Family Outing [Hardcover]

Chastity Bono (Author), Billie Fitzpatrick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998

From Chastity Bono, daughter of Sonny & Cher, heroine of the gay community: the first comprehensive guide to the coming-out process from the perspective of both gays & lesbians & their parents.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Family Outing is two books in one: a memoir of Chastity Bono's experience coming out as a lesbian to her famous parents and a look at the difficulties and triumphs that are part of every uncloseted homosexual's family life, with narratives drawn from interviews with members of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). Sometimes the two projects work against each other, but for the most part, Bono is right in assuming that her story reflects something larger in the culture and that others' stories, in turn, bear on her own experience. Readers skimming for intimate details about the mother-daughter conflict between Cher and Chastity won't be disappointed by Bono's sensitively written account. For a long time, Cher overlooked the troubling evidence of her daughter's emerging sexual identity: "Instead, she focused on superficial issues that bothered her: my short hair, my mannish clothes, my weight." Their relationship deteriorated, and it was Sonny to whom Chastity eventually confided; ironically, the father who offered immediate, warm acceptance of his daughter's lesbianism would later sponsor the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act in the House of Representatives. --Regina Marler

From Publishers Weekly

By encouraging more than a dozen gay and lesbian young adults (and their parents) to tell their coming-out stories along with her own, Bono transforms what could have been a tell-all celebrity memoir into an essential coming-out guide. In 1990, Sonny and Cher's 20-year-old daughter, Chastity, was outed as a lesbian by the tabloids. Although she had been aware of her sexual orientation by age 13 (and out to her parents by 18?much to Cher's dismay, at first), this public outing sent her scurrying back into the closet for five years. A relationship with an older woman, whom Chastity nursed in a losing battle with cancer, strengthened her commitment to living her life out of the closet. She publicly came out on the cover of the gay newsweekly, the Advocate, in 1995 and began working in the political arena. Bono's own story is one of many oral histories woven by the authors into a tapestry of coming-out tales that range from positive to harrowing. Despite the differing backgrounds and experiences of the protagonists, all stories end with reconciled families feeling closer than before. The author reports that 50,000 young people attempt suicide annually, and 30% of all completed youth suicides are by gay youths. This moving, ultimately reassuring book puts a human face on these statistics and, in doing so, may save lives. Fitzpatrick is a writer and editor. Author tour; U.K. and translation rights, Little, Brown. (Oct.) FYI: October is National Coming Out Month.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316102334
• ISBN-13: 978-0316102339
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.9 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,825,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Nonfiction > Coming Out

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Much-needed Resource and Guide July 11, 2001

By Paige Turner VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

It is a shame that this book, along with Betty DeGeneres' "Love, Ellen" book, weren't available 20-30 years ago. These books could have saved thousands of gays and lesbians and their parents much pain and anguish. Coming out is never easy, but this book and Betty's can help to serve as a great starting point. Chastity talks about her own coming-out process; most importantly, she includes coming-out testimonies from ordinary, every-day folks. Sensitively written, this book is a valuable tool. To those who cannot bring themselves to disclose, buy this book for help and guidance. To those who cannot bring themselves to accept, buy this book (and Betty's too), and become enlightened.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Isn't frilly and foolish ... exceptional July 6, 2001

By Thomas Ligotti Reader

Format:Hardcover

Family Outing is an exceptional book. Chastity Bono is real, honest, and upfront. Not only does she tell us what it was like to "come out" to her famous parents (Sonny and Cher), but tells the stories of many ordinary, down-to-earth people. Chastity comes across as the type of person you could curl up on the sofa and just shoot the breeze. Just a great person.

Ms. Bono has written a book that isn't depressing, isn't frilly and foolish, yet is emotionally bound without all the goos and gaas.

I recommend Family Outing highly. Some day it'll be compulsive reading in schools. Excellent job, Chastity.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I was reading about my own life August 15, 2000

By Brookster31

Format:Paperback

The tears that rolled down my cheeks as I read through this book were a reminder to me that I was certainly not alone when it came to "outing" myself to friends and family. Because this comes straight from real life experiences, you take the ride with Chastity and those amazing people she spoke to throughout her book and read about their various experiences in "coming out". I know that many people of all ages who have or are going to "come out" should at least try to read this amazing book because believe me, it made me a lot wiser, stronger and confident and finally telling my family and friends that I was a lesbian not only became easier but gave me a real sence of freedom to finally be me.