Families of Value: Personal Profiles of Pioneering Lesbian and Gay Parents

Families comprised of same-sex parents are examples of ""the ultimate triumph of courage and integrity,"" argues Bernstein, author of Straight Parents, Gay Children. To demonstrate this courage, he assembles a collection of real-life stories of gay parents' struggles to raise their children in a society hostile to their lifestyle. From a gay Protestant minister to two lesbian police officers hoping to extend death benefits to each other, these narratives offer insight into what motivates same-sex parents in their fight for legitimacy and acceptance-namely, the wellbeing of their children. For example, Bernstein chronicles the plight of Steven and Roger, foster parents to five children born with HIV, who are fighting against the state's attempts to remove one of the boys from their care. One of the most enlightening chapters, ""Cherry-Picking the Truth,"" debunks many of the myths about children of gay parents and reveals the particular hardships that they endure. Unfortunately, however, the book focuses too much on the parents' struggles for social change and not enough on their family relationships. Thus, while this is an intriguing study of those leading the movement for same-sex parenting, it lacks the passion and emotional depth that would make these profiles truly resonate with readers.