Outing Yourself: How to Come Out as Lesbian or Gay to Your Family, Friends, and Coworkers

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Summary: Simple, straightforward issues to consider
Review: I've never been much for touchy-feely self help style books. I loved Signorile's straightforward, just-the-facts presentation of what you should think about before coming out to friends, family, co-workers, etc. It was particularly helpful that he pointed out some of the ways parents typically react and what kinds of things I should think about before coming out... It was definitely a comforting addition to my support group of friends.

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Summary: "The" book to have when coming out!
Review: If you are pondering coming out, this is the book to have. I have just begun this process, and this book has changed my life profoundly. I cannot recommend it highly enough, it's like having a wise and reassuring friend who you can come back to again and again. I refer to it every day.

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Summary: recommended
Review: it's a hurdle on your path to coming out. you can do it.

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Summary: A powerful and important guide
Review: Outing Yourself was my introduction to the author, Michelangelo Signorile. It helped me immensely in my own coming out process, and led me to his other, more intellectual and gripping books. This book is for everyone who is dealing with coming out, and that means everyone, for we are always all coming out, as Mr. Signorile explains, every day.

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Summary: A must-read for those coming out
Review: Outing Yourself was such a great resource for me in my coming out. I gave it to four friends and each found it to be equally important to them. Every one of us held on to it--sometimes literally, particularly when the going got rough-- and went back to it when we needed support. I still do so. That's because it breaks the process down into steps and none of us is never fully finished. We're always dealing with these issues. And Signorile understands that rather simplifying it. I don't know what I'd have done without the book.

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Summary: It's your life, so live it well!
Review: This book is proof that we all change and many of us grow and improve with age! Signorile was one of the pioneers of 'outing' public figures, so you might expect him to be pushy and abrasive. Nothing could be further from the truth. Like a fine Port, he has mellowed. His insistence that 'the only healthy goal is to be completely out in all aspects of your life' may sound pushy, but the key word is 'goal:' maybe you aren't there yet. He is equally insistent--and completely supportive--that only you can decide when, where, and how is best. He offers specific strategies for different types of relationships (family members, co-workers. From an urban, political-activist queen, this is an enormously compassionate and empowering book, useful to people anywhere. Read it in New York and Dogpatch and everywhere else!

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Summary: Very helpful
Review: This book is terrific, for anyone coming out, already out, or considering coming out in the near future. If you're already out, it shows you what you can still do, how to be sure your friends and family don't fall into that trap of ignoring that you're gay after you've told them, etc. If you're in the process, the next step is clearly enumerated for you. It will help you avoid mistakes, things you'd never think of, which will make it easier on you and your family/friends. And if you're planning on coming out, this book will give you hope, and a goal. It will help you to know when you are ready, and what to make sure you have as a security net.
Outing Yourself is a much needed friend, always helpful, always personal and readable. I read it within three days of buying it, and I'm sure I'll refer back to it often.

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Summary: Helpful, except for the brainwashing
Review: This is a pretty good book for the person starting from ground zero in the coming out process. It's especially good for its advice on the difficult cases, like coming out to parents. However, some of the exercises the author presents remind me of "programming" tactics used by cults. If you aren't sure you're gay when you start reading, you'll be pretty convinced, for better or worse, by the end. The tone of Orland Outland's Coming Out is a good deal more playful and the subject matter much broader. They supplement each other pretty well.

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Summary: Gay? Read it. Straight? Give it!
Review: When I began coming out, I ended up with two copies of this book--the first two people I came out to gave me copies of this book, and both were straight. If you are straight and someone gay comes out to you early on in their coming-out process and you want to show them that you support them--this is a great book to give. And if you are gay and want helpful, level-headed advice about how and when to come out--this is a great book to get before you begin. Some key things I hadn't realized in coming out that this book touches on, for instance, is that the order you come out to your straight friends matters. Who knew? It's chock full of little tidbits of things you probably never thought about--and viewpoints on things you probably have thought about. All in all, this should be the first title in your gay or lesbian library. I can't tell you how much it helped me.