The final closet : the gay parents' guide for coming out to their children /

Although often clumsy--a matter of word choice, not grammar--Corley's counsel for parents who are considering telling their children they're gay is clear, gay-positive, and supportive unto (admirably compassionate) wishy-washiness in such have-your-cake-and-eat-it statements as "it is your duty and responsibility to come out, if that be your choice." (If it's a duty and responsibility, what good alternative does one have?) Appropriately, Corley stresses the duty and responsibility rather than the choice to inform children. Mostly short chapters cover particular attitudes and fears that stand in the way of candor. Considerably longer ones, incorporating cases from Corley's and other therapists' practices, model different ways to come out to children of different ages, including adult children. Concluding chapters advise generally on the legal ramifications of coming out to children and discuss how AIDS may become a coming-out issue. A unique parent's adviser that well may come in handy in any public library. Large resource list appended. --Ray Olson

Psychotherapist Corley addresses himself to the growing number of lesbians and gay men with parental responsibilities. The many complications they face in raising their children make a book on this topic very inviting, but, unfortunately, Corley here misses the mark. Poorly written, organized, and edited, his book reads like something that was thrown together without being carefully thought out. Occasional helpful insights do not make up for the weaknesses. A list of organizations of interest to the primary readership is appended, but this list would have been more helpful if arranged geographically. A disappointment.-- James Michael MacLeod, Library of Congress (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.