How It Feels to Have a Gay or Lesbian Parent: A Book by Kids for Kids of All Ages

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Synopsis
Sometimes I fantasize about having a magic wand. How awesome it would be to wave it and completely eliminate prejudice, hate, and ignorance. Just imagine what it would be like to live in a world like that. How It Feels to Have a Gay or Lesbian Parent: A Book by Kids for Kids of All Ages gives voice to the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of children, adolescents, and young adults who have a gay or lesbian parent. In their own words, they talk openly and candidly about how and when they learned of their parent&’s sexual orientation and the effect it had on them-and their families. Their stories echo themes of prejudice and harassment, conflict and confusion, adaptation and adjustment, and hope for tolerance and a family that can exist in harmony. "Because it&’s an issue for other people, it becomes an issue for me. I&’m angry about the way it works against me." The stories told in How It Feels to Have a Gay or Lesbian Parent not only reflect the day-to-day struggle of children with a GLBT parent, they also reveal the pain inherent in high-conflict divorce and child custody cases. Children of gay/lesbian parents ranging in age from seven to 31 recall the confusion and grief created when the disclosure of their parent&’s true sexual orientation ended a marriage and divided a family. The "straight" parent&’s resentment can lead to angry remarks that-intentionally or unintentionally-disparage the gay/lesbian parent and threaten the natural love and affection the child feels for both. "I guess the hardest part about having a gay dad is that no matter how okay you are with it, there&’s always going to be someone who will dislike you because of it." The one-on-one interviews presented in How It Feels to Have a Gay or Lesbian Parent document first-hand the effects of homophobia on family life. Children struggle with the choice between living in a closet, shamed by peers and family members, or dealing with discrimination as a parent&’s sexual orientation is used against them. Taken together, these stories make a statement for acceptance, understanding, and tolerance as children do their best to make the transition from a traditional family to a nontraditional lifestyle. "My mom is a normal person just like everyone else. The only thing that&’s different about her is that she&’s gay and if you can&’t deal with it, you&’re just going to have to live with it." How It Feels to Have a Gay or Lesbian Parent: A Book by Kids for Kids of All Ages offers comfort and support to children from those who share their journey. The book is a valuable aid for practitioners working with children of GLBT parents and an educational tool for GLBT adults considering children.
Copyright:
2005

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
Book Size:
130 Pages
ISBN-13:
9781135023058
Related ISBNs:
9781560234203, 9780203708156, 9781560234197
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
Routledge
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
Nonfiction, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender, Social Studies, Sociology
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

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