Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Wgbh Boston
• VHS Release Date: March 28, 2000
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304794568
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #354,684 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

From its title, When a Kid Is Gay sounds like a self-help guide for stressed-out parents of gay kids, a step-by-step program on what to do ("(1) do not panic, (2) stop panicking"). In actuality, this sensitively but realistically made special is a testament to the strength and determination of teens and young adults who are slowly but surely finding their way out of the closet. Profiling a gay and lesbian youth group in Worcester, Massachusetts, the program offers different looks at various group members who are all dealing with different aspects of coming out: Jason is wrestling with his religious beliefs, Chris is dealing with a hostile family environment, Jeremy is adjusting to being out in the real world, Amy feels she can't bring her girlfriend home to meet her parents, and such. What makes this quietly affecting special topnotch is that these kids are real, articulate, and honest, easy to identify with--this isn't some glossed-up Beverly Hills 90210-style video. They're going through all the pain and pressure of coming out and admirably wrestling with complex issues at a very young age. Kids who are just starting to explore their sexuality would do very well to watch When a Kid Is Gay, if only to see that the solitary experience of coming out is something that's universally dealt with by all members of the gay community. It won't offer any answers to specific questions, but When a Kid Is Gay does offer courage and hope to kids who are wrestling with their homosexuality. --Mark Englehart

Product Description

First crushes. Surging hormones. Add to the typical teen turmoil the fact of being gay, and matters of sexual identity can profoundly affect how, and even whether, kids live their lives. Meet the members of a private peer-support group for gay and lesbian teens in Worcester, Massachusetts, and hear some stories that range from shocking to poignant.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for parents too!, May 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: When a Kid Is Gay [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My husband and I suspected our teenage son was gay because of his lack of interest in girls and the way he was slowly isolating himself. We would have conversations in front of him discussing our understanding of different lifestyles and then one day we played this movie when he was around hoping he would stick around to watch it. He did watch it and a few weeks later he sat us down and said he had been thinking about something for a long time and the movie helped him feel better about confiding in us. He said he knew he was gay for a few years, but was frightened to say anything, he even considered committing suicide. But we showed him that we would not hate him or think of him as disgusting and that gave him the courage to tell us.

This movie saved our family and our son in particular a lot of pain.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this movie was the bomb of my week., May 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: When a Kid Is Gay [VHS] (VHS Tape)

i thoroughly enjoyed this movie as it made me believe that my decision to come out to my family and friends was the best decision that i ever made...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The number one helper in a year., June 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: When a Kid Is Gay [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie is so great that now i'm living home with my boyfriend, before i didn't see this movie i didn't tell anyone that i was gay but after i saw this movie i thought that i have to make a decidion and ask a guy out to the movies and after that we stick together. Thanks.