By Julianna Fields, $22.95; Mason Crest, Publishers; 65 pages
The scene is familiar to every LGBT teen who first accepts his, her or their sexual orientation. The confusion is daunting. Where could they turn to for guidance if they want to have children? Who can they ask? This new book, Gay and Lesbian Parents: The Changing Face of Modern Families has those answers and many more.
Julianna Fields has written a book that uses clear-cut facts for LGBT couples wishing to have children and LGBT allies wishing to know a different point of views.
Starting from a survey conducted to show the status of acceptance of LGBT families, Fields springboards into a slew of heavily researched topics such as homosexuality and parenting, two mothers, two fathers and parents who come out of the closet. Each section showcases actual people in actual relationships, dictating their beliefs as well as joyous moments and missteps of being LGBT parents. The author slips in insightful and/or frank commentary to complement the truthful quotes.
Stereotypes are a big part of the book, and they are dispelled left and right. For a guide that serves as an above-and-beyond resource, the dispelling of myths throughout the sections are like whipped cream on top a fabulous cake.
The "Find Out More" section also has a list of books that people can read for an in-depth revisit to the same topic, or to explore a different side of the issue.
Through dialogues, readers will feel for the people that open their lives to readers. Readers will learn much historical information about many aspects of the LGBT community, though mostly about families, and any reader, straight or LGBT, should enjoy in the accessible content and words of wisdom as told by various interview subjects.