Beyond Acceptance: Parents of Lesbians & Gays Talk About Their Experiences - Softcover

Griffin, Carolyn W.; Wirth, Marian J.; Wirth, Arthur G.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312167814 ISBN 13: 9780312167813

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, 1997

Synopsis

"Mom, Dad, I'm gay." When a parent hears these words, the initial shock is often followed by feelings ranging from anger and denial to fear and guilt. It's also the beginning of a difficult journey that, with understanding and emotional support, can lead to acceptance and beyond.

Now fully revised and updated, Beyond Acceptance by co-authors Carolyn W. Griffin, Marian J. Wirth, and Arthur G. Wirth remains a ground-breaking book that provides parents the comfort and knowledge they need to accept the gay children and build stronger family relationships. Based on the experiences of other parents, this book lets them know they are not alone and helps them through the emotional stages leading to reconciliation with their children.

About this title

Review:

"Every happy family is alike, and every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way," wrote Leo Tolstoy. Families dealing with a child's homosexuality are certainly forced by a homophobic culture to experience a whole range of unhappiness. Beyond Acceptance deals with a variety of issues facing heterosexual parents of gay children, from facing what the neighbors will say to worrying about AIDS and social ostracism to feeling angry and guilt-ridden.

Various people speak about how they came to their misinformed views about gayness, their religious beliefs, their fears that friends will abandon them after finding out about their child's homosexuality, and their anxieties about AIDS. Often people find similar solutions to their problems, and sometimes different ones, but in all cases the message is that understanding, love, and a need to own up to, and dispense with, ignorant homophobic attitudes can bring families back together in a wholesome and nurturing manner. Frank, informed, and filled with insights and practical suggestions, Beyond Acceptance is a fine addition to the literature on homophobia and families. --Michael Bronski

About the Author:

Carolyn W. Griffin, Marian J. Wirth, and Arthur G. Wirth are co-authors of Beyond Acceptance: Parents of Lesbians and Gays Talk about Their Experiences.

Brian McNaught is an award-winning writer, sexuality educator, and consultant on the issues facing gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. He has trained several thousand employees of AT&T and Bell Communications Research (Bellcore) on the topic of "Homophobia in the Workplace." Since 1974, Mr. McNaught has spoken at nearly one hundred universities and has produced numerous educational materials on homosexuality and on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). From 1982 to 1984 he served as the Mayor of Boston's liaison to the gay and lesbian community.

Mr. McNaught is the author of the popular book On Being Gay: Thoughts on Family, Faith, and Love (St. Martin's Press). He received his degree in journalism from Marquette University in 1970. A native of Detroit, Mr. McNaught now resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

About this edition

• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0312167814
• ISBN 13: 9780312167813
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 256