Examine the impact of disclosure on sons whose fathers are gay! In this book, Andrew Gottlieb, author of Out of the Twilight: Fathers of Gay Men Speak, explores yet another side of the impact of homosexuality on families. He now looks at how sons react to learning that their fathers are gay, allowing us to see, over time, how this has changed their family relationships and their own lives. Simply and elegantly written, this psychoanalytically oriented qualitative research study is accessible to both the beginner and the more advanced researcher and practitioner. It draws from a wide range of literary, popular, and psychological sources and includes an interview guide, a reference section, and an index. When someone discloses as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, it is not just an individual event. It is a family event. Based on estimates of married gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons, a spouse's coming out affects up to 2,000,000 couples. Yet, its impact has been largely ignored. Children's voices are the least often heard. . . . Little has been written about sons of fathers who came out during or after marriage. Data for studies that do exist most often draw from the fathers' point of view. . . . The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive, detailed picture of sons and gay fathers as they develop their separate self-images as well as the images of their son-father relationships over time. Painful, sensitive, often triumphant, the stories and [the author's] analysis of their thoughts, perceptions, and feelings afford a multidimensional, longitudinal viewing. Step by step, we follow the complicated dance of these sons and fathers as they develop and define their connection. from the Foreword by Amity Pierce Buxton, Author of The Other Side of the Closet: The Coming-Out Crisis for Straight Spouses and Families Sons Talk About Their Gay Fathers: Life Curves is a storybookan extended narrative moved along, but not overshadowed, by psychoanalytic theory. The Introduction briefly reviews more recent writings of the fathering experience as told by gay men themselves, setting the stage for: Father to Childa look at the father as seen through the ever-shifting eyes of his son at different phases of the life cycle The Quest for the Real Fatheran examination of sons' responses to their fathers' homosexuality as captured in film, fiction, nonfiction, television, and the psychological literature Methodologythe story of the research process, including sampling, the search for subjects, trustworthiness, the interview, bias, and data collection The Storiesan anthology of narratives the author constructed from the interview material, painting an intimate portrait of each individual son Findingsa categorical analysis Discussiona summary of all the preceding material cast in a developmental framework, highlighting implications for future research and clinical practice

How would you react if your son told you he was gay?Out of the Twilight: Fathers of Gay Men Speak explores how fathers have dealt with discovering that their sons were gay and what effect it had on their own development as parents and people. This revealing, moving book will help you understand the difficulties and joys of a father/gay son relationship. Out of the Twilight draws from literary sources such as poems, fairy tales, plays, novels, and movies, as well as psychoanalytic theories, to highlight the obstacles that a father must overcome to understand and identify with his son. In Out of the Twilight, you will discover the personal and intimate struggles of these fathers, including: Mitchell, whose son, Jay, came out at the age of twenty-one, and who describes the coming-out process as a means of forging a closer father-son relationship Juan Miguel, who knew and accepted that his son was gay before his son told him, and who discusses how his love and complete acceptance made the coming-out process easier for his son Peter, whose response to his son, Richard, was ordering him to live at home so the family could look for a 'cure'for Richard's homosexuality Daniel, who admitted that he himself was gay after being married and who was very accepting when his son, Charles, came out since it provided them with a special bond Marty, whose response to his son Gary's coming out was to join P-FLAG, an organization for parents of gay and lesbian children, so he could find support and acceptance among other parents who were going through the same thingOut of the Twilight allows you to see how fathers have struggled with the truth about their sons' sexuality. This book presents a unique opportunity to develop a greater awareness of and appreciation for father/son similarities and differences, and suggests that through time, communication, and love, fathers can become comfortable with and respectful of their sons' homosexuality.

How would you react if your son told you he was gay?Out of the Twilight: Fathers of Gay Men Speak explores how fathers have dealt with discovering that their sons were gay and what effect it had on their own development as parents and people. This revealing, moving book will help you understand the difficulties and joys of a father/gay son relationship. Out of the Twilight draws from literary sources such as poems, fairy tales, plays, novels, and movies, as well as psychoanalytic theories, to highlight the obstacles that a father must overcome to understand and identify with his son. In Out of the Twilight, you will discover the personal and intimate struggles of these fathers, including: Mitchell, whose son, Jay, came out at the age of twenty-one, and who describes the coming-out process as a means of forging a closer father-son relationship Juan Miguel, who knew and accepted that his son was gay before his son told him, and who discusses how his love and complete acceptance made the coming-out process easier for his son Peter, whose response to his son, Richard, was ordering him to live at home so the family could look for a 'cure'for Richard's homosexuality Daniel, who admitted that he himself was gay after being married and who was very accepting when his son, Charles, came out since it provided them with a special bond Marty, whose response to his son Gary's coming out was to join P-FLAG, an organization for parents of gay and lesbian children, so he could find support and acceptance among other parents who were going through the same thing Out of the Twilight allows you to see how fathers have struggled with the truth about their sons' sexuality. This book presents a unique opportunity to develop a greater awareness of and appreciation for father/son similarities and differences, and suggests that through time, communication, and love, fathers can become comfortable with and respectful of their sons' homosexuality.

How would you react if your brother or sister came out to you? I'm proud to have been the first to know. My conservative upbringing contributed to the notion that John's behavior was sinful. The first thought I had about it was that my brother had somehow been misdirected, involving himself in the wrong crowd. How could he be gay? I was convinced we all had to help him overcome this problem. I equated being gay with having a mental disorder and thought maybe we should send him to a therapist. I love Beth very much. I am proud of her, thankful for her, and can't imagine life without her. In this first-of-its-kind book, Andrew Gottlieb, the author of Out of the Twilight: Fathers of Gay Men Speak and Sons Talk About Their Gay Fathers: Life Curves, continues his landmark exploration at the intersection of sexuality and family studies. Here he turns his thoughtful gaze to the powerful bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood to address questions such as: How are we affected by the knowledge that a sibling feels same-sex attraction, and how does that knowledge impact on our relationships with our brother or sister? How do brothers and sisters of gay/lesbian people cope with stigma and homophobia? What if there's already a non-heterosexual sibling in the familyhow does he or she react when another sibling comes out? Do each of their roles change? Besides the fact that Lee didn't conform to my notion of what a lesbian was (I, of course, always looked and acted the part), I wondered how this would affect my role as 'the lesbian of the family.' . . . Would this rock the boat? Would two lesbians in the family be one lesbian too many? In their own words, 18 men and women share their thoughts and feelings about their gay brothers and sisters. What they have to say is revealingabout themselves, about the nature of sibling relationships, and about their role as peacemakers. Gay men and lesbian women often disclose their sexuality to their siblings before anyone else in their families. Side by Side examines the impact of a brother or sister coming out and of the way that a gay person's siblings are sometimes placed in the position of being a social/moral bridge between the generations. Clearly Tina has been a major force in my life, and it doesn't just end with me. My three children and husband have all learned by Tina's example; we all do what we can to bring fairness and equality to everyone. With a smile on my face, I occasionally say to Tina, 'Look what you've done to me!' Without her, I would never be where I am or who I am. The contributors to Side by Side come from varying religious and economic backgrounds. In plain language that is easily accessible to most adolescents and adults, they candidly relate the experience of what it was like to find out about their sibling's homosexuality and how that knowledge affected them over time. Some of their perspectives may surprise you. Many will move you. You'll also find a list of suggested readings and a list of organizations offering support and information for siblings of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.

Television film drama about Todd McCray (Noel Fisher), a young man with mental health problems. During Christmas vacation, a nearby animal shelter begins an 'Adopt a Dog for Christmas' scheme. As an animal lover, Todd encourages those in his neighbourhood to participate in the programme and he, himself, becomes very attached to one dog. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear why his father is not entirely supportive of Todd's attempt to help the animals.

In Drink, Play, F@#k Bob Sullivan, a jilted husband, sets off to explore the world, experience a meaningful connection with the divine, and rediscover his passion. His travels lead him from his home in New York City to a drinking bender across Ireland, through the glitz and glamour that is Las Vegas, and to the hedonistic pleasure palaces of Thailand. After a lifetime of playing it safe, Mr. Sullivan finally follows his heart and lives out everyone's deepest fantasies. For who among us hasn't dreamed of standing stark naked, head upturned, and mouth agape beneath a cascading torrent of Guinness Stout? What could be more exhilarating than losing every penny you have because Charlie Weiss went for a meaningless last-second field goal? And what sensate creature could ever doubt that the greatest pleasure known to man can be found in a leaky bamboo shack filled with glassy-eyed, bruised Asian hookers? Bob Sullivan has a lot to teach us about life. Let's just pray we have the wisdom to put aside our preconceptions and listen. Because what Bob Sullivan finds isn't at all what he expected.

Examine the impact of disclosure on sons whose fathers are gay! In this book, Andrew Gottlieb, author of Out of the Twilight: Fathers of Gay Men Speak, explores yet another side of the impact of homosexuality on families. He now looks at how sons react to learning that their fathers are gay, allowing us to see, over time, how this has changed their family relationships and their own lives. Simply and elegantly written, this psychoanalytically oriented qualitative research study is accessible to both the beginner and the more advanced researcher and practitioner. It draws from a wide range of literary, popular, and psychological sources and includes an interview guide, a reference section, and an index. When someone discloses as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, it is not just an individual event. It is a family event. Based on estimates of married gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons, a spouse's coming out affects up to 2,000,000 couples. Yet, its impact has been largely ignored. Children's voices are the least often heard. . . . Little has been written about sons of fathers who came out during or after marriage. Data for studies that do exist most often draw from the fathers' point of view. . . . The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive, detailed picture of sons and gay fathers as they develop their separate self-images as well as the images of their son-father relationships over time. Painful, sensitive, often triumphant, the stories and [the author's] analysis of their thoughts, perceptions, and feelings afford a multidimensional, longitudinal viewing. Step by step, we follow the complicated dance of these sons and fathers as they develop and define their connection. from the Foreword by Amity Pierce Buxton, Author of The Other Side of the Closet: The Coming-Out Crisis for Straight Spouses and Families Sons Talk About Their Gay Fathers: Life Curves is a storybookan extended narrative moved along, but not overshadowed, by psychoanalytic theory. The Introduction briefly reviews more recent writings of the fathering experience as told by gay men themselves, setting the stage for: Father to Childa look at the father as seen through the ever-shifting eyes of his son at different phases of the life cycle The Quest for the Real Fatheran examination of sons' responses to their fathers' homosexuality as captured in film, fiction, nonfiction, television, and the psychological literature Methodologythe story of the research process, including sampling, the search for subjects, trustworthiness, the interview, bias, and data collection The Storiesan anthology of narratives the author constructed from the interview material, painting an intimate portrait of each individual son Findingsa categorical analysis Discussiona summary of all the preceding material cast in a developmental framework, highlighting implications for future research and clinical practice