Jamie Goldberg, newly out of the closet in 1980 Detroit, thinks coming out would solve his problems. Yet, allusive darker traumatic secrets seem to linger. He discovers human sexuality is more complex than merely gay vs straight. He also learns the struggles of suicidal thoughts, low self-esteem, and sexual acceptance only begin with coming out. In short, he realizes coming out appears to pose more problems than it solves. Sometimes he is sustained only by his own wry sense of humor, love of music or the theater. Eventually a cast of Detroit characters accept him as he is, even if he does not, which prepairs him for a date with his past he cannot escape. That confrontation threatens to damn him or possibly redeem him.
