Performance artist Tim Miller has performed infront of audiences all over the world. This volume gathers six of his best-known performances that chart the sexual, spiritual and political topography of his identity as a gay man: ""Some Golden States"", ""Stretch Marks"", ""My Queer Body"", ""Naked Breath"", ""Fruit Cocktail"" and ""Glory Box"". Each performance script is illustrated with photographs and accompanied by Miller's notes and comments. The book explores the tangible body blows - taken and given - of Miller's life and times as explored in his performance: the queer-basher's blow, the sweet blowing breath of a lover, the below-the-belt blow of AIDS/HIV, the psychic blows from a society that disrespects the humanity of lesbian and gay relationships. Miller's performance are full of the put-up-your-dukes and stand-your-ground of such day-to-day blows that make up being gay in America.

Tim Miller sings that song of the self which interrogates, with explosive, exploding, subversive joy and freedom, the constitution and borderlines of selfhood.... You don't think you need to hear such singing? You do! You must! Read the book! - Tony Kushner, playwright of Angels in America, from the foreword ""The power of Tim Miller's performances lies in his sharp mind and gentle heart, his capacity for being angry and funny and self-critical all at once. One senses immediately that he can be trusted, even when he leads us into unknown territory. His passion is utterly contagious."" - Armistead Maupin, author of Tales of the City

Tim Miller is the author of the book Shirts & Skin and his performance texts have appeared in the play collections O Solo Homo and Sharing the Delirium. He teaches performance at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Theater and is co-founder of Performance Space 122 in New York City and Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica, California. In 1990, Miller was awarded a solo performer fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts and became known as one of the ""NEA Four"" when the grant was withdrawn under political pressure. He lives in Los Angeles.