Books for Parents

Books with a are available through COLAGE BY PHONE ORDER ONLY. Please contact the office (415) 861-5437) for purchasing information. Most of the otther books can be purchased at your local bookstore or online through "A Different Light Bookstore".

• Books for parents
• Publications of Interest
• Out-of-Print Books

Books for Parents

	A Legal Guide For Lesbian and Gay Couples, 10th Edition An excellent resource for all lesbian and gay couples: includes information on custody, parent’s and partner’s rights, and domestic partner benefits. H. Curry & D. Clifford. Nolo Press, Berkeley (1999)		All The Ways Home A collection of stories written for and by lesbian and gay parents exploring what it means to be a parent in the queer community. Ed. By C. Rizzo, J. Schneiderman, L. Schweig, J. Shafer and J. Stein. New Victoria Publishers, Norwich (1995)
	Becoming The Parent You Want To Be A parenting “manual” that incorporates diverse viewpoints about raising children.  Addresses toilet learning, parental anger, moving beyond punishment, resolving conflicts, sharing, playing, parenting with a partner, and gender roles. L. Davis & J. Keyser. Broadway Books, New York  (1997)		Considering Parenthood: A Handbook for Lesbians, 2nd Ed. Everything you need to know about the process of becoming a parent - a little dated but still useful.  By one of the premeire experts in the nation. C. Pies. Spinsters Book Co., Minneapolis (1988)
	Families of Value A collection of stories depicting the diversity of glbt parents and their children. The most recent book on glbt families. J. Drucker.  Plenum Press, NY (1998)		Families We Choose:  Lesbians, Gays, Kinship Analysis of the history, sociology, and politics of gays, lesbians, and their families. K. Weston. Columbia University Press, NY (1991)
	Final Closet:  The Gay Parents’ Guide for Coming Out to Their Children R. Corley.  Editech Press, Miami (1990)		Gay Fathers Guide to dealing with issues of gay fatherhood.  Based on statistics and case histories. R. Barret & B. Robinson. Lexington Books, Lexington, MA (1990)
	Getting Simon: Two Gay Doctors’ Journey to Fatherhood A journal on the efforts a same-sex couple must make, and emotional costs they must pay to adopt. Contains an application and contract for a surrogate mother and a birth plan. K. Morgen, PhD. Bramble Company, Bearsville, NY (1995)		Growing Up in a Lesbian Family An academic look at children raised by lesbians, sometimes in comparison with children in straight households. Golombok & Tasker.  Gilford Press, New York (1997)
	Legal Affairs: Essential Advice for Same-Sex Couples A book written for same-sex couples that covers social, legal, psychological, and financial aspects of forming or dissolving same-sex partnerships. F. Hertz. Henry Holt & Company (1998)		Lesbian and Gay Men as Foster Parents. Legal analysis, political reporting, and social science review of welfare policy and the foster care system. W. Ricketts.  National Child Welfare Resource Center for Management and Administration. (1992)
	Lesbian and Gay Parenting Handbook The complete guide to queer parenting including many examples of gay and lesbian parents and their kids. By noted author and psychologist April Martin. A.Martin.  Harper Collins, NY (1993)		Lesbian Mothers Mothers telling their stories in their own words - discussing child care, friends and lover, finances, and custody. E. Lewin. Cornell U. Press, Ithaca (1993)
	Lesbian Parenting: Living with Pride and Prejudice A collection of articles examining the multi-faceted experience of lesbian parenthood.  Both theoretical and wise, based on study and experience. K. Arnup. Genergy Books, Charlottetown, Canada. (1995)		The Lesbian Parenting Book: A Guide to Creating Families and Raising Children D. Merilee Clunis, G. Dorsey Green. Seal Press, (1995)
	Lesbians Raising Sons A collection of essays on what it means to be a lesbian raising a son.  Addresses such issues as feminism, coping with homophobia, and male role models. Ed. By J. Wells. Alyson  Publications, New York (1997)		Lesbian Step Families:  An Ethnography of Love Explores five families definitions of the step parent role and how they accomplish parenting tasks. J. Wright.  Harrington Park Press, Binghampton, NY (1998)
	Living “Difference”: Lesbian Perspectives on Work and Family Life A collection of essays that explore the dyanmics of lesbian relationships - specifically how they shape family and work life. Ed. by G. Dunne. Haworth Press, Inc., London. (1998)		Love Makes a Family: Portraits of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Parents and Their Families Beautifully combines interviews and photographs to document the experiences of LGBT parents and their children. Photography by G. Kaeser, ed. By P. Gillespie.  U. of Massachusetts Press, Amherst (1999)
	Mother Journeys: Feminists Write about Mothering A collection of essays, stories, poems, and artwork dealing with the co-existance of feminism and motherhood. Ed. by M. Reddy, M. Roth, & A. Sheldon. Spinsters Inc, Minneapolis (1994)		Mother’s On Trial:  A Battle for Children and Custody Insightful feminist analysis of how the system is prejudiced against men, women and children. P. Chesler.  McGraw-Hill (1986)
	Nobody’s Children: Orphans of the HIV Epidemic This book incorporates statistics andfacts with the personal experiences of children whose lives have been affected by the HIV epidemic. S. Dansky. Harrington Park Press, Binghamton, NY (1997)		Opening Doors: Lesbian & Gay Parents and Schools A handbook for parents and educators that explores the relationship between parents, their children, child care and school personnel to create a more inclusive educational environment for children of lgbt parents. A. Gelnaw. Family Pride Coalition, San Diego. (1999)
	Other Side of the Closet:  The Coming-Out Crisis for Straight Spouses and Families Based on five years of research, this book explores major issues that arise for straight spouses when their wives or husbands come out. A. Pierce-Buxton. John Wiley & Sons, New York.  (1994)		Our Families, Our Values Explores what “family” means inside the queer community, as well as the challenges glbt families present to the straight community. R. Goss & A. Strongheart.  Hayworth Press (1997)
	Politics of the Heart:  A Lesbian Parenting Anthology An anthology of writing on lesbian parenting by politicians, mothers, co-parents, and women with no children. Ed. by Sandra Pollack and J. Vaughn. Firebrand Books, Ithica (1987)		Reinventing the Family:  The Emerging Story of Lesbian & Gay Parents A discourse on the issues involved in lgbt parenting:  custody, foster care, AIDS, adoption. L. Benkov.  Crown Publishing, NY (1994)
	School's Out : The Impact of Gay and Lesbian Issues on America's Schools A book that explores all aspects of gay and lesbian issues in public schools, from queer youth to their straight allies to safe sex. D. Woog. Alyson Publications, Boston (1995)		Trans Forming Families: Real Stories About Transgendered Loved Ones Thirty one stories by spouses, parents, children, and friends exploring the journey, struggle, and delight of having a transgendered loved one. M. Boenke. Waterford Press, 1999
	There’s Something I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You True life stories from 25 lesbians and gay parents who have come out to their children. L. MacPike. Naiad Press, Tallahassee  (1989)		Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy for Lesbians A resource book written specifically for lesbians on how to get pregnant, how to maintain your health, protect your legal rights, give birth, be a single parent, or be a co-parent. R. Pepper. Cleis Press, San Francisco (1999)
	The Velveteen Father A moving memoir of a gay man’s unexpected journey into fatherhood as he meets and falls in love with another gay man who has adopted children. J. Green. Villard, New York (1999)		Waiting in the Wings:  Portrait of Queer Motherhood A journal of being a lesbian mother and a writer during the first four years of her son’s life. C. Moraga.  Firebrand, Ithaca (1997)
	When Husbands Come Out Of The Closet This book discusses what happens to wives whose husbands come out. Talks about sexual orientation, the coming out process, women’s reactions, and AIDS. J. Gochros.  Harrington Park Press, Binghamton, NY (1989)		Women In Love: Portraits of Lesbian Mothers & Their Families A beautiful collection of photographs and stories of lesbian mothers and their families. Photographs by B. Seyda with D. Herrera. Bulfinch Press, Boston. (1998)

Publications of Interest

	Alternative Family Magazine A magazine that focuses mostly on glbt parents and publishes an wide array of articles on current issues, commentary, resources and directories. AFM Publishing P.O. Box 5650 River Forest, IL 60305 altfammag@aol.com		Just For Us The only publication specifically for children of glbt parents. Includes letters and articles written by children addressing issues frequently faced by children of lgbt parents, comics, a special section for younger children. COLAGE 3543 18th St., #1 San Francisco, CA 94110 colage@colage.org
	Gay Parenting A slim publication addressing the concerns of gay and lesbian parents and potential parents including a resource list and directory. Gay Parent Magazine P.O. Box 750852 Forest Hills, New York, 11375 gayparentmag@banet.com

	Different Mothers: Sons and Daughters of Lesbians Talk About Their Lives L. Rafkin (Ed.). Cleis Press, San Francisco (1990)		Family Values: Two Moms and Their Son P. Burke. Random House, New York (1993)
	Gay Parenting: A Complete Guide for Gay Men and Lesbians with Children J. Schulenberg. Doubleday, Garden City, NJ (1985)		Lesbian and Gay Men as Foster Parents W. Ricketts. National Child Welfare Resource Center for Management and Administration. (1992)
	Lesbian Parenting Book M. Clunis & D. Green. Seal Press, Seattle (1995)		Making Love Visible Photography by G. Manasse, Interviews by J. Swallow. The Crossing Press, Freedom, CA (1995)
	We Are Everywhere: Writings By and About Lesbian Parents H. Alpert. Crossing Press, Freedom. (1988)