Review of "GLBTQ"

GLBTQ is a guide for young people who know or suspect they are not straight.  It takes a positive and encouraging attitude toward being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or questioning.  It is full of questions and answers, personal statements by queer teens, suggestions about how to respond to taunting, degrading comments, and peer pressure to have sex.  The eleven chapters discuss homophobia, coming out, friends and community, dating and relationships, sex and sexuality, health, religion, and life beyond high school.  It explodes myths about sexuality and provides good information about GLBTQ sexuality.  It acknowledges how difficult it can be to live in a prejudiced society and the dangers of stress and depression that so many GLBTQ teens suffer.  The book gives advice about how to cope with such feelings and stay strong and resilient. 

Kelley Huegel's advice sounds sensible.  She explains that drinking and drugs don't make life easier and pose their own very serious risks.  She explains that teens should only have sex when they are sure they are ready to do so.  She spells out the nature of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and what to do about it.  She discusses the rates of self-harm and suicide by GLBTQ teens, and what you should do if you have suicidal feelings.  Of course, the advice is not going to cover every possible difficulty that young people will experience, but GLBTQ is a good place to start. 

 

© 2004 Christian Perring. All rights reserved.

 

Christian Perring, Ph.D., is Academic Chair of the Arts & Humanities Division and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Dowling College, Long Island. He is also editor of Metapsychology Online Review.  His main research is on philosophical issues in medicine, psychiatry and psychology.