Family Outing : A Guide to the Coming-Out Process for Gays, Lesbians and Their Families

From Chastity Bono, daughter of Sonny & Cher, heroine of the gay community: the first comprehensive guide to the coming-out process from the perspective of both gays & lesbians & their parents.

By encouraging more than a dozen gay and lesbian young adults (and their parents) to tell their coming-out stories along with her own, Bono transforms what could have been a tell-all celebrity memoir into an essential coming-out guide. In 1990, Sonny and Cher's 20-year-old daughter, Chastity, was outed as a lesbian by the tabloids. Although she had been aware of her sexual orientation by age 13 (and out to her parents by 18?much to Cher's dismay, at first), this public outing sent her scurrying back into the closet for five years. A relationship with an older woman, whom Chastity nursed in a losing battle with cancer, strengthened her commitment to living her life out of the closet. She publicly came out on the cover of the gay newsweekly, the Advocate, in 1995 and began working in the political arena. Bono's own story is one of many oral histories woven by the authors into a tapestry of coming-out tales that range from positive to harrowing. Despite the differing backgrounds and experiences of the protagonists, all stories end with reconciled families feeling closer than before. The author reports that 50,000 young people attempt suicide annually, and 30% of all completed youth suicides are by gay youths. This moving, ultimately reassuring book puts a human face on these statistics and, in doing so, may save lives. Fitzpatrick is a writer and editor. Author tour; U.K. and translation rights, Little, Brown. (Oct.) FYI: October is National Coming Out Month.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

People who pick up this book expecting a lot of juicy gossip about Chastity Bono's famous parents are going to be disappointed. Instead, Bono takes an honest look at the painful process of coming out to one's family. She doesn't rely solely on her own experience; instead, she chronicles the stories of several gays and lesbians and their parents, moving from one story to another to reiterate recurring themes. Bono emphasizes the relief gays and lesbians feel at not having to hide an important part of their lives from their families?no matter how negative a parent's reaction might be. She introduces the intriguing idea that parents who can truly see their children as separate individuals instead of extensions of themselves have an easier time handling the news. Although Bono does belabor some points, such as her mother's negative reaction to her coming out, this book is highly recommended for public libraries and undergraduate collections. Bono has scheduled appearances on Oprah and Good Morning America, so demand should be high.
-?Pamela A. Matthews, Gettysburg Coll. Lib., PA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Can a book about maintaining family cohesion during and after a gay child's coming-out match a tell-all about Sonny and Cher penned by their daughter? Surprise! Chastity Bono's book does both in highly readable fashion. Bono's life story is interspersed with growing-up stories from other young gays and lesbians. The book is intended to help gay teens deal with their parents and their sexuality without driving anyone away. After coming out, Bono "realized . . . that by sharing my story and especially my experience with my family, specifically my mother, Cher, I might be able to help people arrive at the happy place I am now." The stuff about Cher is revealing. Not surprisingly, Cher seems a little manipulative or overbearing, with a disconnection between her public persona and her private self--not unlike noncelebrities. Though given to hobnobbing with openly gay associates, Cher was initially displeased by her daughter's emerging sexual orientation. More surprisingly, conservative Republican Sonny was just fine with it. But that's what's great about celebrity kid bios--whether it's finding out that Joan Crawford and Bing Crosby were monstrous, abusive parents, or that pro-family mouthpiece Sonny Bono was personally supportive of his lesbian daughter, it's better to hear the story from one who was there. Mike Tribby