A family outing : a memoir

Title:

A family outing : a memoir

Author:

Swanson, Ruby Remenda, 1954- author.

ISBN:

9781770864764

9781770864818

Physical Description:

xi, 203 pages ; 23 cm

Summary:

"Ruby Swanson's memoir about her son coming out as gay at the age of sixteen, how she responded, how she learned to accept and celebrate her son's sexuality, and how she became a public advocate for equality and acceptance of the LGBT community."--

Contents:

Part One. Coming Out -- Self-help and Counselors -- Out to Family -- Part Two. The GSA -- I Wish I Had Told You -- Finding Our Way -- Part Three. Bob and Johnnie -- My Son is Gay -- Ask but Don't Tell -- Part Four. Sixties Homophobia and Eighties AIDS -- Becoming Part of the Community -- PFLAG -- Part Five. Holding and Not Holding People Accountable -- A Cute Story -- Transgender -- Being Singled Out -- Part Six. Panels, Politicians, and Safe Spaces -- Same-sex Marriage -- Religion -- Part Seven. The Pioneers -- My Advocacy -- Scona Pride.

Subject:

Parents of gays -- Canada.

Coming out (Sexual orientation) -- Canada.

Gay teenagers -- Family relationships -- Canada.

Mothers and sons.

Swanson, Ruby Remenda, 1954-

Swanson, Ruby Remenda, 1954- -- Family.

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Library	Collection	Material Type	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
Searching... Cobourg Branch	Searching... Unknown	Adult Biography	306.874 Swa	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

Ruby Swanson's life changed when her sixteen-year-old son walked to her office, closed the door, and with his hand still on the doorknob said, "I'm gay." Despite her initial reaction of shock, fear, and denial, Ruby became a public advocate for equality and acceptance of the LGBT community. A Family Outingis the story of Ruby's experiences. She addresses the deeply homophobic time in which baby boomers grew up, the emergence of the gay rights movement, and how the AIDS epidemic transformed the LGBT landscape.

A Family Outingis a memoir about discovering gay great-uncles and learning about their lives. It is about operating spotlights at a drag queen show, and about marching in Pride Parades. It is about the discrimination that gay people continue to face today and what emerges from the direct, clear-eyed prose. Finally, it is the picture of a woman who endured taunts from religious fundamentalists and political protestors to become an LGBT advocate.

Author Notes

Originally from Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Ruby Remenda Swanson is currently General Manager of the Devonian Botanic Garden. She was a freelance promotional writer with the Children's Television Workshop in New York City. She as received the University of Alberta Human Rights Education Recognition Award and was a director of PFLAG Edmonton. Ruby lives in Edmonton with her husband.

Part 1
I Coming Out	p. 3
II Self-help and Counselors	p. 17
III Out to Family	p. 26
Part 2
I The GSA	p. 35
II I Wish I Had Told You	p. 47
III Finding Our Way	p. 50
Part 3
I Bob and Johnnie	p. 59
II My Son Is Gay	p. 64
III Ask but Don't Tell	p. 67
Part 4
I Sixties Homophobia and Eighties AIDS	p. 81
II Becoming Part of the Community	p. 88
III PFLAG	p. 100
Part 5
I Holding and Not Holding People Accountable	p. 123
II A Cute Story	p. 135
III Transgender	p. 137
IV Being Singled Out	p. 141
Part 6
I Panels, Politicians, and Safe Spaces	p. 149
II Same-sex Marriage	p. 159
III Religion	p. 166
Part 7
I The Pioneers	p. 175
II My Advocacy	p. 186
III Scona Pride	p. 196
About the Author	p. 203

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Summary

Author Notes

Table of Contents