Different Daughters: A Book by Mothers of Lesbians

By Cleis Press

different daughters; louise rafkin; cleis press; LGBT; lesbian; bisexual; transgender; queer; nonfiction; collection; anthology; motherhood; parents; children; daughters; family; siblings; sisters; coming out; sexuality; gender identity; letters; community; society; culture; open; vulnerable; candid; lesson; self-help; child rearing; essays; useful; confusion; prejudice; teens; young adults; love; understanding; acceptance; advice' questions; 

"This book will help your mom understand. Give it to her."—Betty DeGeneres

Coming out to mom is a lesbian rite of passage. In Different Daughters, thirty mothers of lesbians come together to trace their journeys towards acceptance of their daughters. Facing their fears and confusion, prejudice and misunderstandings, they speak honesty and bravely about the difficulties and joys of life with their "different daughters."

Writing about families, community, religion, grandchildren, bisexuality, transgender issues, and coming out, the authors of Different Daughters raise questions shared by all mothers: How can we accept our children for who they are? How can we love our children even when they are different from us?

This updated and expanded third edition of Louise Rafkin's landmark anthology includes new stories by mothers of bisexual women and young lesbians, a sister of a lesbian, and the brave testimony of one mother whose lesbian daughter is in the process of redefining her gender.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cleis Press
• Release date: May 1, 2001
• ISBN: 9781573448550

Reviews for Different Daughters

[avrenim8 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I bought this to give to my mother to read not long after I came out. I like the reality of the stories and how they reflected every emotion out there, including the rejections. This wasn't just a selection of handpicked "accept your daughter like you should" stories. These are a true representation of all the emotions I can imagine mothers everywhere going through.

[livelylady · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting collection of mothers' reactions to their daughters' lesbianism. As a mother of such a daughter, I felt consoled to see my multitude of feelings reflected somewhere in the book. I am giving the book to my daughter to pass on to any of her friends' mothers who could benefit.