How Homophobia Hurts Children: Nurturing Diversity at Home, at School, and in the Community

by Jean M Baker

Overview

Homophobia hurts kids. Explore ways to minimize that trauma!

This book illustrates the ways that children growing up to be gay are harmed by homophobia before anyone, including themselves, even knows they are gay. This compelling and sympathetic volume describes many simple ways that these children can be helped to understand that they can grow up to lead normal lives, with hopes and dreams for their futures. How Homophobia Hurts Children: Nurturing Diversity at Home, at School, and in the Community brings home the voices of these children. They describe their experiences to show how they came to the frightening recognition that they are part of a group held in disregard by the rest of society, even sometimes by their own families.

Dr. Jean M. Baker, the author of How Homophobia Hurts Children: Nurturing Diversity at Home, at School, and in the Community is a clinical psychologist and the mother of two gay sons. In this book she shares her experience as both psychologist and mother to show how the myths and fallacies about homosexuality have influenced parents, schools, churches, and lawmakers to send children the cruel message that if they are gay, they are not normal and will not be able to lead normal lives.

In this unique volume you'll find:

• a chapter on identity development, following the Eriksonian model
• interviews with high school students who are self-identified as gay
• firsthand descriptions of the harassment and victimization of those perceived as gay in schools
• research on how victimization at school affects gay youths
• a discussion of the relatively new phenomenon of gay/straight alliances (gay support groups or clubs)
• a chapter on transgender identity with interviews with four transsexual persons who describe their personal childhood experiences and their transition process

The focus of How Homophobia Hurts Children: Nurturing Diversity at Home, at School, and in the Community, centering on the social and familial experiences of children who will grow up to be gay but have not yet come to that realization, is unique. But beyond that, this book also explains how homophobia affects the attitudes of non-gay children by leading them to believe that it is acceptable to mistreat homosexuals. Finally, specific suggestions are made for changes in parenting and changes in school/classroom practices that could help prevent the harm that is inflicted upon so many of our gay children. Everyone who comes in contact with children on their way to becoming gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender adults needs to read this book!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781560231639
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/01/2002
Series:	Gay and Lesbian Studies
Pages:	238
Product dimensions:	5.81(w) x 8.25(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1. Shame Can Shatter Their Dreams Homophobia: A Respectable Prejudice The Gay Rights Movement The Homosexual Debate: Pathology or Normal Variation? Growing Up in a Homophobic Culture What Is It Like to Grow Up Gay? Adult Attitudes Chapter 2. Myths and Fallacies Myth: Homosexuality Is a Mental Illness Myth: Homosexuality Can Be Cured Myth: Homosexuality Is a Choice Myth: Homosexuals Are Sexual Molesters Myth: Homosexuals Will Convert Children to Homosexuality Myths and Stereotypes Perpetuate Prejudice Chapter 3. Identity Development Erik Erikson's Stages of Child and Adolescent Development Chapter 4. Coming Out What Is Coming Out? Early Childhood Experiences Coming Out in High School Coming-Out Models What Do Youth Say About Coming Out? Chapter 5. Parents and Families Coming Out Why Should Parents Come Out? How Do Parents React When They Discover Their Child Is Gay? What Does Research Show? Stages of Parental Coming Out My Own Story Mary Borhek's Story Chapter 6. For All Parents To Parents Who Don't Know Whether Their Child Is Gay Family Reactions to Gay Children Coming Out Comments Chapter 7. What Happens to Gay Children at School? Memories of Harassment and Intimidation What Does Research Show About Harassment of Gays in Schools? Cultural Permission for Antigay Harassment The Hidden Gay Students Intimidation and Harassment May Provoke Violence in Schools Chapter 8. Students Tell Us How Schools Can Help Actions Schools Can Take A Gay Football Player Comes Out Chapter 9. How Individuals Within the School System Can Help Gay Students A Teacher's Coming-Out Story What Else Can Teachers Do? What Can School Counselors and School Psychologists Do? What Can School Administrators and School Boards Do? Chapter 10. Gay Youth Support Groups Students Speak About the Groups A School Nurse An English Teacher A Chemistry Teacher A Librarian Chapter 11. A School Climate Survey Background Why Students Did or Did Not Intervene Why Gay Students Would or Would Not Feel Safe in School Summary Chapter 12. Transcending the Stigma Are Gays and Lesbians Exceptional? What's Good About Being Gay? Chapter 13. Enlightened Mayor Seeks Acceptance for Gay Youths Chapter 14. For Mental Health Professionals Chapter 15. Legal and Social Policy Barriers and How They Affect Gay Children The Right to Marry Antidiscrimination Legislation Antidiscrimination Policies in the Schools Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Gays in the Military Archaic Sex Laws Boy Scout Policies Policies About AIDS Antigay Hate Crimes Changing Laws and Policies Can Help Our Gay Children Chapter 16. Transgender Identity Gender Benders Transvestites Androgyne Transsexuals Intersexed Nature versus Nurture Revisited Chapter 17. Personal Stories of Transsexuals Growing Up Michael (Once Michelle) Alexander (Once Virginia Allegra) Mark (Once Vivian) Jeffrey/Adrianna Comments Chapter 18. The Tipping Point References Index