Family Pride: What LGBT Families Should Know about Navigating Home, School, and Safety in Their Neighborhoods (Queer Action/Queer Ideas Book)

The overwhelming success of Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” YouTube project aimed at queer youth highlighted that despite the progress made in gay rights, LGBT people are still at high risk of being victimized. While the national focus remains on the mistreatment of gay people in schools, the reality is that LGBT families also face hostility in various settings—professional, recreational, and social. This is especially evident in rural communities, where the majority of LGBT families live, isolated from support networks more commonly found in urban spaces.

Family Pride is the first book for queer parents, families, and allies that emphasizes community safety. Drawing on his years as a dedicated community activist and on the experiences of LGBT parents, Michael Shelton offers concrete strategies that LGBT families can use to intervene in and resolve difficult community issues, teach their children resiliency skills, and find safe and respectful programs for their children.

COLAGE is a national movement of children, youth, and adults with one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer parent(s).

Foreword

Introduction

Part One: LGBT Families in Flux

1. The Diversity of LGBT Parents

2. The War on LGBT Families

3. Passing

4. The Stress of the Ideal Family

Part Two: The Challenges Confronting LGBT Families

5. Schools

6. Professional Services

7. Recreation and Leisure

8. Religious Institutions

9. The Legal System

Conclusion

Notes

Index