Rainbow Relatives: Real-World Stories and Advice on How to Talk to Kids About LGBTQ+ Families and Friends

by Sudi Karatas

Whether you have your own questions because one of your children has come out or if you aren't sure how to explain to your kids why their uncle has a boyfriend or the reason their friend doesn't have a daddy, but she has two mommies instead, this book can help you answer your kids questions and help you to raise them to be open-minded and accepting adults.

With an entertaining and educational approach to educating yourself and your peers about the issues and topics surrounding the LGBT community, Rainbow Relatives can answer all of your questions and help you to answer theirs.

Including real-world stories, interviews, and advice from parents and celebrities about their owns experiences, this books will help you get an idea for how to approach the conversation and what you can expect from it. Author, Sudi Karatas tells the stories of a Mormon womans transition from fighting against gay rights to becoming a crusader for them, a son who admitted he found out his dad was gay when he discovered the internet porn on his dad's computer. Karatas interviewed film maker, Del Shores about what it was like raising two daughters as a gay dad, Bruce Vilanch, from Hollywood Squares, about what it's like being Godfather to forty kids, and country singer Chely Wright about how far we?ve come but also the many struggles that LGBT+ people still face every day.

This book covers a range of topics from when a parent comes out as gay or transgender to dealing with bullying. Karatas helps parents to support, advocate for, and educate their children and relatives.

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT

224 pages, Paperback

Published May 8, 2018

About the author

SUDI (“RICK”) KARATAS grew up in Syosset N.Y. and now resides in Van Nuys California. As a Gemini he goes by two names. HIs latest book released November 5th 2020 is How Catering Sukced The Life RIght Out Of Me. He’s also the author of Rainbow Relatives (Real World Stories & Advice On How To Talk To Kids About LGBTQ Families & Friends) and the writer and producer of the film Walk A Mile in My Pradas. He’s written many screenplays, songs and a letter to Dear Abby once.

Reviews

[ArchaeoLibraryologist · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides some good advice and talking points with interviews with multiple families. However, I feel the perspectives beyond lesbian and gay were hardly represented. The author does mention that he has little experience with transgender people before writing this book, and while does focus a chapter on trans parents, all the examples given are trans women. In most of the other chapters, trans examples are absent or barely mentioned. Examples of bisexual or queer families/parents were few and far between.

I don't think it was done out of maliciousness, but rather the experiential bias of the author. Given the title, I was expecting more of a balanced and well-rounded view of rainbow families and was a little disappointed. However, if you're looking for a good beginners guide on how to talk to kids about families that fall outside the heteronorm, I do recommend it.

[Blake Allwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, this book is beyond wonderful. Not only as a gay man but as a former foster parent and teacher. Sudi does an excellent job point out how others have successfully spoken to their children about homosexuality.

Take aways:

Just be yourself and let your kids see you in relationships early on.
Don't make a big deal out of it. Your kids aren't going to have an issue especially if they're young.
Let them come to you when they have questions.
If you're a gay parent coming out to your older kids, make sure they have a good network of people to speak to about it (someone besides you and their other parent.)

I HIGHLY recommend this book!

[Davina Kotulski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rainbow Relatives is a timely, funny, informative read. It has everything you need to know on how to talk to kids about their Rainbow Relatives. It even includes info on how to come out to your kids (no easy task for parents,) to how to deal with bullies on the playground, in the pulpits, and everywhere else they seem to be these days. Highly Recommend! 5 Stars

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish this. Not really what I was looking for, with my children now starting to ask questions about people who have two moms, etc. PS. If you want to get a person of faith on your side about this issue, start by calling their church by its correct name and not rubbing their nose in mistakes made by other members of that church. Just sayin'. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resources, good real-life content.

This book already feels older than it is, hopefully because awareness and tolerance are growing all the time. The book did not hold as much space for non-binary expressions as I expected.

[Jessica Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great information and personal stories. I appreciate the research based approach mixed with the care for people who are still working through their own education and beliefs.

[Mauricio Parrado P]

The earlier the better. Answer the questions kids are asking.
"Education is never wrong if you present the facts"