BOOKS FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH LGBT PARENTS

FOR PEOPLE WITH LGBT PARENTS COLAGE Program Information (PDF) Books for Children with LGBT Parents Books for Teens and Young Adults with LGBT Parents Books for Adults with LGBT Parents Media Featuring Children and Adults with LGBT Parents Transgender Family Resources Tips for Making Classrooms Safer Famous COLAGErs Health Professionals Resource

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** An American Family

The story of Jon and Michael Gallucio, who became the first unmarried couple in New Jersey to legally adopt a child together, and their fight to adopt their HIV-positive infant foster son, Adam.

J. Gallucio, M. Gallucio, D. Groff. St. Martin's Press. 2001

Am I Blue?

A fantastic anthology of stories by well-known children's authors, each on the theme of growing up gay or lesbian, or with gay or lesbian parents or friends. Ages 12 and up.

M. Dane Bauer, ed. HarperCollins. 1995

** And Featuring Bailey Wellcom as the Biscuit

A novel featuring 12 year old Bailey Wellcom, who has just moved to the small town of Lucien, New Mexico with her lesbian mother.   Bailey goes on to come to terms with her mother's new girl friend and the frightening event of a hate crime. Ages 12-16.

P. Durbin. Little Blue Works. Port Orchard, WA. 1999

Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories

In this anthology of short stories is "Angus Bethune," a fat teen whose parents have divorced each other to be with same sex partners. Ages 12 and up.

C. Crutcher. Bantam. 1996

* ** Beloved Daughter

A wonderful collection of letters written by Asian immigrants about their queer family member.

The Family Letter Project. MAPLBN. 1999

Billy's Boy

This book tells the story of twelve-year-old John William Seden, the son of dead gay track star Billy Sive. His mother is a closeted lesbian. Billy is beginning to find out about his own sexuality as he comes of age. This books discusses coming out to friends and family, tolerance in schools, and some Christian, right-wing attitudes towards queers and queer families. Ages 14 and up.

P. Warren. Wildcat Press. 1997

The Boy with the Thorn in his Side

Keith Fleming's story of how his gay uncle, the writer Edmund White, saved his life, when at sixteen, Fleming was committed to a mental institute. A good memoir about adolescence, and one boy's relationship with his uncle.

K. Fleming. Morrow,William & Co. 2000

Coping When a Parent is Gay

Provides tips on dealing with difficult situations, support, and resources.

D. Miller. Rosen Publishing Group. 1993

** Different Mothers: Sons and Daughters of Lesbians Talk about Their Lives

This book includes memoirs by 38 "kids" (ages 5-40) about their experiences in their lesbian families. From peer pressure to custody issues, from coming out to extended families, these writers cover it all! Ages 13 and up.

L. Rafkin. Cleis Press. 1990

** Donorboy

A comic novel sharing the story of Rosalind who develops a relationship with her sperm donor after the death of her lesbian moms.

B. Halpin, Villard, New York, 2004

** Dress Codes

A memoir of the author's experience growing up in suburban Ohio with a transgender parent, and of her, her mother's, and her father's journeys to womanhood. N. Howey. 2003

The Eagle Kite

Liam, who is 13, has been angry at his father for 3 years, ever since the day he saw his father together with another man. Now his father has AIDS, and Liam must confront him to know the truth. Ages 11-14.

P. Fox. Bantam Books. 1995

Elliot and Win

14-year-old Win hopes to receive support and guidance in self-acceptance from his adult friend Elliot, despite another boy's insistence that Elliot is gay. Ages 13 and up.

A. Meyer. Atheneum Press.

** Families Like Mine: Children of Gay Parents Tell it Like it Is    

This book interweaves the author's personal experiences of growing up with a gay father and straight mother, with those of other adult children of LGBT parents, based on 8 years of activism and over 50 interviews. Included are the topics of coming out, breakups, cultural queerness, second-generation queers, family definitions, and HIV/AIDS.

A. Garner. Harper Collins. 2004.

** Friends and Family: True Stories of America's Straight Allies

A collection of stories of straight allies, from children to high school teachers, and their battle to fight for queer rights.   Ages 12 and up. D. Woog. Alyson Books. 1999

** Free Your Mind

The book for GLBT youth and their allies. A great resource for anyone with an interest in GLBT youth issues.   Ages 14 and up.

E. Bass, K. Kaufman. HarperCollins. 1996

From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun

The story of a 13-year-old-boy who is dealing with his mother's interracial lesbian relationship. Ages 13 and up.

J. Woodson. Point Signature. 1995

The Geography Club

Russel and other gay students at his high school get together under the guise of a geography club. "We just choose a club that's so boring, nobody in their right mind would ever in a million years join it. We could call it Geography Club!"

B. Hartinger. Harper Tempest. 2003

** Girl Goddess #9

This collection of short stories is focused on girls who discover that the world is not a simple place and that there is more than one way to live. Included in the book is "Dragons in Manhattan", the story of a girl with lesbian mothers who goes looking for her father. Ages 14 and up.

F. Block. HarperCollins. 1996

** Growing Up in a Lesbian Family

An academic look at children raised by lesbians, sometimes in comparison with children in straight households.

S. Golombok ,   F.   Tasker.   Gilford Press, New York   NY . 1997

House You Pass on the Way

A lesbian coming of age story about a young woman growing up in an interracial family. Ages 11-14.

J. Woodson. Laureleaf. 1999

** How I Fell in Love and Learned to Shoot Free Throws

When 17-year old Danny falls in love with Angel McPherson, the best female basketball player in school, they both have to come to terms with their family secrets. Ages 13 and up.

J. Ripslinger. Roaring Brook Press. 2003

** How it Feels to Have a Gay or Lesbian Parent: A Book by Kids for Kids of All Ages

First-person accounts by children of gay or lesbian parents, ranging in age from 7 to 31.

J. Snow, Harrington Park Press. 2004

If it Doesn't Kill You

The story of a high school boy who struggles to deal with his father coming out of the closet.   Ages 12 and up.

M. Bechard, Viking Children's Books. 1999

Jack

Bond with 15 year-old Jack as he struggles to redefine the word "family" when his divorced father announces that he is gay. Ages 14 and up.

A.M. Homes. Random House. 1990

Janet, My Mother and Me

A memoir by New Yorker writer William Murray about growing up in the 1940's and 50's with his mother, Natalia Danesi Murray, and her partner Janet Flanner.

W. Murray. Simon and Schuster. 2000

Living In Secret

Amelia's mother helps her run away from her father who has custody and establish a new home and identity in San Francisco with her mother's girlfriend. Ages 14 and up.

C. Salat. Bantam. 1999

** Long Way Home

Eleven-year-old Veronica is involved in a custody battle between her abusive father and her mother who has recently come out as a lesbian. As a result she is caught between the two feuding households.

M. Romero. Windstorm Creative Limited, Port Orchard, WA 2000

** Love Makes a Family: Portraits of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Parents and Their Families

A beautiful book filled with photographs and interviews with LGBT families.

G. Kaeser, P. Gillespie. University of Massachusetts Press, Amherst MA. 1999.

Luna

A transgender boy goes through his senior year of high school and wants to transition to a girl. Told from the eyes of his younger sister.

J. Peters. Megan Tingley. 2004

** Mothers

A novel about a man raised by two lesbians in the 70's and his negotiation between his loving family and the rest of society.

J. Lowell.   St. Martin's Press. 1995

** Multiracial Child Resource Book: Living Complex Identities

A comprehensive, information-packed portrait of the mixed-race experience from birth to adulthood.

M. Root & M. Kelley, eds. MAVIN Foundation. 2003

Navigating the Darwin Straits

When Jordy is 14, his lesbian mom decides they're going to move back to her rural hometown. After high school Jordy takes a job as a computer programmer in California. When the company is bought out, he's left with more money than he can spend and no one to share it with. He begins a voyage of discovery, searching out the seamy side of Mexico, the gang-ridden streets of Seattle and isolation in upstate Maine. Ages 14 and up.

E. Forbes. Seal Press. 2001

** Nobody's Children: Orphans of the HIV Epidemic

This book incorporates statistics and facts with the personal experiences of children whose lives have been affected by the HIV epidemic.

S. Dansky. Harrington Park Press, Binghamton, NY. 1997

Other Side of the Closet: The Coming-Out Crisis for Straight Spouses and Families

Based on five years of research, this book explores major issues that arise for straight spouses when their wives or husbands come out.

A. Pierce-Buxton. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 1994

Out of the Closet into Our Hearts: Celebrating our Gay/Lesbian Family Members

Stories and poems written by families of gay and lesbians.   Includes interesting accounts from children as well as a diversity of other family members

L. Siegel, N. Olson, Leyland Publications, San Francisco, CA. 2001.

** Out of the Ordinary: Essays on Growing Up With Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Parents

A collection of essays by teen and adult children of LGBT parents.

N. Howey & E. Samuels, eds. St. Martin's Press. 2000.

Out Of the Shadows

Rowanna is a 16-year-old girl growing up in contemporary Australia. Rowanna has a secret, her mother was a lesbian, but was killed by and drunk driver and she now lives with her mother's partner who she must learn to accept. Ages 14 and up.

S. Hines. Avon Tempest. 2000

Safe as Houses

A novel about a man coming to terms with his ideas of family, including his lover and their son. Ages 14 and up.

A. Jeffers. Millivres Prowler Group. 1995

Sky Daddy

A novel about an African American boy discovering that his gay father's lover is a white teenage boy.

B. Parker.   Alyson Publications.

Stir-Fry

17-year-old Maria lives with a lesbian couple in her first flat away from home. A touching coming of age story. Ages 13 and up.

A.Donoghue. HarperCollins. 1994

** Sugar in the Raw: Voices of Young Black Girls in America

A powerful collection of first-person narratives based on interviews conducted by the author.

R. Carroll. Three Rivers Press. 1997

Talk to Me: Stories and a Novella

A collection of stories offer realistic portraits of teen angst, as teens deal with romance, family, job, and school troubles.   A variety of different plots; from a boy growing up with two dads, to a child watching his mother through cancer.   Non-fiction.   Ages 12 and up.

C. Dines. Bantam Books. 1997

Tommy Stands Alone

The story of a young Mexican-American gay teenager and his struggle to overcome homophobia in his relationships with his family and friends. Ages 12-16.

G. Velasquez. Arte Publico Press, 1995

Trans Forming Families: Real Stories About Transgendered Loved Ones

Thirty-one stories by spouses, parents, children, and friends exploring the journey, struggle, and delight of having a transgendered loved one.

M. Boenke. Waterford Press. 1999

Unlived Affections

The story of an eighteen-year-old boy who loses his grandmother, only to uncover a family secret in old letters. The story tells of how Willie comes to terms with his father's homosexuality. Ages 14 and up.

G. Shannon. Alyson Publications. 1995

The Way to Somewhere

The story of tomboy Taylor's journeys and struggles as she grows up. Her parents divorced when her father came out of the closet, and Taylor is searching for a plan for her life that will get her where she wants to be. Ages 13 and up.

A. Day. Simon & Schuster. 2002

** What About The Children?

Written in the United Kingdom, this book interviews the children of GLBT parents. Nonfiction. Ages 16 and up.

L. Saffron.   Cassell,   London, England. 1997

** "What Does Gay Mean?": How to Talk with Kids about Sexual Orientation and Prejudice

This booklet provides resources and tips for talking with kids about sexual orientation and homophobia.

Ponton, L. National Mental Health Association. 2002

A Woman Like That

A collection of coming out stories by popular lesbian and bisexual authors.   Some tell the story of losing custody of children and others about being second generation.

Ed. J. Larkin. Perennial Harper Collins, New York, NY. 2000

** Women in Love: Portraits of Lesbian Mothers and their Families

A wonderful book of photographs of lesbian mothers and their families, with interviews of the mothers.

B. Seyda, D. Herrera. Little, Brown & Co. 1998

Out of Print

The following is a list of excellent books that are out of print. We suggest that you try to find them at your local library or used bookstore.

** Gay Olympian: The Life and Death of Dr. Tom Waddell

Not specifically focused on gay parenting, but a moving biography of a gay Olympian raising a young daughter. Tom Waddell died of AIDS in 1987.

T. Waddell and D. Schaap. Alfred A. Knopp, New York, NY. 1996

Lesbian and Gay Families; Redefining Parenting in America

J. Pollack. Franklin Watts. 1995

Making Love Visible

G. Manasse & J. Swallow. The Crossing Press.