What If Someone I Know Is Gay?: Answers to Questions About Gay and Lesbian People (Plugged in)

Rating:
Summary: Required reading for ALL kids
Review: Eric Marcus has written this wonderful book for middle and early high school kids about homosexuality. Written in a question and answer format in larger print, this book tells the TRUTH to kids who might be questioning their sexuality, or might have a gay friend or family member, or are bigoted about gays. For older kids and adults, read Eric's book, "Is It a Choice?" It covers the same territory but in greater depth.

Homosexuality is usually not discussed at a middle school level, although children can sense sexual identity differences at this age between themselves and others. This often leads to shunning, confusion, prejudice, bullying, harassment and beatings. Some gay kids even have urine and feces thrown at them or are spit upon. If you condone or excuse this behavior you become part of the problem of gay harassment and hateful behavior.

The best way to avoid negative, bigoted behavior toward gays is to be proactive: buy this book for your child, your church, school, and home library. Homosexuality is a normal, natural expression of human sexuality. Let's take the lid off the pressure cooker of bigotry and become lesbigay advocates for all children everywhere. All straight, gay and questioning kids need this book's truth desperately. I highly recommend it as an educator and Lutheran church librarian.

Rating:
Summary: I Bought This Book...
Review: In this day and age, there simply can't be enough efforts made to erase the myths and misinformation that are being spread about homosexuality in many churches and communities. I think Marcus' writing is ideal for trying to reach a young age group; he is clear and concise. He doesn't depict anything as more or less than what it is, and he acknowledges in his introduction that he offers his opinions in addition to facts. There are too few people with opinions on the subject of homosexuality who are not humble enough to admit that they can't possibly know everything beyond any shadow of a doubt. But, aside from issues that are up for debate (such as exactly how many gay people there are, for example), Marcus explains what science has already accepted as factual and many religious extremists have yet to accept. A couple examples are the fact that homosexuality is not a choice and that it is not inherently dangerous. These may seem like truths we all know well, but there are still so many kids who are being taught otherwise. This book should be made available in young adults sections of public libraries and middle and high school libraries everywhere.

Rating:
Summary: Much needed
Review: In this day and age, there simply can't be enough efforts made to erase the myths and misinformation that are being spread about homosexuality in many churches and communities. I think Marcus' writing is ideal for trying to reach a young age group; he is clear and concise. He doesn't depict anything as more or less than what it is, and he acknowledges in his introduction that he offers his opinions in addition to facts. There are too few people with opinions on the subject of homosexuality who are not humble enough to admit that they can't possibly know everything beyond any shadow of a doubt. But, aside from issues that are up for debate (such as exactly how many gay people there are, for example), Marcus explains what science has already accepted as factual and many religious extremists have yet to accept. A couple examples are the fact that homosexuality is not a choice and that it is not inherently dangerous. These may seem like truths we all know well, but there are still so many kids who are being taught otherwise. This book should be made available in young adults sections of public libraries and middle and high school libraries everywhere.

Rating:
Summary: Just the Facts
Review: With all of the misinformation surrounding the subject of homosexuality, it is often hard for young people to get accurate information on this topic, especially if they don't know anyone gay and/or their parents are homophobic. This situation is tragic, I believe, because of all of the prejudice surrounding gays and lesbians. How can we possibly begin to debunk our ancestors' deep-seated hatred against homosexuals so that it isn't passed on to future generations? Eric Marcus has the answer -- education. In his book "What if Someone I Know is Gay?", Marcus answers some common questions about homosexuality and the lives of gays and lesbians. These questions include information on the basics of homosexuality, family, friends, religion, and school. The goal of Marcus's book, which follows up on the success of its adult version called "Is It A Choice?", is to help young people understand that gays and lesbians aren't very different from heterosexuals and, therefore, shouldn't be discriminated against. The book is well-written, articulate, informative, objective, and easy to follow. The questions that Marcus answers come from actual submissions by preteens and teenagers across the country. I believe that this book contains information that all young people need to know. With this new information, a new generation of leaders will begin to see homosexuals as humans deserving of equal rights and respect, not as inhuman animals that deserve to be mocked, ridiculed, and subjugated. I therefore recommend "What if Someone I Know is Gay?" to all young people and to all groups and organizations that serve young people (schools, churches, etc.). If this book can help just one person come to a more compassionate understanding of homosexuality, it will be an enormous success.