This is the book you want to hand your parents, family and friends when you come out to them. In fact, before you come out to them, you may want to read the book as well.

When any of us contemplate coming out to someone -- especially when it is a loved one -- we experience fear. Fear of rejection is the one motivating factor that keeps many of us from sharing who we are with those who we love. So before you take that step, why not be prepared? Beyond Acceptance looks at each of the many possible reactions, broken down into steps, not only in order, but also in quite a unique way.

If/When you receive a response you were hoping would not come, why not be prepared? The book is a combination of expository interposed with first-hand accounts of feelings, thoughts, reactions and growth, and everything in-between.

The experiences are shared in almost a round-table atmosphere, which makes sense, as they originated in a series of meetings of the national group PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays -- which was started to give parents of gays and lesbians a chance to share their thoughts and feelings as support network both for each other and for their children.)

The collection includes perspectives from twenty-three different parents and families, people no different than your parents or siblings or friends.

Organized as a chronology, Beyond Acceptance travels from Finding Out through Contrast and Comparison of What Was and What Will Be with pit stops along the way at Winds of Change in Religious Thinking, Taking a Stand and Telling Others, and Levels of Understanding among others.

One of the ultimate conclusions of the book (or at least a point that is clearly made) is the stunning amount of misinformation pervading the thought processes of the general public.

Many of the parents started out not just confused, but angry with their children, believing that their child was doing something wrong or that they, the parents, had done something to cause their child's orientation.

In sharing with each other they hear of and share the pains and sorrows that they and their children suffer due to ignorance. They become more aware of the inequities of society as relates to the orientation of their children, and many of them decide to become activists and take a stand on behalf of their children, and society in general.

Others wrestle with alleged religious prohibitions until their eyes are open to some of the scholarly research into the actual translations of various religious texts. Others cannot fathom that type of process, yet take comfort in the changes within most organized religions, and question the hatred in the name of so many religious organizations that preach love.

I don't think that there is one possible question or concern a parent, sibling or friend might have that is not touched on in this volume in a positive, loving and affirming way.

Until next time...