cover image Family Values: Two Moms and Their Son

Family Values: Two Moms and Their Son

Phyllis Burke. Random House (NY), $21 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-679-42188-7

Contrary to its title, this colorful, funny and fearless memoir set in San Francisco's gay community is about a nonbiological mom--novelist Burke ( Atomic Candy )--and how she came out of the closet, became politically radicalized and committed herself to four-year-old Jessie, the biological son of her domestic partner Cheryl, who had been artificially inseminated. At first, Burke thinks of herself only as ``Auntie Phyllis'' in relation to Jessie, but events, richly described here--the humiliating legal process she endures to adopt Jessie, the demonstrations against the making of the film Basic Instinct in San Francisco and the assassination of Board of Supervisors member Harvey Milk--all combine to spur her into political consciousness. Her candid story starts with the couple's decision to have a baby, includes a description of the artificial insemination and proceeds from there, including juicy reportage of Burke's heated visit with actor Michael Douglas as they debate Basic Instinct 's harm to lesbians. Oddly, information about how Jessie relates to his two mothers is sketchy. But there is much to make up for that: wonderful, witty and poignant storytelling. Author tour. (May)