Ready or Not...They're Gay: Stories from a Midwestern Family

by Hjordy Wagner and Paul Wagner

Paul and Hjordy Wagner know what it is like to have a child come out - they have had that conversation, not once, but twice. Both their sons, Brad and Andrew, are gay. The Wagners quickly embraced... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0981546285
• ISBN13: 9780981546285
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Synergy Books
• Length: 150 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

A wonderful story of a family's experiences as two sons come out

This is a wonderful story of a family's experiences and thoughts as Paul and Hjordy's two sons come out to them and their community. Their story is presented from various points of view - the mother, the father, each of their sons, and their grandmother. Each of them has a section, with multiple short chapters that bring out a specific event along this journey and the emotions related to that event. Throughout these recollections, a family with great internal strength, love, and acceptance of each other for who they are comes through. Coming out to family and friends can be risky and traumatic, even in a loving home. Parents are often, if not usually, unaware of their child's feelings in regard to their sexual orientation. While their child has been struggling with their identity and orientation for years, their parents feel blindsided when their child comes out to them. Ready or Not ... THEY'RE GAY provides guidance for parents and other family members in the importance of how you react. In Part IV, the book offers tips for parents, friends, and children on how best to handle this experience. Fortunately, their real life experience was quite positive and instructive. In Part V, six brief chapters and a newspaper editorial add stories from others about their coming out experiences. Most parents claim unconditional love for their children; it is a common goal. It is life's challenges that test this love. For many parents of gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender children, their child's coming out announcement is a severe test of their love. Too many fail this test; the Wagner's pass with flying rainbow colors.