Resources: in Coming Out
Book: "Now That I’m Out, What Do I Do? - Thoughts on Living Deliberately"
Written by Brian McNaught, St. Martin’s Press, 1999 - Description: For most gay, lesbian, and bisexual people, acknowledging and accepting their homosexual orientation are only the first steps in what is often a lifelong journey. They then must integrate their sexuality into the rest of their lives. This requires that they reevaluate the most basic themes of human existence: family, love, spirituality, work, and community. In a series of personal essays that are both prescriptive and inspirational, Brian McNaught leads readers through issues that they have to confront as they try to find a safe and meaningful place for themselves in what is often a hostile world.
Book: "The Blue Book, What We Wish We Had Known"
Written by the First Tuesday Group of Mount Kisco Presbyterian Church in New York. This is one of the best Resource Books for helping build bridges of understanding for individuals, families, and communities around sexual orientation issues. It is now available in digital PDF format online, so you can download it today. In its 70 pages, there are sections in Question/Answer format dealing with Scientific Perspectives, Social Perspectives, Family Life Perspectives, and Theological Perspectives. The resource is useful for secular or religious settings. Click on the book title above to download a free PDF copy of the book.
FAQ: Why Do Some Gay Men, Lesbians and Bisexuals Tell People About Their Sexual Orientation?
Because sharing that aspect of themselves with others is important to their mental health. In fact, the process of identity development for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals called "coming out", has been found to be strongly related to psychological adjustment—the more positive the gay, lesbian, or bisexual identity, the better one's mental health and the higher one's self-esteem. (from the American Psychological Association)
FAQ: Why Is the "Coming Out" Process Difficult for Some Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual People?
For some gay and bisexual people the coming out process is difficult, for others it is not. Often lesbian, gay and bisexual people feel afraid, different, and alone when they first realize that their sexual orientation is different from the community norm. This is particularly true for people becoming aware of their gay, lesbian, or bisexual orientation as a child or adolescent, which is not uncommon. And, depending on their families and where they live, they may have to struggle against prejudice and misinformation about homosexuality. Children and adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of bias and stereotypes. They may also fear being rejected by family, friends, co-workers, and religious institutions. Some gay people have to worry about losing their jobs or being harassed at school if their sexual orientation became well known. Unfortunately, gay, lesbian and bisexual people are at a higher risk for physical assault and violence than are heterosexuals. Studies done in California in the mid 1990s showed that nearly one-fifth of all lesbians who took part in the study and more than one-fourth of all gay men who participated had been the victim of a hate crime based on their sexual orientation. In another California study of approximately 500 young adults, half of all the young men participating in the study admitted to some form of anti-gay aggression from name-calling to physical violence. (from the American Psychological Association)
Web: Coming Out Stories
Read the stories of others who are out of the closet or post your story today.
Web: GLSEN
GLSEN works to end this cycle of bigotry in K-12 schools. Through its growing network of 85 chapters in 35 states, GLSEN strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Web: HRC Coming Out Project
Every year on this day, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation sponsors hundreds of gay and lesbian public education events, which thousands of high school and college students participate in. Isn't it time you join us by coming out to your family and friends? Or, if you've already come out, isn't it time you help others by starting a gay-lesbian student organization? Organizing a gay-lesbian awareness day? Or joining the Human Rights Campaign. In addition to National Coming Out Day, HRC sponsors the National Coming Out Project, an ongoing project to promote honesty and openness about being lesbian, gay or bisexual on campus, in the workplace and at home. Its public education and outreach programs, such as Coming Out on Campus, open a dialogue with gay and straight Americans and urge gay, lesbian and bisexual people to come out and get involved.
Web: My Child is Gay!
Resources for parents of gay youth and young adults. Bewildered? Confused? Angry? Feeling guilty? Worried? Believe me, you're not alone. As the gay community comes out of the closet, parents by the hundreds of thousands are discovering that they are the parents of gay youth. This can be a crisis or an opportunity, it's all up to you!
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