Product Description

Explores a group caught betwen the homosexual and heterosexual worlds

This greatly expanded edition of Gay Fathers contains a wealth of new real-life stories and up-to-date information that celebrates the power of gay fatherhood. Inspiring, definitive, scientifically researched, and experientially based, this thoroughly updated volume offers the most current data and concrete suggestions for dealing with the myriad and complex issues of gay parenting. Gay Fathers is the definitive resource for the more than one million gay fathers and their families and loved ones living in the United States and Canada.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1244437 in Books
• Published on: 2000-07
• Released on: 2000-06-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Amazon.com Review
Written from a therapeutic and academic perspective and filled with the insights of gay fathers themselves, as well as the authors (Bryan Robinson is a professor of child and family development, Robert Barret a professor and psychologist), Gay Fathers draws on new research to explain the difficulties that gay men face in parenting, and the ways in which their own feelings about their sexuality can affect their relationships with their children. Originally published 10 years ago, this newly revised volume should become a principal resource for social workers, counselors, clergy, and gay dads, offering affirming solutions to problems in step-parenting, the complexities of adoption, and the grief that some men may feel in losing parenting privileges as they leave their straight marriages and come out of the closet. Other topics include gay spirituality, relationships with ex-spouses and with nuclear family, and how to come out to your children. The book features practical, readable, sober advice as well as a call for scientifically sound, longitudinal studies of gay parents and their experiences. --Regina Marler

Review
"For gay men who have struggled to create a family in a world of bias and obstacles, this book is a wonderful tribute to the challenges and joys of parenting. Gay Fathers is a wonderful, honest tribute to fathers who have overcome all odds to make this world a better place for our children, an essential book for gay fathers and those who are considering parenthood." (C. Ray Drew, executive director, Family Pride Coalition)

"Gay Fathers, which was a wonderful contribution to the development of knowledge about gay men when it was first printed a decade ago, is even better in its new and revised form. Utilizing rich case examples, Bob Barret and Bryan Robinson give voice to a group that has for too long been ignored. In their examination of the many faces of gay fatherhood, the authors permit the reader to fully consider the complexity of what it means to be a gay father." (Gerald P. Mallon, assistant professor, Hunter College School of Social Work, New York)

From the Inside Flap
In the more than ten years since the first edition of Gay Fathers was published, the gay rights movement has made great strides. The most current research reveals that most gay fathers are good parents, raising healthy, well-adjusted kids. Gays and lesbians have become part of mainstream America and parenting is no longer seen as an exclusive right of heterosexuals. Today, more and more openly gay men are choosing to become fathers.Addressing the revolutionary changes affecting gay parenthood, this greatly expanded edition of Gay Fathers includes a wealth of information that supports the joys of gay fathering. With wisdom and heart, the authors embrace the many types of gay fatherhood-unmarried gay fathers, single and adoptive gay fathers, gay fathers with intact marriages, single gay fathers, gay father stepfamilies, two gay fathers and a lesbian mother, and separated or divorced gay fathers-and offer practical guidance for gay dads and their families no matter what their situation.This compassionate resource is filled with a broad range of helpful material and addresses many of the key issues that concern gay fathers:? Guidance for navigating through the latest changes in the adoption and surrogate parenting processes? Current facts about the most pertinent legal issues? New case studies that explore the strengths of gay fathering? Targeted information about successful stepparenting? Heartfelt advice for gay grandfathers? An enlightening guide to the spiritual aspects of gay fathering? A handy listing of useful Internet resourcesIn addition to affirming the rich potential of gay parenting, this intelligent book goes a long way to destroy many of the deeply ingrained homophobic stereotypes.[Headline] If you are a gay dad--or love someone who is—this book is your hands-on guide to the joys and challenges of gay fatherhoodThis greatly expanded edition of Gay Fathers contains a wealth of new real-life stories and up-to-date i

Customer Reviews

A little dated; a little disappointing.
Simply put, I was disappointed with the book. The material and examples of gay fatherhood seemed dated. The style was also troubling--the book was written from a therapist's perspective, and it was clearly meant for other mental health professionals (although not necessarily marketed as such). With that said, the only therapists who might benefit from reading it would be straight ones, who have had little or no experience treating gay patients (or gay parents). If you are a gay person considering parenthood, spend your money elsewhere.

Pioneering book on gay dads.
Gay Fathers: Encouraging the Hearts of Gay Dads and Their Families
First published in 1990, for many years Gay Fathers was the only book available on the topic of gay fatherhood. In keeping with the times in which it was published, i.e., before the Gayby Boom, its primary focus is on gay men who become fathers through heterosexual marriages. While it was slightly revised in 2000 with additional material to reflect the rise of adoption and other means of fatherhood, much of the material addressed by this book seems dated and irrelevant in these days of Out, Loud and Proud gay fatherhood.

Paradoxically, with gay men with children from previous heterosexual relationships now in the minority among gay fathers, this book has become a valuable resource for this relatively underserved group. With extensive material on issues such as disclosure, custody, separation and divorce, and dealing with wives and other family members, Gay Fathers has come full circle into relevance once again.

An excellent start in this topic area--we need more
The book is now nearly 8 years old, but many of the anecdotes and much of the research is still relevant to those of us going through a divorce or parenting a child with an alternative lifestyle. The book includes excerpts from individuals with their personal experiences and their feelings, along with practice pointers for practitioners in the mental health field. It is an excellent resource for anyone going through a divorce as a result of the sexuality issue. However, I think that if the book were written today, the anecdotes would be more relevant to how our society is now dealing with gays and Dads who are gay. I think the book should also include a section stressing the fact that it is possible to have a perfectly normal relationship with your child as raising a child has little or nothing to do with the sexuality of the parent, as parents do not relate to children on a sexual level. There are thousands of gay dads out there that could use even more information such as this. I hope that Barrett will consider a follow-up or sequal that is current with our change in society regarding homosexuals and their contribution to society.