January 14, 2013
Family Pride: What LGBT Families Should Know about Navigating Home, School, and Safety in Their Neighborhoods
Robb C. Sewell READ TIME: 2 MIN.
If you look at popular media today, you'd think that families are mostly made up of a white mother and father, son and daughter, complete with a family dog. But that snapshot hardly depicts all families in America. A growing number of families are helmed by LGBT individuals, who must cope with their own unique struggles and challenges of rearing children either on their own or as part of a couple (or perhaps even a trouple). A new book by Michael Shelton, "Family Pride: What LGBT Families Should Know about Navigating Home, School, and Safety in their Neighborhoods," looks at these families and their unique circumstances and challenges. The book also provides concrete suggestions and advice so that LGBT families can flourish and prosper in today's world.
"Family Pride" is divided into two sections. The first part examines the state of GLBT families in society with chapters exploring often vicious attacks on LGBT families by antigay and hate groups, the complex diversity of LGBT families today, and the decision whether to come out as a queer family or to stay in the closet. Next, the book examines various challenges facing LGBT families, including education, professional services (health care, mental care), legalities, religion, and recreation and leisure.
"Family Pride" is an outstanding book that explores an important part of American families that the media and society often overlook. It provides compelling insight into LGBT families and offers advice that can help families and perhaps even change lives for the better. Throughout, the book seamlessly blends statistical evidence and compelling research with sobering and moving firsthand accounts of LGBT parents and their children. The result is a fascinating, insightful, and compelling exploration into LGBT families, their challenges, struggles, and triumphs. It is a must-read for LGBT families, LGBT individuals considering starting a family, and for professionals who work with such families.
Beacon Press
$16.00
Robb C. Sewell is a writer of fiction and nonfiction. His fiction has appeared in Toasted Cheese, Parlor, and Mississippi Crow. His novel excerpt, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," was nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize. When not crafting new stories and characters, and pitching his play Breeding Ground, he enjoys spending time with his husband Eric and their cats Tabitha and Sciuto in their new home in Collingswood, NJ, and practicing yoga and breath therapy.
