Gr 9 Up--Personal narratives by 15 young people complement convincing commentary at the beginning of each chapter on what it is like to be young and gay. There are chapters on sexual identity, coming out, and the pain of being gay in high school (arguably our most homophobic institution). In addition, a chapter on religion-based attitudes toward homosexuality puts anti-gay rhetoric in perspective. Most of the narratives are by 18 to 21-year-olds who look back on their high school years with some degree of equanimity. Without melodramatics, they help the author make the case that intolerance toward homosexuality hurts young people the most. The book should prove an eye-opener for anyone who works with teenagers, and it is among a handful of titles on the subject that will be helpful to them. The format is stiff and the black-and-white photographs of the contributors are not well reproduced, but indentation of narratives enhances readability. A comprehensive collection of resources and a reading list are appended. Being Different is more subtle, and on the whole, more informative than Ann Heron's Two Teenagers in Twenty (Alyson, 1995), which contains 42 often powerful, but relatively unprocessed narratives by YAs. Roger Sutton's Hearing Us Out (Little, 1994) boasts a rich mix of narrative by lesbians and gays from all walks of life, written mostly from the vantage point of mature adulthood.
Claudia Morrow, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Card catalog description
Gay and lesbian teenagers relate their experiences regarding the discovery and acceptance of their sexual orientation.
