Reading for families:
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Is It A Choice. Eric Marcus. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. 1993. ISBN 0-06-250664-1.
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Now That You Know. Betty Fairchild and Nancy Hayward. New York: Harcourt Brace and Company. 1989. ISBN 0-15-667601-X.
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My Son, Beloved Stranger. Kate McLaughlin. Boise, Idaho: Pacific Press Publishing Association. 1995. ISBN 0-8163-1257.
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The Family Heart: A Memoir of When Our Son Came Out. Robb Forman Dew. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. 1994. ISBN 0-201-62450-8.
What happens when a mother finds out her son is gay? Robb Forman Dew's account of that moment in her life, and of the subsequent journey she makes with her family from confusion to a clear and powerful commitment is an extraordinarily honest examination of maternal, family, and community attitudes toward homosexuality. The author wrestles with her own mistakes and dreams, and moves us to reflect on the American attitude in general.
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Christians and Homosexuality: Dancing Toward the Light. Dee Dee Risher & Douglas Davidson, editors. The Other Side. Special Issue: 1994. (300 West Apsley Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144).
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From Wounded Heart: Faith Stories of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered People and Those Who Love Them. Roberta Showalter Kreider. Gaithersburg, Maryland: Chi Rho Press, Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-888493-15-1.
Subtitled "Faith Stories of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered People and Those Who Love Them," these 50 stories are divided into two sections: the first 31 are by GLBT people, and the last 29 are by "those who love them." The forward is written by Peggy Campolo. The editor, Roberta Kreider, says, "I pray that all who read this book can know that I truly am seeking to follow God in the way Jesus modeled. I want every reader to know that even if you do not agree with me, I trust that you also are sincerely seeking to follow God's way. None of us has all the right answers. My hope is that we can keep searching for the truth together and trusting that God will guide us all.
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Coming Out As Parents. David K Switzer. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press. 1996. ISBN 0-664-25636-8.
This book is for parents of gay or lesbian children, as well as for pastoral counselors and clergy engaged in family outreach. Children, too, can benefit from understanding their parents' struggles with this issue. It helps parents understand their feelings and reactions when they discover that their child is gay or lesbian and clarifies what it means to be homosexual. The author, Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Theology at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, explores recent scientific, social, and biblical information about homosexuality, emphasizes the need for reconciliation, and deals with common parental responses to a child's disclosure. A listing of additional resources is provided.
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When Husbands Come Out of the Closet. Jean Schaar Gochros, Ph.D. Harrington Park Press. 1989.
A look into the closet of isolation occupied by the wives of gay or bisexual men, women whose lives have been shattered and rebuilt. Practical suggestions for dealing with their feelings of confusion, stigma and loss. Based on Dr. Gochros' research in this area.
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Where Does a Mother Go to Resign? Barbara Johnson. Bethany Publishing House. 1979.
A classic story of a mother who discovers her son is gay. Barbara had already lived through her husband's life-threatening accident and the death of their two oldest sons, but it was finding gay literature in the bedroom of her third son that put her in bed for six months with severe depression. Barbara has gone on to become a best-selling author and popular public speaker who has brought comfort to thousands.
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A Father's Story. Edmund Hansen. Order from the author at 2413 Nantucket Field Way, Sun City Center, FL 33573. Send check or money order for $12.70.
A poignant personal experience.
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Prayers for Bobby. Leroy Aarons. Harper Collins. 1995.
Bobby Griffith was an all-American boy. . .and he was gay. Faced with an irresolvable conflict - for both his family and his religion taught him that being gay was "wrong" - Bobby chose to take his life. This is the story of the emotional journey that led him to this tragic conclusion. And it is also the story of Bobby's mother, a fearful churchgoer, who first prayed that her son would be "healed," then anguished over his suicide, and ultimately transformed herself into a national crusader for gay and lesbian youth.
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The Slow Miracle of Transformation. Mary Lou Wallner. TEACH Ministries. 2003.
Late at night on February 28, 1997 Anna, the 29-year-old daughter of Mary Lou Wallner, hung herself in her closet, using her dog's chain leash. In this book, Mary Lou courageously shares the painful lessons she has learned in the wake of this tragedy. "I am moved and disturbed by Mary Lou's story. In this polarizing issue, she occupies an important middle ground that both sides - and all of us in between - desperately need to hear," says Philip Yancy, well-know evangelical author.
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Friends and Family: True Stories of Gay America's Straight Allies. Dan Woog. New York: Alyson Books. 1999. ISBN 1-55583-491-4.
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14. |
Virginia Cason -More Than A Daughter. Katie Tonn-Oliver. Women of Spirit, Winter, 1996.
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15. |
More Love Than Ever. Debbie Hallinsky. Guideposts, January, 1999.
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