Our Families, Our Values: Snapshots of Queer Kinship (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies)

Rating:
Summary: An excellent sampler
Review: First, a disclaimer. I wrote the third essay of this book. Yet even if I hadn't, I would still consider this to be an excellent book and the finest anthology of essays on the spiritual nature of same sex relationships and families. However, it is important to be clear about what it is and what it is not. It is a sampler, and not a systematic presentation of a single integrated "theory," or even a systematic presentation of multiple "theories." A number of different, and even conflicting, takes on our relationships are presented by the various authors. This is also not a scholarly treatise, but it is written to intellectually engage the general reader. It is not fluff. It is collection of thoughtful essays -- some are written from the first person, and all are expressions of the real experiences of a very diverse collection of writers. Some of the pieces may strike a postive chord, and others may offend, depending on the individual reader. Hopefully, all will make the reader think about something new.