Free Your Mind

by Ellen Bass and Kate Kaufman

Book Overview

" Free Your Mind" is the definitive practical guide for gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth -- and their families, teachers, counselors and friends. For too long, gay youth have wanted to be themselves and to feel good about it, but most have been isolated, afraid, harassed, or worse. Their very existence has been ignored, whispered about, or swept under the rug. But each day more and more lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are standing up, speaking out,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060951044
• ISBN13: 9780060951047
• Release Date: May 1996
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

This book helped me through some tough times,

I'm a gay teen who didn't know anyone who was gay and really needed to know that I was the only guy out there going through this stuff. Free Your Mind is an awesome book in many ways, because it's so full of comments and stuff from other people who share similar experiences, that it's hard to feel so alone and different after reading the book. The authors, as well, are really nice people, I've e-mailed them several times and they are incredibly friendly, supportive and loving. When I got it, I kinda hoped that Free Your Mind would provide me with all the answers... it doesn't, nothing can, but it provided me with a sense of hope, pride and one really intensely important message : I am not alone.

Simply the BEST book for gay teens and their allies

This is simply the best book resource available for gay and lesbian young people - and those that want to give them support. It offers practical advise not only for youth, but also gives space to parents, educators, and other adults who want to lend support to bisexual, gay, and lesbian youth. It features personal comments from teens who have been there/done that - including two persons who grew up to be instrumental in the popular XY magazine for gay teens. While not a cure-all, this book can help young people accept themselves, make rational decisions on coming out, and deal with parents, friends, faith and religion, and many other topics... and serve as a primer for those adults who would like to help gay teens, but aren't quite sure how to go about it. Well researched, well presented, and of all things, still current in terms of content and resources both, this book is the Bible for gayTeenresources.com

The best all-around resource/information book on gay youth

I have to say, that I have read and reviewed a lot of books for a resource list that my non-profit has prepared to give to educators and youth in the local school systems. Of all that I have read, this is the one that I would suggest for just about anyone. It has so much helpful information for teachers/clergy/friends/family/parents and gay youth themselves. I wish that every educator, service provider, counselor, clergy-person that works with youth would read it and have a copy to give to others. It's that good!

Wonderful!

I advise a gay,lesbian,bi,transgendered youth group and have found Free Your Mind to be a powerful help to these coming out youth. The book's comprehensive overview of what being a sexual minority means lends a balanced picture to the often comfused gay youth. They read it, their parents read it and so do their friends. It even provides ideas for discussion topics when we meet every week. I highly recommend this valuable guide to our GLBT youth! Oh, if it were available 40 years ago for my generation.

"I can't say enough about this book!"

I have been actively researching homosexual youth and teen suicide for many months now. I could bury myself in books. I have also contacted guidance counselors across the U.S. to see what programs different schools have in their areas. It has taken me many, many hours. I could give you a synopsis from all I've read, however, most youth and parents included, will never do as much research as I have. I recently reread this book and I can honestly say that if I was able to offer one resource to a confused child/parent or other, this would be it. It focuses on just about every subject that one might have a question about. The book is not "sugar-coated" or biased it is only candid and honest. The current research I have been doing has brought me to this book. It is somewhat of a bible of the 30 or 40 books I read. If you have questions...read it! If you don't, read it anyway, you will be better for it. Kudos!!!!