Out Law: What LGBT Youth Should Know about Their Legal Rights (Queer Action/ Queer Ideas) (Paperback)

by Lisa Keen (Author)
Key Phrases: limited open forum, nonprocreative sex, indecent liberties, United States, Boy Scouts, First Amendment (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Ajournalist covering LGBT issues and gay legislation for more than 20 years, Keen delivers a sharp and coherent analysis of legal issues affecting LGBT kids today. After expertly guiding readers through a brief, easily digestible history of gay legislation, Keen empowers young gay people to not only know what their rights are but to stand up for them—whether facing threats or harassment from police, a teacher or a kid at school. In each case, she spells out what those rights are and how to properly assert them. Along the way, Keen relates some horrifying and tragic accounts of civil and constitutional rights abuse against LGBT kids, as well as extraordinary examples of those who stood up and made a difference, not only in their own communities, but in shaping the overall climate of gay legislation today. Geared to LGBT teenagers, this important, eye-opening book is also an essential read for any parent with a gay child. Loaded with appendixes, Keen's book gives useful information such as how to look up a law, a time line of legal landmarks, how and where to find legal help and organizations for LGBT youth. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Established journalist Keen has written an indispensable introduction to the legal rights of LGBT youth. Though she's not trained in the law, Keen has clearly done her research, and the result is a systematic and comprehensive survey that belongs in every library. The second title in Beacon's Queer Action/Queer Ideas series, this well-organized and clearly written volume is, as Kevin Jennings notes in his foreword, "something of a survival guide for LGBT students." Though not intended to be a self-help guide, the book does a fine job of introducing students--and their parents, teachers, friends, and advocates--to the system of law, ranging from the Constitution to local statutes, that articulates their rights to free speech, privacy, assembly, and more. Eight appendixes, a glossary, and 14 pages of notes provide essential additional information and documentation. Michael Cart
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Beacon Press (June 13, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807079669
• ISBN-13: 978-0807079669
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #561,835 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #100 in	Books > Children's Books > Reference & Nonfiction > Law & Crime

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Handbook, June 18, 2007

By	Amos Lassen (Little Rock, Arkansas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Keen, Lisa. "Out Law: What LGBT Youth Should Know About Their Legal Rights", Beacon Press, 2007.



A Legal Guide



Amos Lassen and Literary Pride



There are many legal issues that we as GLBT people face and there are many legal rights that we have that many of us are simply unaware of. With the publication of Lisa Keen's "Out Law", we know can know where we stand in terms to today's legal system. Keen is a journalist and she has written a handbook that is indispensable introduction to the legal system of America in regards to the rights of LGBT youth. Here is a systematic and comprehensive look that every person should become aware of and which every library should have a copy. If we are to survive, we must know our rights. Basically written for students, it has something for everyone. It covers not only the Constitution but local statutes as well and gives invaluable information about the rights of free speech, privacy, assembly, and much more.

Keen's analysis is clear, sharp and coherent. It begins by looking at gay legislation and Keen explains that the road to empowerment is easier to travel upon if we know what our rights are. She further tells us that we must stand up for what we believe in and for what is legally ours. Harassment or facing threats from police, teachers, kids at school or other citizens can de dealt with legally if we know what the law says. She also gives us examples of what happens if we do not stand up for what s legally ours alongside of examples of those who did stand up and by doing so made a difference. It is not only our community that can be affected by standing up but the overall state of gay legislation.

Added to text are eight appendices, a glossary and pages of notes. Mixed in with everything else is the history of the gay community, information about sexual orientation and preference and hints for activism. This is a book that no one should be without.