Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

MOMBIAN Showcasing images, experiences of people with LGBTQ parents
by Dana Rudolph
2017-10-04

This article shared 1081 times since Wed Oct 4, 2017
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


Award-winning photographer Gabriela Herman knew that for her new book, The Kids: The Children of LGBTQ Parents in the USA, "the images would be portraits of the children, with no one else in them." She wanted to show what life with LGBTQ parents "is like through their eyes."

That vision has given us a striking, powerful book of 75 images and essays that remind us never to forget the perspectives of the children in any discussion of LGBTQ families. It should become a must-have for LGBTQ parents and their older children as well as for schools and libraries interested in supporting them.

Herman's subjects come from all over the country, from areas urban and rural, liberal and conservative, and in all shades of skin. Some, like her, are children of parents who divorced when one came out or transitioned; others are part of families created by already-out LGBTQ people. Some are biologically tied to their parents and others are not.

They range from college age to middle age, testament to the fact that LGBTQ people have been raising children for much longer than many think. Herman didn't seek out younger children, she said in an interview, because she wanted to make sure her subjects "had the language to talk about their experience." Each person offers a short essay next to their photo in which they describe what growing up with an LGBTQ parent or parents was like for them. Not all found it easy, and to her credit, Herman doesn't edit out the difficult journeys some had in a world of minimal information, misinformation, and bias about LGBTQ families. Nevertheless, the children's resilience and ultimate love of their families shines through.

Her own experience reflects those struggles. When Herman was in high school, more than 20 years ago, her own mom came out. It was "traumatic" at first, Herman said. "I resented her and her partner for a while and didn't feel comfortable discussing it with anyone." She and her mom barely spoke for a year.

By the time her mom married her new partner, however, "things had been patched up a bit," and Herman went to the wedding—one of the first legal same-sex weddings in the country. Now, "Our family is still strong and together," she said, and they all go on vacation with her dad and his girlfriend.

She knew that her family's success story was a privilege, though—and seven years ago, that led her to envision a project about other people with LGBTQ parents, drawing on her skills as a commercial photographer. Around the same time, her sister connected with COLAGE, the national organization for people with LGBTQ parents, and invited Herman to one of their gatherings. It was the first time Herman had met anyone else with LGBTQ parents and realized, "I'm not alone."

She began photographing people she met through COLAGE and through friends. In 2015, she sought publication of the project to coordinate with the U.S. Supreme Court's marriage equality ruling, and both the New York Times Sunday Review and the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper ran excerpts. Herman knew the project wasn't over yet, though. People with LGBTQ parents began seeking her out after the newspaper coverage, and she kept shooting. Last summer, she connected with The New Press, a non-profit publisher with a focus on using books for social change, which is now publishing her book as part of their ongoing series about LGBTQ communities around the world.

She often chose the settings for her photos by asking her subjects to "think about the moment your parent came out or the moment you realized your family was a little bit different." Where they were then or what they were wearing often became inspiration for the photo. All the photos used natural light, she said, as befitted "such an intimate moment."

The hardest part of the whole project, however, was sharing her own story, something she hadn't intended to do but that the New York Times had requested. "I was very nervous about sharing it with my mom," she said. "I went from not being able to say 'My mom is gay' to screaming it in the New York Times," she reflected. It turned out that her mom posted her essay to Facebook and said she was proud of her daughter.

She hopes that her work will resonate for "any kid or adult who has a parent who's come out." For those growing up without knowing anyone else with an LGBTQ parent, she said she wants it to convey that "You're not alone. There's a community out there of people who love and support you." And for queer parents, she hopes it helps them "see things from the children's perspective."

Their stories are inspiring but not saccharine; thoughtful but more quickly read than a book-length single memoir; and touching but at times harshly honest and gently funny. They show a cadre of people with a diversity of backgrounds, family structures, and experiences, united by a common bond and sharing a fierce love of their families, warts and all.

In the future, she thinks having LGBTQ parents "won't be an issue at all, and people will think it silly that there was a book dedicated to this." Until that time, though, The Kids deserves wide dissemination. As she writes in the introduction to the book, "We—the children of LGBTQ parents—are not hypotheticals. Our stories need to be told."

Learn more about the project at thekids.gabrielaherman.com, or look for the book in stores and online.

Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian ( mombian.com ), a GLAAD Media Award-winning blog and resource directory for LGBTQ parents.


This article shared 1081 times since Wed Oct 4, 2017
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Kara Swisher talks truth, power in tech at Chicago Humanities event
2024-03-25
Lesbian author, award-winning journalist and podcast host Kara Swisher spoke about truth and power in the tech industry through the lens of her most recent book, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, March 21 at First ...


Gay News

THEATER Chicago's City Lit has anxiety on tap with 'Two Hours in a Bar'
2024-03-21
Two Hours in a Bar Waiting for Tina Meyer by Kristine Thatcher with material by Larry Shue Text Me by Kingsley Day (Book, Music and Lyrics). At: City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.. Tickets: ...


Gay News

RuPaul finds 'Hidden Meanings' in new memoir
2024-03-18
RuPaul Andre Charles made a rare Chicago appearance for a book tour on March 12 at The Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave. Presented by National Public Radio station WBEZ 91.5 FM, the talk coincided with ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Altercation, mpox research, Univ. of Fla., George Santos, tech battle
2024-03-08
Video footage uploaded to Facebook showed an altercation between a state trooper and two prominent Philadelphia LGBTQ+ leaders, the Washington Blade reported, republishing an article from Philadelphia Gay News. Celena ...


Gay News

Without compromise: Holly Baggett explores lives of iconoclasts Margaret Anderson and Jane Heap
2024-03-04
Jane Heap (1883-1964) and Margaret Anderson (1886-1973), each of them a native Midwesterner, woman of letters and iconoclast, had a profound influence on literary culture in both America and Europe in the early 20th Century. Heap ...


Gay News

There she goes again: Author Alison Cochrun discusses writing journey
2024-02-27
By Carrie Maxwell When Alison Cochrun began writing her first queer romance novel in 2019, she had no idea it would change the course of her entire life. Cochrun, who spent 11 years as a high ...


Gay News

Theater Review: Billy Elliot, The Musical
2024-02-19
Book and Lyrics: Lee Hall; Music: Elton John. At: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora Tickets: 630-896-6666 or Paramountaurora.com; $28-$79. Runs through March 24 Billy Elliot: The Musical may nearly be two decades old, but ...


Gay News

VIEWS Mike Johnson: The smiling face of Christian tyranny
2024-02-14
Mike Johnson wants to rewrite the constitution to make the United States a Christian nation. James Michael Johnson, Republican from Louisiana's Fourth District, is the 56th speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He was ...


Gay News

VIEWS Parents, not legislators, should be making decisions about medical options for children
2024-02-06
By Jeffery M. Leving - No matter the medical issue, when it comes to kids, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said something last December that every lawmaker in the country should realize when it comes to medical decisions for children. "Were House ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Sundance items, Green Day, 'Wednesday,' Queerties, 'The Wiz'
2024-01-26
At the Sundance Film Festival, Jodie Foster told Variety that the $1.4-billion success of Barbie helps confirm that Hollywood no longer views women directors as too much of a risk. She said, "With a big success ...


Gay News

USA Boxing adds policy regarding trans competitors
2024-01-04
Boxing's highest national governing body, USA Boxing, added a transgender athlete policy to its rulebook that requires genital-reassignment surgery and strict hormone testing for adults before competition, NBC News noted. ...


Gay News

VIEWS Is the Pope Catholic? Francis faces opposition in steps toward LGBTQ+ inclusivity
2024-01-02
The recent change in Vatican policy allowing priests to bless same-gender couples has provoked an unprecedented backlash against Pope Francis and his openness to LGBTQ+ people—a backlash that some fear might devolve into a schism in ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Women's college, banned books, military initiative, Oregon
2023-12-29
After backlash regarding a decision to update its anti-discrimination policy and open enrollment to some transgender applicants, a Catholic women's college in Indiana will return to its previous admission policy, per The National Catholic Reporter. In ...


Gay News

NATIONAL School items, Miami attack, Elliot Page, Fire Island
2023-12-22
In Virginia, new and returning members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Fairfax County School Board were inaugurated—with some school board members opting to use banned books on the topics of slavery and LGBTQ+ ...


Gay News

THEATER 'Dial M' director speaks about stage magic and perils of the closet
2023-12-15
A good thriller is always in style for the right audience—but it's paying dividends for Northlight Theatre, which recently opened Dial M for Murder, helmed by queer director Georgette Verdin, to great reviews. ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.