 "An honest opinion" | 2009-09-02 |
| - Reviewed By User: ARSPHMXURVXFO |
| This book leans a lot toward the gay and lesbian agenda and it's not what I was initially looking for. However, it certainly shows a different perspective on homosexuality. |
| |
 "My son is gay..." | 2007-08-07 |
| - Reviewed By 19554evr |
When my son showed a general disinterest of women I wasn't too concerned after all most boys don't admit to liking girls and call them icky and say they have kookies and stuff. This hadn't changed even when he was in highschool though that's when I started to get worried. He had a different boy in the house almost every day and was always asking to have sleep overs at their house. They had sleepovers my house too sometimes. One night he had two boys over-Richard and Alexander.
Richard and Alexander were wearing blushon and wearing mesh tanked-tops that accentuated the chest area. Something just wasn't right with this picture. After it got dark I heard a cacophony of strangeness in his room and peeked inside. I couldn't believe my eyes. My son was being tortured by these weirdos! I bust up in the room and saved him from them.
I pulled Alexander off of him first and gave him a rapid-punch to the kidneys that took him down immediately. I followed that with a swift kick to the face that really floored him. Richard was trying to escape! I gave him a kick to the back and sent him flying down the stairs. I called the cops to make sure they arrested these 'nair'-do-wells.
In the mean time though, my son was in such shock from what happened that he was hopping around and making all these strange noises. I tried my best to calm him down. I had a horrible surprise coming to me though. The police arrested me by accident! When they were booking me they kept saying something like, 'hate-crime' over and over. I was given ten years in prison for defending my son.
Later my son told me that he liked what they were doing to them and I had made a big mistake. He got me this book to help teach me about it. Little did he know that where I was going I would get a masterclass in the subject.
|
| |
| "Understanding and accepting your gay child" | 2004-09-02 |
| - Reviewed By dnparkr |
The 30th anniversary of PFLAG is a fitting time for this updated edition. Former national vice president of PFLAG, Robert Bernstein has chronicled not only his own journey to acceptance and support of his lesbian daughter, but also the founding and continuing growth of PFLAG.
Moving stories of the founders and leaders of PFLAG blend with Bernstein's story. These tales underline the ability of loving parents to work together toward acceptance of their children's differences. Following their initial shock, guilt, and grief, all these parents have found their way to acceptance and respect for their special children. Their realization that this is still the child they love is the first great step. Most have gone on from this stage to help and support other parents through their early traumas and into the light and joy of truly sharing their children's lives. PFLAG plays a major role in all their lives. Many have become staunch advocates for equality and acceptance of their own and all other such children into the larger community.
Straight Parents, Gay Children includes stories of celebrities, politicians (even the Vice President of the US), and religious leaders of many faiths who have faced and accepted homosexuality for themselves or within their families. These highly visible community and national leaders stand in strong contrast to the homophobia and hatred so apparent in the public proclamations of other church and political leaders. A new chapter in this edition is devoted to these celebrities and other leaders.
Toward the end of the book is a "Survival Guide." It debunks the concept of guilt - that the parents "did something wrong" to make their child homosexual. This chapter presents arguments to overcome the shame and anger that usually erupt shortly after your child's announcement "Mom, Dad, I'm gay." You are led toward understanding and respect for your courageous child. And, if you are willing, you are led to publicly support not only your own child, but all who are subjected to marginalization due to their sexual or gender diversity.
Another new chapter in this edition, "Family Values," discusses gay and lesbian parenting. In "The Unreliability of Stereotypes," Bernstein discusses common stereotypes of policing, professional sports, and politics - where they are "...unmasked as, well, fairy tales."
As author Bernstein points out, "If you have a gay child, you are in the very best of company."
|
| |
| "Great for parents who want enlightenment" | 2003-03-03 |
| - Reviewed By cmacneil5 |
| And that's the problem with this book, if it's not read within its parameters. Robert A. Bernstein, inspired to write his book after his teenage daughter came out as a lesbian, has some wonderful examples of parental support of gay, lesbian, bi and transgendered children, and support for parents is the reason for the book. And the history of the parental group (P-FLAG) of such children is intriguing and informative. Certainly, just as gay and lesbian children need the support of their families, so their parents need their unique support systems. Unfortunately, parents who reject not only their childrens' "alternate" lifestyles but their children in whole, aren't likely to read Bernstein's book simply because they probably don't want to understand what they disdain for whatever reason. The real-life parent-child relationships posited here are wonderful, and it would be truly magnificent if all parent-child relationships could be as they are here. Additionally, the children in this book are older, not necessarily pre- and teenagers, thus exluding the parents of these age-specific issues. Further, many of the children cited here are usually on track toward personal and professional fulfillment, quite likely partly because of their parents' support. Unfortunately, a great many others, if not more, have either been fully abandoned by their parents and family or, if they haven't, don't have what could qualify as anything nearing a healthy relationship with their parents. By its title, Bernstein's novel is directed toward parents, and certainly they need support just as much as their children. But to conclude that all gay and lesbian children have their families' unconditional love and support would be a tragic mistake. Unfortunately, all too many parents, presumably affected by the fears and prejudices of homophobia, will likely never accept their childrens' alternative choices and will never have a need for a book like this. But for those parents who do, Bernstein's work is a wonderful beginning toward understanding. |
| |
| "Good for parents!" | 2002-03-05 |
| - Reviewed By syczylo |
I just finishing reading this book. It was a good read but it is more or less for parents to read. Don't get me wrong, I learned some things: what parents go through, some things on society, history of p-flag, and such but it was not all that I hoped this book would be.
The author uses lots of high profile people as examples in this book so it was hard for someone like me to figure out just where I stand in life. As it will probably be for parents to place their child among these people who are exampled. Most of the themes in this book are more adult rather than young teens to young adult.
It is a good attempt to give an overview of the "gay" world but it was not what I expected. I would recomend this book for parents of gay children who want to learn more about the life style, history, p-flag, ect.
But not to learn about their children. The only way to do that is to ask them yourself. |
| |
| "Many good stories" | 2001-08-26 |
| - Reviewed By thebro |
| Robert Bernstein's account of the development of P-Flag is emtional and inspiring. His book helps parents of gay children to learn about what gay means and how to accept their children. One flaw in this book is that all the examples he uses are men and women who have achieved high status as pretty much defined by society. Most of them are in "marriages", long-term relationships. All of this makes them look "just like" straight people. This position is only one of many taken by gay people and gay organizations. I wondered as I read this book where I fit in. None of those gay people were like me and I did not share many of their views. So where does that put gay people like myself in Bernstein's perspective? The book seems to whitewash much of the gay world. Bernstein does not seem to be in touch with the youth programs. As a volunteer in one of those programs, I can tesitfy that none of the teens in our project reflect the kind of gay people he described. That criticism aside, Bernstein's book attempts to fight bigotry and help straight parents climb the mountain, as one parent put it to dealing with their own issues and reaching out to their children in love. |
| |
Expedited Available
