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Out There recounts one man’s search to lead an authentic life, an adventure that takes him all over the world and through some of the biggest societal changes of recent history. From a distance, this could be a typical American story: boy grows up in a religious home, joins the military to defend his country, returns home to attend university, then becomes a firefighter. That would be typical if it weren’t for the fact that he’s gay and was open in places that historically excluded people like him.
As a nineteen-year-old from a fundamentalist family, Lance Garland worked hard to qualify for Navy SEAL training, then sailed across the Pacific on a warship where he met his first boyfriend. After his partner was sexually assaulted by a superior, the two men became witnesses in a court-martial that was complicated by the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. After he was discharged from the Navy, Garland discovered time in nature as a way to heal from the experiences of his youth. While sailing, backpacking ,and climbing in the Pacific Northwest, he navigates the challenges of becoming a first-generation college student, equal rights activist, and the first openly gay fireman in the Seattle fire department.
Out There is a memoir of a man out in the wilderness, both physically and socially, on a journey to find a place to call his own. It is for anyone who has felt like an outsider or hasn’t found their place yet.
“I love this story. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. It pulled me right in. It’s strong and emotional but not sappy. I can’t recommend it enough."
— Bobbie Scopa, author of Both Sides of the Fireline: Memoir of a Transgender Firefighter
“Garland’s literary voice is not only timely. It is also critical at a moment in history when equity is threatened at every turn. His poetic, heartfelt, and often difficult experiences drive home the need for understanding and allyship around the world. Garland’s storytelling is brave, but more importantly he reminds us that resilience and belief in the human spirit are fundamental to progress.”
— Joanna Croston, author of Mountaineering Women: Climbing through History
“Garland’s story of heartbreak, persecution, and trauma from serving under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is as relevant as ever, with today’s LGBTQ+ troops again facing scrutiny or separation for their identities. His gorgeous prose is an important reminder of the lasting consequences of putting policy before people.”
— Emily Starbuck Gerson, editor of Modern Military Association of America
“Bold and enlightening.”— Brett Popplewell, author of Outsider: An Old Man, a Mountain and the Search for a Hidden Past
“Out There is the raw, courageous memoir of living openly as a gay man over varied inhospitable terrain, from the military to the firefighting world to wilderness expeditions. Garland’s courage during bootcamp, or climbing mountains, or racing to emergency scenes is never in doubt, but you will truly hold your breath when reading about the bravest act of all—his own self-acceptance. Out There is the template for those of us who need inspiration to explore the most wild and beautiful place, our own authentic life.”— Caroline Paul, author of The Gutsy Girl: Escapes for Your Epic Life of Adventure
“Garland’s story beautifully illustrates how our shared outdoor spaces can offer us more than just a connection to nature or a place to unwind our bodies. These spaces also provide opportunities for introspection and self-discovery as we navigate our personal journeys.”
— Becca Cahall, executive producer of the Dirtbag Diaries podcast
"Garland’s story explores queer identity and radical self-acceptance in inhospitable landscapes. This brave, refreshingly authentic memoir is a must-read for anyone who has felt othered, and an invitation to explore the wild and beautiful places within ourselves by stepping outside.”
— Britt Coy, North Cascades Institute
Prologue: Sacrificial Bone
Underwater
Surf Torture
Washed Out to Sea
Assaulted and Silenced
Discharge
Out of Desolation
Recession
Full Sail and Free
Solo
Drill School
Pride and Probation
Leave a Trace
Face the Flame
Our Nature
Out in the Open
Epilogue: A River Freed