How Homophobia Hurts Children: Nurturing Diversity at Home, at School, and in the Community

Abstract

Contents * Acknowledgments * Introduction * Chapter 1. Shame Can Shatter Their Dreams * Homophobia: A Respectable Prejudice * The Gay Rights Movement * The Homosexual Debate: Pathology or Normal Variation? * Growing Up in a Homophobic Culture * What Is It Like to Grow Up Gay? * Adult Attitudes * Chapter 2. Myths and Fallacies * Myth: Homosexuality Is a Mental Illness * Myth: Homosexuality Can Be Cured * Myth: Homosexuality Is a Choice * Myth: Homosexuals Are Sexual Molesters * Myth: Homosexuals Will Convert Children to Homosexuality * Myths and Stereotypes Perpetuate Prejudice * Chapter 3. Identity Development * Erik Erikson's Stages of Child and Adolescent Development * Chapter 4. Coming Out * What Is Coming Out? * Early Childhood Experiences * Coming Out in High School * Coming-Out Models * What Do Youth Say About Coming Out? * Chapter 5. Parents and Families Coming Out * Why Should Parents Come Out? * How Do Parents React When They Discover Their Child Is Gay? * What Does Research Show? * Stages of Parental Coming Out * My Own Story * Mary Borhek's Story * Chapter 6. For All Parents * To Parents Who Don't Know Whether Their Child Is Gay * Family Reactions to Gay Children Coming Out * Comments * Chapter 7. What Happens to Gay Children at School? * Memories of Harassment and Intimidation * What Does Research Show About Harassment of Gays in Schools? * Cultural Permission for Antigay Harassment * The Hidden Gay Students * Intimidation and Harassment May Provoke Violence in Schools * Chapter 8. Students Tell Us How Schools Can Help * Actions Schools Can Take * A Gay Football Player Comes Out * Chapter 9. How Individuals Within the School System Can Help Gay Students * A Teacher's Coming-Out Story * What Else Can Teachers Do? * What Can School Counselors and School Psychologists Do? * What Can School Administrators and School Boards Do? * Chapter 10. Gay Youth Support Groups * Students Speak About the Groups * A School Nurse * An English Teacher * A Chemistry Teacher * A Librarian * Chapter 11. A School Climate Survey * Background * Why Students Did or Did Not Intervene * Why Gay Students Would or Would Not Feel Safe in School * Summary * Chapter 12. Transcending the Stigma * Are Gays and Lesbians Exceptional? * What's Good About Being Gay? * Chapter 13. Enlightened Mayor Seeks Acceptance for Gay Youths * Chapter 14. For Mental Health Professionals * Chapter 15. Legal and Social Policy Barriers and How They Affect Gay Children * The Right to Marry * Antidiscrimination Legislation * Antidiscrimination Policies in the Schools * Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Gays in the Military * Archaic Sex Laws * Boy Scout Policies * Policies About AIDS * Antigay Hate Crimes * Changing Laws and Policies Can Help Our Gay Children * Chapter 16. Transgender Identity * Gender Benders * Transvestites * Androgyne * Transsexuals * Intersexed * Nature versus Nurture Revisited * Chapter 17. Personal Stories of Transsexuals Growing Up * Michael (Once Michelle) * Alexander (Once Virginia Allegra) * Mark (Once Vivian) * Jeffrey/Adrianna * Comments * Chapter 18. The Tipping Point * References * Index