard's secret sex life; a rapid flip-through of the more titillating highlights must include pages 8, 113, and 174. Jones offers, however, much more. His narrative is personal and reads like a friend confiding cherished memories and deep personal introspection over an afternoon cup of coffee. He covers career, family, and hopes for the future. Jones is polite and intuitive, and above all, observant. These skills proved just as important in his work as physique, technique, and sexual versatility did.

The reader comes face-to-face with Haggard as he evolves over three years: from an over-wide grin with nervous eyes darting around the room, avoiding eye contact, faint features in the dark as tears well up during intimate silence, to a crazed, manic enthusiasm for thrill and release. This book exposes Haggard's vulnerability, which found its limited expression in the privacy of Jones's anonymous sanctuary.

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John Ireland has written for Newsweek, In These Times, t he San Francisco Chronicle, The Baltimore Sun, and The Tampa Tribune as well as The Advocate. He contributed to the book Losing It: The Virginity Myth.
Keywords:  Ted Haggard 
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Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Justin
    Date posted: 2009-01-30 12:39 AM
    Hometown: Van Doran

    Comment:

    I'm so tired of grown gay men wanting to play the role of victum. Mike Jones sucked Haggards dick and took it up the ass for cash; Jones should get over it. And this new jerk, Grant Haas, is just as bad. Haas is a grown man, all he had to do say is get out of my bed, or punch the Haggard. Just because he's a gay bitch-ass punk, doesn't mean that he deserves sympathy. He gets to play the victim role because he's efeminate. These two men make me sick; they destroyed a man's life just, because he was gay. But since Haggard had different religious and poilitical views they than liberal homosexuals..which just goes to show you that "GAY" is NOT a sexual orientation it's a political movement.


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