Steven Petrow's Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners: The Definitive Guide to LGBT Life

Finally, the first big book of manners for the more than 15 million lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the United States and Canada and the people who love them, work with them, and live with them. Written by Steven Petrow, the go-to authority on the subject--he's the same-sex wedding expert at The New York Times and a columnist for The Huffington Post, Yahoo's Shine, GayWeddings.com, and the "Q" Syndicate (with distribution to more than 100 LGBT newspapers and websites)--this is the definitive book of LGBT etiquette.

Encyclopedic in its approach, filled with practical wisdom, lively wit, and much insight, Steven Petrow's Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners covers everything: from coming out to being out in the workplace; from dealing with the joy and complexity of same-sex weddings and commitment ceremonies (including how to propose and write meaningful vows) to handling the legal paperwork every couple needs. There's a chapter on sex etiquette, and another on the challenges and opportunities of raising a family, plus sections on travel, bullying, entertaining, meeting new friends, introducing your partner to your family, a primer on gay pride, and so much more.

Throughout there are hundreds of questions--some posed by LGBT folk, and others by straight people: What do the mothers of two brides wear to a lesbian wedding? What do you say to an anti-gay joke? How do you answer "Who's the father?" when there are two mothers?

Manners, yes, but with a twist.

Petrow, an author and columnist on LGBT manners, offers a book of manners for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered individuals, their straight friends, family members, and coworkers. He covers such topics as coming out, friendships, sex and dating, cohabitation, commitment ceremonies, starting a life, workplace etiquette, travel, illness and grieving, starting a family, parenting, correspondence, and social occasions. He also answers questions from both gay and heterosexual visitors to his website. Some page references in the index are off by one page due to a publishing error; a corrected index can be found on the publisher's website. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Steven Petrow, former president of the National Gay & Lesbian Journalists Association, is a syndicated writer on LGBT manners for The Huffington Post, Yahoo! Shine, LOGO, and the "Q" Syndicate. The same-sex wedding expert for The New York Times, he has also written for The Advocate, The Los Angeles Times, Salon, The Daily Beast, and Out.com. His previous books include The Essential Book of Gay Manners & Etiquette and When Someone You Know Has AIDS. He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Sally Chew has worked for magazines and websites from Vibe to Time Inc.'s Health.com. She lives in Brooklyn.