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What if Someone I know Is Gay?: Answers to Questions about Gay and Lesbian People
Offers no-nonsense answers to a full range of questions children might ask about gay people, whether those questions concern a friend, a beloved aunt or uncle, or themselves. Simultaneous.
- GenresLGBTNonfiction
138 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
2 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Eric Marcus
33 books31 followersEric Marcus is a communications expert who has been communicating with the broad public and specific niche audiences for three decades. His work has ranged from writing consumer-oriented books and developing promotional and informational materials for non-profit and commercial enterprises to production jobs for both documentaries and television network news.
Eric’s ten books include Why Suicide?, What If Someone I Know Is Gay?, and Breaking the Surface, the #1 New York Times best-selling autobiography of Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis. In addition, Eric has written articles and columns for the New York Times, New York Daily News, New York Post, Newsweek, and the New Jersey Star-Ledger.
His many clients have included Waldenbooks, PBS “American Experience,” and Sanky Communications (for which he has worked on development materials for Planned Parenthood NYC, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, and MOMA, among others). Most recently, Eric has worked with the family of the late Sir James Goldsmith to create detailed illustrated guides for their two nature reserves and luxury resorts that convey to guests, potential guests, and travel industry experts the essential qualities and features of these remarkable places.
Eric is a former associate producer for ABC’s “Good Morning America” and “CBS This Morning.” For a recent PBS “American Experience” documentary about the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York’s Greenwich Village, Eric wore several hats, including advisor, associate producer, still photographer, and author of the film’s online teaching guide.
In addition to his behind-the-scenes work, Eric also has extensive experience on the other side of the microphone and camera as a spokesman on a range of issues related to his books. He is also a seasoned moderator and conversation facilitator, and in that capacity has worked in both public and private forums for clients ranging from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association to Unilever and the University of South Dakota.
Eric Marcus is a graduate of New York City public schools, after which he attended Vassar College and earned master’s degrees from Columbia University in both journalism and real estate development.
Eric’s ten books include Why Suicide?, What If Someone I Know Is Gay?, and Breaking the Surface, the #1 New York Times best-selling autobiography of Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis. In addition, Eric has written articles and columns for the New York Times, New York Daily News, New York Post, Newsweek, and the New Jersey Star-Ledger.
His many clients have included Waldenbooks, PBS “American Experience,” and Sanky Communications (for which he has worked on development materials for Planned Parenthood NYC, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, and MOMA, among others). Most recently, Eric has worked with the family of the late Sir James Goldsmith to create detailed illustrated guides for their two nature reserves and luxury resorts that convey to guests, potential guests, and travel industry experts the essential qualities and features of these remarkable places.
Eric is a former associate producer for ABC’s “Good Morning America” and “CBS This Morning.” For a recent PBS “American Experience” documentary about the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York’s Greenwich Village, Eric wore several hats, including advisor, associate producer, still photographer, and author of the film’s online teaching guide.
In addition to his behind-the-scenes work, Eric also has extensive experience on the other side of the microphone and camera as a spokesman on a range of issues related to his books. He is also a seasoned moderator and conversation facilitator, and in that capacity has worked in both public and private forums for clients ranging from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association to Unilever and the University of South Dakota.
Eric Marcus is a graduate of New York City public schools, after which he attended Vassar College and earned master’s degrees from Columbia University in both journalism and real estate development.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 18, 2018
For a book I had no desire to read and wasn't expecting to read, this one wasn't bad. Good historical lesson in how much things have changed since 2004, that was surprising. Otherwise, pretty basic, Marcus' other books are far better.
October 25, 2017
Sách hay cho thanh thiếu niên, và cả người lớn.
June 19, 2024
Very informative and thought-provoking. Highly recommend.
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May 27, 2010I liked the book; it wasn't challanging but it was something I was willing to further learn about. It was basically advice/guidance about gay and lesbian situations. The book grabbed my attention because I was curious about what the author had to say about the situation because today there alot of misconceptions and assumptions about gay/lesbians or bisexuals. I personally don't have anything against peoples sexual orentation although I don't like being exposed to homo activities to a certain extent because thats just me. But I liked how the author touched bases on the basics, friends and family, dating, marriage and kids and etc. There were alot of questions in the book and responses that I found interesting along with some feedback from the author that I didn't agree with. I've expanded my knowledge about gays and lesbians. After reading the book did make me look at certain situations from anothers perspective. If someone is gay that's their business and shouldn't be judged as a book with an ugly cover.
May 28, 2010
Synopsis: This book is about a bunch of questions people have about gay people and being gay.
Classification
Audience: teen +
Purpose: inform
Medium: novel
Genre of setting: Non-Fiction
Genre of style: Idealism
Genre of plot: Drama
Criticism: I really like this book. It answered a lot of the questions I had about being gay and gay people. I also learned a lot of stuff in this book. This book is not super up-to-date. It was written in about 2007, so some of the information is not current. One example of this is that in the book, the author said at that time, gay marriage was only allowed in Massachusetts. But now it is allowed in a couple more states. So even though its not completely current, its still something you should read if you are gay or if anybody you know is gay. I also like how the author himself is gay. People who actually are gay know more about what they are talking about. So he is very informed. Overall, this book was pretty good and I highly recommend it to anybody who knows anyone that is gay.
June 2, 2012
Hm... I already knew most everything in this, minus some legal details. Even so it was very informative, and I know more than the majority of my friends. It answers questions from the obvious to the less obvious, with stories and examples from a variety of different people, ages, and experiences. Eric Marcus being himself gay, he actually knows what he's talking about. He handles superstitions and concerns kindly and calmly, while denouncing them.
The section that I would not find helpful was the one on religion, but that subject is really too deep to get into there, if one is serious about the facts and theology of it. He skirted it, and pretty much acknowledges that fact. Most everything else is, in my mind, completely covered.
His writing is clear and practical, also kind and personable. He handles difficult and private subjects well, answering questions about things like sex fully and cleanly cut, so no one needs to worry about it dwelling on the subject.
All of his suggestions for websites and lifestyles are completely safe.
The section that I would not find helpful was the one on religion, but that subject is really too deep to get into there, if one is serious about the facts and theology of it. He skirted it, and pretty much acknowledges that fact. Most everything else is, in my mind, completely covered.
His writing is clear and practical, also kind and personable. He handles difficult and private subjects well, answering questions about things like sex fully and cleanly cut, so no one needs to worry about it dwelling on the subject.
All of his suggestions for websites and lifestyles are completely safe.
January 10, 2016
For me, this book was just a whole lot of "duh" answers. It's possible I'm not exactly the intended audience of this book...me being a teenager in 2016 whose friends are mostly lgbt something. I think I'm already pretty educated about this topic. Not to mention it was published several years ago, and is therefore very outdated. I'm also a little disappointed it didn't go into the lesser known sexualities... And I think some people (including myself) whose sexualities depend entirely on gender identity may feel a little left out from this book, as it only talks about gay, straight, and bisexual people.
What I did do is show this to some of my friends who are lgbt somethings and they found many of the questions HILARIOUS. Even the title, "What if someone I know is gay?" Ummm I'm glad this is a book of questions because that seriously needed a follow-up. The "duh" questions really just show how outdated this book really is, though I guess it may be helpful to the most open-minded straight ignorant person ever.
What I did do is show this to some of my friends who are lgbt somethings and they found many of the questions HILARIOUS. Even the title, "What if someone I know is gay?" Ummm I'm glad this is a book of questions because that seriously needed a follow-up. The "duh" questions really just show how outdated this book really is, though I guess it may be helpful to the most open-minded straight ignorant person ever.
November 16, 2020
[Sách nói về #LGBTQ+]
Nội dung sách truyền tải những thông tin về đồng tính như về y học, các tình huống come out, các vấn đề liên quan đến đồng tính thường gặp phải và có cả giải đáp thắc mắc.
Nếu ai cảm thấy kiến thức về LGBTQ+ của mình còn thiếu sót thì hãy nên đọc cuốn sách này, mình nghĩ đây là cuốn sách ổn nhất mình từng đọc. Không nhất thiết bạn là người thuộc cộng đồng LGBTQ+ mới phải đọc, bạn có thể đọc với lý do muốn tìm hiểu.
Mình đọc cuốn sách này từ 4 năm về trước, hiện tại có thể đã khác một chút so với sách nhưng những điều căn bản thì không nên bỏ qua.
Nội dung sách truyền tải những thông tin về đồng tính như về y học, các tình huống come out, các vấn đề liên quan đến đồng tính thường gặp phải và có cả giải đáp thắc mắc.
Nếu ai cảm thấy kiến thức về LGBTQ+ của mình còn thiếu sót thì hãy nên đọc cuốn sách này, mình nghĩ đây là cuốn sách ổn nhất mình từng đọc. Không nhất thiết bạn là người thuộc cộng đồng LGBTQ+ mới phải đọc, bạn có thể đọc với lý do muốn tìm hiểu.
Mình đọc cuốn sách này từ 4 năm về trước, hiện tại có thể đã khác một chút so với sách nhưng những điều căn bản thì không nên bỏ qua.
May 24, 2009
ok don't laugh (or judge) I read this book for a speech in english class and I found that it was acutally very educational...not at all what I expected it to be... so don't ever judge a book by its cover (or title)
January 5, 2010
The reason i really liked this book was because i had a lot of questions i had in my thoughts about gays, and lesbians. I recomend this book for people who have questions about gays, because in this book, mostly all your quesions would be answered.
November 10, 2016
Told me nothing new.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews