2nd Gen Resource List
For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning folks with LGBTQ parents
What is 2nd Gen?
2nd Generation is a term coined to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning folks of all ages who have LGBTQ parents. This resource lists includes both academic and news articles, books, documentaries, and cultural references of 2nd Gen people and issues. For more information about 2nd Gen email COLAGE at robin@colage.org
BOOKS
Bernstein, Robin and Silberman, Seth, eds. Generation Q: Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals Born Around 1969′s Stonewall Riots Tell Their Stories of Growing Up in the Age of Information. Alyson Publications, 2000. ISBN: 155583356X
Forney, Ellen. Monkey Food: The Complete “I Was Seven in ’75″ Collection, Fantagraphics Books 1999. This book is a collection of comics by a 2nd Generation artist and illustrator.
Gluckman, Ryn. “Relearning the Mother Tongue: Notes from a Second Generation Queer.” In Revolutionary Voices: A Multicultural Queer Youth Anthology. Amy Sonnie, ed. Alyson Publications, 2000.
Howey, Noelle; Samuels, Ellen, Eds. Out of the Ordinary: Essays on Growing Up With Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Parents. St. Martin’s Press 2000. A few of these essays are written by 2nd Generation adults.
Leavitt, David. The Lost Language of Cranes. Mariner Books; Reprint edition, 1997.
Maupin, Armistead. Tales of the City. This six-book serial about a variety of characters in San Francisco includes stories that are comical, poignant, suspenseful, and surprising. Includes LGBT characters, some of whom have kids, and some of whom are 2nd Gen.
Nicolson, Nigel. Portrait of a Marriage. University of Chicago Press, 1998 (reprint ed.) Gay author Nicholson writes of the marriage of his famous parents, the author Vita Sackville-West (who was Virginia Woolf’s longtime lover) and author, politician and diarist, Harold Nicolson, also a bisexual. This telling of his parent’s marriage shows a complex and truly original partnership.
Rafkin, Louise. Different Mothers: Sons and Daughters of Lesbians Talk About Their Lives. Cleis Press 1990. This book is a collection of reflections and stories written by young and adult children with lesbian mothers. Some of them are 2nd Gen.
MOVIES
The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love. While this movie focuses on the story of two youth kindling a relationship, the main character is a young dyke that lives with her lesbian aunts who act as her guardians.
Like Mother, Like Son. 1994. Documentary. Annette Kennerley’s five-year-old son talks about dressing up in women’s clothing in this eye-opening film from the United Kingdom.
The Lost Language of Cranes. 1992. Distributed by BBC Television. When a young gay may comes out of the closet. His friends support him, but when he comes out to his parents, he stirs up a wealth of hidden feelings and secrets in their relationship because his father is living a closeted gay existence. Based on the book by David Leavitt.
Our House: A Very Real Documentary About Kids with Lesbian and Gay Parents. By Meema Spadola. Six stories about youth of different ages and backgrounds with alternative families. One of the youth interviewed, Cade, is a 2nd Generation dyke who talks about coming out in a house of lesbians.
Shared Lives. By Tamsin Orion. A documentary about second generation lesbians.
The Sum of Us. By David Stevens. Australian movie with a “skipped” 2nd Generation: a gay man has a lesbian grandmother based on Steven’s play of the same name. 1994.
TV
High Society 1995 Short-lived comedy with supporting character Stefano (Luigi Amodeo) as a gay man with a lesbian mom.
Seinfeld 1990-1998. George’s deceased fiancee, Susan (portrayed by Heidi Swedberg), was a bisexual whose dad was also bi (and had an affair with noted author John Cheever!)
ARTICLES
“An Interview with Daniel Cherubin, Founder and Director, Second Generation” From NYC Center Kids Talk, Oct. 1998 http://www.gaycenter.org/kidstalk/sept98.htm#Daniel Cherubin
“Research Summery on Lesbian and Gay Parenting.” American Pscyhological Association Public Interest Directorate. 1995 www.apa.org/pi/parent.html
Garner, Abigail. “Second Generation: GLBT Kids of GLBT Parents.” From the Families Like Mine Website. http://www.familieslikemine.org/insight/SG.html
Kirby, David. “The Second Generation.” From the New York Times June 7, 1998. http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Village/3497/nytart.html
Weinstock, Laura J. “All in the Queer Family: Why Even Kids of Lesbians and Gay Men Have Trouble Coming Out to their Parents.” Curve Magazine. November, 2001.
WEBSITES
Advocates for Youth-www.advocatesforyouth.org
Coalition for Positive Sexuality-www.positive.org
COLAGE-www.colage.org
Youth Resource www.youthresource.org
MISCELLANEOUS
Bechdel, Allison. “Dykes to Watch Out For.” This comic series now includes many books that portray a diverse cast of characters including some mention of Second Gen issues.
Kirby, Robert. “Father and Son.” Comic strip.
This resource sheet was developed by:
COLAGE-People with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer Parents
4509 Interlake Ave N.
Seattle, WA 98103
www.colage.org colage@colage.org (855) 4-COLAGE