Gay teen bibliography

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Someone asked for fiction about gay teens.  While I was digging those titles
out, I decided to throw in some nonfiction.  If anyone reading this wants
more info, please feel free to write to me.
Johanna Halbeisen
Rebecca M. Johnson School
(K-8) Springfield, MA
jhalbei@k12.ucs.umass.edu

Bibliography for and about Gay and Lesbian Teens

Gay fiction

Garden, Nancy. _Annie On My Mind_. FS&G, 1982
        A realistic love story of two high school women.  Includes lots
of useful and accurate information about homosexuality and tells
what it feels like to be gay.

Greene, Bette. _The Drowning of Stephen Jones_. Bantam, 1991
        Fiction based on the true story of the drowning of a gay man
by high school seniors in Maine.  Written for young adults, but
absorbing for any age, the story tells how homophobia, when
validated by religious convictions and social conformity, can lead to
violence and death.  The story explores and condemns prejudice as
it portrays the harassment and accidental murder of a gay man at
the hands of privileged young people from "good Christian homes".
The thoughtful reader will have questions of ethics, value
judgements and justice to sort out in this fast-moving, harrowing
story.

Mosca, Frank.  _All-American Boys_. Alyson Publications, 1983
        Neil and Paul, two high school students who fall in love, face
violence at school and anger at home.  They are forced to come out
when anonymous letters are sent to their parents.

Scoppettone, Sandra. _Trying Hard To Hear You_. Alyson
Publications, 1991.
        Published by Harper in 1984.  Sixteen yr old Camilla
Crowford tells about a crucial summer in which her close-knit
summer theater group discovers that two of their members are gay.
The reader is educated along with Camilla, but other members of
the group are more hesitant to change.  By the end of the summer
she writes, "two of us were going to suffer like we never had before
and none of us would ever be the same again."

Brown, Rita Mae. _Ruby Fruit Jungle_. Bantam Books, 1973, 1988.
        A great novel about growing up lesbian in America.

Brett, Catherine.  _S.P. Likes A.D._ Women's Press, 1989.
        Stephanie realizes her feelings for Anne go beyond friendship
and they work together on a science project.

Gay teen nonfiction

Alyson, Sasha. _Young, Gay and Proud_, Alyson Publications, 1980,
1991.
        A new edition of the book that has helped thousands of gay
teenagers cope.  This mix of coming-out stories, letters and tactual
articles will be a lifeline for teenagers grappling, often alone and
with no support, with complicated issues surrounding sexual
identity.

Fricke, Aaron.  _Reflections of a Rock Lobster_. Alyson Publications,
1981.
        Aaron Fricke made national news when he sued his school for
the right to take a male date to the prom.  Here is his story of
growing up gay in America.

Clark, Don.  _Loving Someone Gay_., Celestialarts, 1977, 1987.
        Sympathetic and knowledgeable guide for gays, their
families, friends, therapists and counselors who want to support
them.  Written by a therapist who is a gay father.

Cohen, Susan and Daniel.  _When Someone You Know Is Gay_,
Celestialarts, 1989.
        Addressed to adolescents as informational, this covers a wide
range of topics honestly and empathetically.  (The one objection is
the persistent use of the word "preference" rather than
"orientation" which implies choice rather than a 'given').

Herdt, Gilbert, ed.  _Gay and Lesbian Youth_,  Harrington Park Press,
1989.

Bell, Ruth. _Changing Bodies, Changing Lives: a book for teens on sex
and relationships_ Vintage Books,  1988.

Friends of Project 10.  _Project 10 handbook: Addressing lesbian
and gay issues in our schools.  A resource directory for teachers,
guidance counselors, parents and school-based adolescent care
providers_.  7850 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.  $15  Video
also from same address for $15.  A school-based support program
for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth, an educational program which
serves as a model for other schools throughout the US.

Heron, Ann, ed.  _One teenager in 10: Testimonies by gay and
lesbian youth._ Boston: Alyson Publications, 1983:  also Warner
Books, 1989.
        Young gays and lesbians share their joys and sorrows, and
how they came to terms with being different.  Validation for gay
teens, helping to reduce isolation and feelings of being alone.

From bibliographies prepared by P-FLAG (Parents and Friends of
Lesbians And Gays) in New Hampshire, P-FLAG of Western Mass
and Longmeadow High School, Longmeadow, Mass.
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