Silent Lives is helpful for personal journaling and sharing with relatives and friends, and is also very useful as a college text, therapy supplement, or a catalyst for group discussions.

The book combines autobiographical sources, personal interviews and questions for reflection to explore issues relevant to everyone's sexual orientation and gender status, be they heterosexual, or gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or inter-sexual.

L. Boesser examines the consequences a sexual minority person suffers when attempting to pass as heterosexual and/or as of a traditional gender expression.  Boesser also looks at how society as a whole is affected when an individual is pressured to hide his/her sexual identity.

Ten percent of the net proceeds from Silent Lives: How High a Price? are donated by the author to Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).