Our 3 Favorite Gay Parenting Books:
1. Brill, Stephanie, The Queer Parent's Primer: A Lesbian and Gay Families' Guide to Navigating Through a Straight World (2001)
Written by Stephanie Brill, a midwife, parenting educator and lesbian mother of two, The Queer Parent’s Primer: A Lesbian and Gay Families Guide to Navigating Through a Straight World is a realistic guide to gay parenting challenges. Subject matter includes coming out, finding culturally sensitive daycare and schools, deciding upon a spirituality as well as family traditions/celebrations. The book also includes interactive exercises and examples on how to deal with conflicts, how to explain and defend your family, and how to celebrate and nurture a fulfilled affectionate household. Sections on legal aspects, the difficulties breaking up, and single parenting are also included.
Nowadays, lesbians and gays are increasingly deciding to redefine the notion of “family” by utilizing new ways to have children and raise them. The everyday challenges these gay and lesbian families face are great, especially considering that homosexuality does not fit into the normative or traditional understanding of family values within our society. Brill’s Queer Parent’s Primer is a compassionate, empathetic guide that provides gay and lesbian parents with realistic parenting solutions to the several challenges they may face.
2. Lev, Arlene Istar, The Complete Lesbian and Gay Parenting Guide (2004)
Arlene Lev, lesbian mother and author of The Complete Lesbian and Gay Parenting Guide, offers guidance and practical wisdom and real-life stories. Lev believes gay parenting is a constructive and positive choice and confesses that it’s not always an easy decision. By challenging the traditional 21st century notions of what defines a “family,” she prepares gay parents to be for their journey, with everything they should expect and know in order to build an unconventional family. Topics include the options and challenges of family building, the difficulties along the way, seeking support and community, legal issues, and transracial adoption. Fans of this book would call it a classic - a readable, indispensible resource - that’s intended for both scholars and gay parents to be.
3. Martin, April, The Lesbian and Gay Parenting Handbook: Creating and Raising Our Families (1993)
April Martin, psychotherapist and lesbian parent of two, explores many key issues associated with GLBT parenting in her book, The Lesbian and Gay Parenting Handbook: Creating and Raising Our Families, which is another indispensible resource according to fans. This book is intended for both lesbians and gay men who are either thinking about or are involved in same sex parenting. Advice and information was accumulated from about 60 families and draws on her own personal experience. She also refers readers to more resources in different areas of the book. Martin covers an enormous amount of topics in regards to family building, such as surrogacy, fertility treatments (i.e. alternative insemination), adoption, co-parenting, and legal issues. She also addresses family roles, family crises, how to handle antihomosexual bias, and how to deal with any issues children might have when growing up with gay or lesbian parents. The Lesbian and Gay Parenting Handbook should be an essential component of any gay parents to be’s library.