Acknowledgments
I am indebted to many people and institutions that have contributed throughout the research and development of this book. Francesca Cancian and David John Frank were exemplary mentors at the University of California, Irvine. Francesca’s research on love in America and expertise in qualitative methods were influential in this project. She believed in my work and helped me find my voice and keep it. David John Frank also offered invaluable mentorship throughout the research and writing phases of this book. Not only is he a tenacious academic; he also delivers on his mentor-for-life philosophy, time and time again. David forced me to grow as a scholar and fall in love with researching love and sex. Judith K. Treas, Tom Boellstorff, and Belinda Robnett provided insightful comments on gender, sexuality, and intimate relationships throughout the research process. Meg Barker was keenly supportive during several stages of research and writing.
Dozens of students in Southern California took an interest in my research and offered their time, effort, and expertise as research assistants. A fond memory involves our research team’s walking down Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood during the annual Los Angeles LGBT pride parade wearing handmade red “Sex Researcher” T-shirts and