Books
Alyson,
Sasha, editor. Young, Gay and Proud! 3rd ed. Boston: Alyson
Publications, 1991. ISBN: 1555830013.
Geared toward high school students, this book answers questions such as, "Am
I the only one?" "What would my friends think if I told
them?" "Should I tell my parents?" and "How can I
avoid AIDS?"
Bauer,
Marion Dane, editor. Am I Blue? Coming Out From the Silence. New
York: Trophy Press, 1995. ISBN: 0064405877.
An
award-winning anthology of funny, sad, and memorable short stories for
teens about coming out as gay or lesbian. Contributors
include C.S. Adler, Bruce Coville, Nancy Garden,
Cristina Salat, William Sleator, and Jacqueline Woodson.
Bornstein, Kate. My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real
Woman, the Real You, or Something Else
Entirely. New York: Routledge, 1998. ISBN:
0415916739.
Bornstein offers a series of humorous and poignant exercises around issues of
gender identity.
Chandler, Kurt and Ivers, Mitchell, editors. Passages of Pride: Lesbian
and Gay Youth Come of
Age. New York: Crown Publishing, 1995. ISBN: 1812923804.
In
this landmark study, six teenagers speak eloquently of the challenges of
realizing at an early age that they are different,
learning how to hide, facing depression and
suicidal tendencies, and finally coming out and making peace at
home, at school, and on their own.
Due, Linnea. Joining
the Tribe: Growing Up Gay and Lesbian in the '90s. New York: Anchor
Books, 1995. ISBN: 0385475004.
This informative and
compassionate book realistically and vividly portrays the challenges faced by
gay, lesbian, and bisexual teenagers.
Ferrante, Tony, and Jacobson,
Paulette. Letters From the Closet. Tzedakah Publications, 1994.
ISBN: 092999037.
In this fictional
portrayal, two youth communicate the experience of coming out through
postcards, journal entries, and letters.
Futcher, Jane. Crush.
3rd ed. Boston: Alyson Publications, 1995. ISBN: 155583602X.
In this story of
manipulation, betrayal, and sexual awakening, Jinx, a senior at the posh
Hamilton Hill girl's school, develops a huge crush on Lexie.
Garden, Nancy. Annie On
My Mind. New York: Farrar Strauss & Giroux, 1992. ISBN: 0374404143.
Seventeen-year-old Liza's
friendship with Annie turns into passionate love. After their relationship is
discovered, they must find the strength to stay together.
Grima, Tony, editor.
Not the Only One: Gay and Lesbian Fiction for Teens. Boston: Alyson
Publications, 1995. ISBN: 155583275X.
Twenty-one stories for
lesbian and gay teenagers tell about coming out, falling in love, sexuality,
and courage.
Harbeck, Karen M.
Coming Out of the Classroom Closet: Gay and Lesbian Students, Teachers and
Curricula. Binghamton, N.Y.: Harrington Park Press, 1992. ISBN:
1560242167.
This volume discusses
school-based interventions and the needs of gay and lesbian youth, the
treatment of gay and lesbian educators and their current legal rights, and
many other issues concerning gay men and lesbians and the educational setting.
Heron, Ann, editor. Two
Teenagers in Twenty: Writings by Gay and Lesbian Youth. Boston: Alyson
Publications, 1994. ISBN:1555832822.
A new teenage generation
talks about being gay or lesbian in stories that can ease the way for
teenagers just coming out and help the adults who seek to support them.
Jennings, Kevin, editor.
Becoming Visible: A Reader in Gay and Lesbian History for High School and
College Students. Boston: Alyson Publications, 1994. ISBN: 1555832547.
Suggestions for classroom
activities and questions follow selected readings that span 2000 years of
history and a diverse range of cultures; suitable for ninth grade and up.
Remafedi, Gary. Death
by Denial: Studies of Suicide in Gay and Lesbian Teenagers. Boston:
Alyson Publications, 1994. ISBN: 1555832601.
This serious review
identifies suicide risk factors and important research on homosexuality,
sexuality education in schools, anti-gay violence against young people, and
family pressures to be heterosexual.
Singer, Bennett L., editor.
Growing Up Gay/Growing Up Lesbian: A Literary Anthology. New York:
New Press, 1994. ISBN: 1565841034.
More than fifty stories by
prominent lesbian and gay writers and scholars address coming of age and
coming out. Contributors include James Baldwin, Gloria Anzaldua, Quentin
Crisp, Audre Lorde, Walt Whitman, and Rita Mae Brown.
Unks, Gerald, editor.
The Gay Teen: Educational Practice and Theory for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual
Adolescents. New York: Routledge, 1995. ISBN: 0415910951.
Written for educators, this
book focuses on the problems gay teens face in school and guides educators to
develop gay-friendly curricula and intervention techniques for reducing
homophobia.
Videos
Ballot Measure 9. (72 min.) Wolfe Video,
P.O. Box 64, New Almaden, CA 95402; 800.438.9653.
This
video looks at the battle in Oregon over an anti-gay initiative on the 1992
ballot.
Both of My Moms' Names Are Judy. Lesbian
and Gay Parents Association, 6705 California
Street, #1, San Francisco, CA 94121.
A
powerful and moving series of interviews with children ages 6 to 11 who have
gay or lesbian parents. Training materials -
Overcoming Homophobia in the
Elementary Classroom - are also available
from the Lesbian and Gay Parents Association.
The Brandon Teena Story, directed by Susan
Musska. Zeitgeist Films at 212.274.1989; available
for sale at amazon.com.
Documentary on the life and murder of Brandon Teena, a female-to-male
transgendered youth from Lincoln, Nebraska.
The Celluloid Closet. (102 min.) Wolfe
Video, P.O. Box 64, New Almaden, CA 95402;
800.438.9653.
This
documentary chronicles gay and lesbian images in Hollywood over the last
40 years. Narrated by Lily Tomlin, it features
interviews with a number of Hollywood's elite and
includes numerous film clips.
Coming Out Under Fire.
(71 min.) Wolfe Video, P.O. Box 64, New Almaden, CA 95402; 800.438.9653.
This documentary profiles
the experiences of nine gay and lesbian veterans.
Gay & Lesbian Youth:
Making History in Massachusetts. (29 min.) Governor's Commission on Gay
& Lesbian Youth, Massachusetts Dept. of Education, State House, Room 111,
Boston, MA 02133.
This documentary profiles
the work of the Governor's Commission as Massachusetts became the first state
to pass laws to protect gay, lesbian, and bisexual students in schools.
Gay Youth. (40
min.) Wolfe Video, P.O. Box 64, New Almaden, CA 95401; 800.438.9653.
One of the best videos
about lesbian and gay teens, it profiles two adolescents - one who committed
suicide, the other openly gay in high school - and includes a curriculum guide
for teachers.
It's Elementary.
(78 min.) Women's Educational Media, 2180 Bryant Street, Suite 203, San
Francisco, CA 94110; 415.641.4646.
Teachers discuss lesbian &
gay issues with their classes and make a compelling case for schools
addressing these issues.
Live to Tell: The First
Gay & Lesbian Prom in America. (24 min.) Wolfe Video, P.O. Box 64,
Almaden, CA 95401; 800.438.9653.
A documentary covering the
first lesbian and gay prom, held in Los Angeles in 1994.
Out for a Change:
Addressing Homophobia in Women's Sports. (27 mins.) Woman Vision
Productions, 3145 Geary Blvd., Box 421, San Francisco, CA 94118; 415.346.2336.
This documentary portrays
women's sports at the college level. Includes a curriculum written by Pat
Griffin. Both the video and curriculum are appropriate for high school
students.
A Question of Equality.
(220 min./4 parts) Wolfe Video, P.O. Box 64, New Almaden, CA 95402;
800.438.9653.
A series, first shown on
PBS that, looks at various aspects of the gay civil rights movement.
Setting the Record
Straight. (12 min.) GLSEN, 122 W. 26th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY
10001; 212.727.0135.
The first video of the Gay,
Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) features interviews with
members, teachers, and students who talk about GLSEN's and about the need to
combat homophobia in schools.
Silverlake Life.
(99 min.) Wolfe Video, P.O. Box 64, New Almaden, CA 95402; 800.438.9653.
This moving diary covers
the last days of two men with AIDS and documents the love and dedication of
their longtime companions.
Stonewall 25.
(90 min.) Wolfe Video, P.O. Box 64, New Almaden, CA 95402; 800.438.9653.
This segment of the PBS
series, In the Life, covers a 25th anniversary celebration in New York City.
Straight From the
Heart. (24 min.) Woman Vision Productions, 3145 Geary Blvd, Box 421, San
Francisco, CA 94118
A moving account of
parents' struggle with homophobia when they learn that a child is lesbian or
gay. Nominated for an Academy Award and excellent for parent workshops.
Teaching Respect for
All. (52 min.) GLSEN, 122 W. 26th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY
10001; 212.727.0135.
A project of GLSEN, this
"homophobia 101" workshop can help teachers, administrators, and parents
understand why they need to care about issues of sexual orientation.
The Times of Harvey
Milk. (87 min.) Wolfe Video, P.O. Box 64, New Almaden, CA 95402;
800.438.9653.
This powerful and moving
documentary recounts the political success and assassination of the first
openly gay supervisor of San Francisco.
Tongues Untied.
(55 min.) Wolfe Video, P.O. Box 64, New Almaden, CA 95402; 800.438.9653.
This unprecedented
exploration of black gay life, by Emmy-award winning director Marlon Rigg,
became the center of a national controversy after Patrick Buchanan attacked
its broadcast on PBS.
Trevor.
Intermedia; 1.800.553,8336. Free previews available.
A humorous, touching short
film that won an Academy Award in 1994, Trevor is about a 13-year old boy who
is beginning to come to terms with his emerging gay sexual orientation. The
video powerfully addresses topics such as teasing, crushes, feeling outcast,
and suicide and is especially appropriate for middle-school children.
