GLBTQ is a guide for young
people who know or suspect they are not straight.  It takes a positive and
encouraging attitude toward being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or
questioning.  It is full of questions and answers, personal statements by queer
teens, suggestions about how to respond to taunting, degrading comments, and peer
pressure to have sex.  The eleven chapters discuss homophobia, coming out,
friends and community, dating and relationships, sex and sexuality, health,
religion, and life beyond high school.  It explodes myths about sexuality and
provides good information about GLBTQ sexuality.  It acknowledges how difficult
it can be to live in a prejudiced society and the dangers of stress and
depression that so many GLBTQ teens suffer.  The book gives advice about how to
cope with such feelings and stay strong and resilient. 

Kelley Huegel’s advice sounds
sensible.  She explains that drinking and drugs don’t make life easier and pose
their own very serious risks.  She explains that teens should only have sex
when they are sure they are ready to do so.  She spells out the nature of
physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and what to do about it.  She discusses
the rates of self-harm and suicide by GLBTQ teens, and what you should do if
you have suicidal feelings.  Of course, the advice is not going to cover every
possible difficulty that young people will experience, but GLBTQ is a
good place to start. 

© 2004 Christian
Perring. All rights reserved.

Christian
Perring, Ph.D., is Academic Chair of the Arts & Humanities
Division and Chair of the Philosophy Department at Dowling College, Long Island. He is also
editor of Metapsychology Online Review.  His main research is on
philosophical issues in medicine, psychiatry and psychology.

Categories: Children, Sexuality