1. Tell us a bit about your family…
I am an only child raised in Chicago by a lesbian mother and heterosexual father. My parents were in a heterosexual union but divorced when I was two. They co-parented in separate homes for years. I did a lot of moving back and forth. My “siblings” were my Dobermans.
2. What inspired you to write this book?
I was inspired to write this book to share the voices and experiences of youth with LGBTQ parents. Forty-four individuals are profiled in this book. I also wanted to provide youth with answers to common questions and empower them to fight for social justice.
3. How did your experience as a Chicago Chapter Leader influence how you wrote the book?
I wanted to be sure that I was talking to and not at the individuals reading this book. In our chapter meetings, we were very conversational, connected and laid-back. I was hoping that this book would harness the same casual, upbeat, fun energy.
4. How did you decide what to ask people with LGBTQ parents to share in the book?
I based my questions on common questions I heard as a chapter leader and that I thought others would be interested in knowing about.
5. What was one of the most challenging parts of writing the book?
I wanted to make sure that many voices were represented. The whole COLAGE community, especially Meredith Fenton, Monica Canfield-Lenfest, and Jeff DeGroot, came together to help me find underrepresented voices. Another difficult part was transcribing all of the interviews and compiling the surveys. Staying organized and focused was critical.
6. Did you have any “aha” moments during the process of writing the book?
Yes, I realized that there was so much that I didn’t know about the LGBT community. I learned so much during this process! I also realized how beautifully diverse our families are and that it was the right choice to allow others to speak for themselves. I am simply the facilitator of a much larger conversation.
7. If there is one thing you want people to take away after reading the book, what would it be?
I want people to “take away” the understanding that we as individuals with LGBTQ parents are the real experts. We have to own our experiences and not allow others to tell the world who we are and how we’ll turn out. Only we know that and must claim our voices so that others won’t silence us. I also hope that this book will be seen as a call to action. I think that we are well-positioned to change the world and fight for equality and social justice. Find your voice and your cause, then go out and make the world a better place.
8. Why is COLAGE’s 20th Anniversary significant to you?
First of all, I am so proud of COLAGE making it 20 years! It took fortitude, perseverance and a ridiculous amount of genius. COLAGE has impacted so many lives and I’m honored to be part of such an amazing and trailblazing organization. This book wouldn’t have been written or published without COLAGE. They have been there for me every step of the way. Second, I am pretty shy and humble. I don’t volunteer to get a “thanks”. I do it because it comes from the heart and makes me feel good. So when I found out about being honored at the party, I freaked out a bit. I’m very thankful and really am humbled. There are dozens of chapter leaders doing the same thing, trying to support our families and pave the way for new leaders. COLAGE rocks!