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BOOK
REVIEW
Family Outing by Chastity Bono
Reviewed by Judy Varblow
 Chastity
Bono and her mother, Cher, have been on television in recent months promoting
Chastity's new book, Family Outing. I saw them on Oprah Winfrey and decided
I had to have the book. Good decision on my part. Chastity was "outted"
by the media in 1990. Even though her family and close friends knew she
was gay, this public revelation caused her to retreat back into the closet.
In Family Outing, Chastity tells her own story about coming out to her
parents (Sonny was supportive, but Cher threw a monstrous fit.) She also
weaves the stories of other gays and lesbians into her own to illustrate
the similarities and differences they have in dealing with their own homosexuality.
According
to the book jacket: "While Family Outing provides sensible, helpful
advice to gays and lesbians who are thinking about coming out, it is also
an important primer for parents. We hear parents talk about their difficult-but
ultimately successful and satisfying-journey through their part of the
coming-out experience. For, as Chastity says, 'Parents come out, too'."
The book
is written sensitively, yet has touches of humor. We can learn a lot from
Chastity, Nina, Javier, Davis, Robin, and the rest.
VIDEO
REVIEWS
Human
Rights Series: Family AIDS Support
(1992, approx. 20 minutes)
Reviewed by Jeff Pudwill
The Human Rights Series
is a "powerful collection of video programs to eradicate homophobia
at its roots in the families and institutions of our society."
The "Family AIDS
Support" video features members of the Family AIDS Support Project
of the Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Several
mothers an one sister express their feelings and experiences regarding
a family member with AIDS. One participant lost her brother to AIDS, and
three of the mothers lost sons to AIDS. One mother actually lost both
of her twin sons to this disease. They share their stories with "courage
and compassion," seeking to fight the war against AIDS with love
and education.
Rating
(general PFLAG use): 
(2 out of 5)
Rating (as a starting point for AIDS support):
(4 out of 5)
Positive
Image
(Approx. 30 minutes)
Reviewed by: Judy Varblow
"Positive Image"
views like a PFLAG support group meeting. Several parents tell of their
experiences in dealing with their son or daughter's homosexuality. The
stories are true, and, therefore, very emotional and revealing.
In addition, the sons
and daughters also tell their stories, detailing how they "came out,"
their parents' reaction, and how they are coping now.
This is an excellent
video for parents just beginning their journey in trying to cope with
their children's homosexuality.
The
Rhetoric of Intolerance:
An Open Letter to Pat Robertson from Dr. Mel White
Reviewed by Michael Koltnow
Dr. Mel White, the
author of Stranger at the Gate, is a Christian minister who worked
for Pat Robertson for a number of years. After 30 years of trying
not to be gay, he accepted who he was, and came out publicly as a gay
man.
The premise of this
half-hour open video letter is that Dr. White wants to discuss some of
Robertson's pronouncements but has been unable to meet with him, and therefore
chose to make this public statement. White's method is to present
excerpts from Robertson's televised 700 Club, and then to challenge their
assertions. Although the focus is on Robertson's views of homosexuality,
White demonstrates Robertson's intolerance of Muslims, of women, and in
general of people who do not share his views.
White gently but very
effectively rebuts Robertson's Biblical quotations and misquotations,
as well as his pronouncements on genetics, the ex-gay movement, gay marriage
and the tragedy of AIDS. The video will comfort and strengthen anyone
who has faced religious homophobia and is not sure how to think about
it.
Rating:
(3 1/2 out of 5)
AN
UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
(Produced by the Denver Chapter of PFLAG, 1991, 28 minutes)
Reviewed by Syd Jackowitz
An underlying theme
of the video is that being a parent of a gay or lesbian child can be challenging
and eye opening. Most gay children grow up with feelings of being different
and not knowing what to do with these feelings. When our children come
out, our relationship is changed forever, but what we are left with can
be wonderfully authentic.
The video starts with
an explanation of PFLAG and specifically the services provided by PFLAG/Denver.
It continues with a discussion of homophobia and the problems with homosexuals
learning about themselves in a homophobic environment. This is followed
by various interviews with gay and lesbian youth and their parents discussing
the coming out process and how parents deal with their kids coming out.
As parents, when our children first come out, we are filled with guilt,
shame, and anger, fearful of what others will think. But with help we
can move past this and on to acceptance and advocacy.
Rating:
(3 out of 5)
CLAIMING
AMERICA'S PROMISE
Reviewed by Beckie Bauer
"Claiming America's
Promise" is the story of PFLAG Houston's cross-country bus trip from
Houston to Washington, D. C. The trip started with only 30 people on the
bus, but over 200 people arrived at the nation's capitol to lobby for
equal rights in the workplace.
This video will make
you realize the power we, as parents, families, and friends, have in making
this country a better place for our gay children. It made me proud to
be a PFLAG Mom.
TREVOR
Reviewed by: Orlando Sentinel TV critic Hal Boedeker, August,
1998
The touching, Oscar-winning
"Trevor" tells of a gay 13-year-old who attempts suicide after
being ignored by his parents and suffering ridicule from schoolmates.
Don't let Ellen DeGeneres' well-meaning but fumbled introduction put you
off. "Trevor" has been made with artistry and feeling by all
involved. |
