Queer Questions Straight Talk: 108 Frank, Provocative Questions It's OK to Ask Your Lesbian, Gay or Bi Loved One

by Abby Dees

The 108 questions in Queer Questions Straight Talk have been provided by straight, lesbian, gay and bisexual people from diverse backgrounds, ages and religionswith additional contributions from leading gay public figures and their straight loved ones and allies.  Designed around the idea that there are no bad questions, and no "wrong" answers, Queer Questions is an invitation to talk, honestly and lovingly, about what it really means to be gay, lesbian or bisexual.  The book addresses all the important areas, Identity, Stereotypes vs Reality, Marriage and Relationships, Religion and Spirituality, Coming Out, Homophobia and Politics, and – yes – sex.   

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2010

Reviews

[J.M.]

This small book is more of a conversation starter than something you'd read cover-to-cover. Divided into sections that correspond with all aspects of life, it serves as a starting point to get people talking about homosexuality. It's a great concept, and the questions are great. Some of the questions are funny, some deep, some you'd answer in a heartbeat if asked by your best friend but would be too embarrassed to tackle in front of your parents.

What I liked best about this book is the author's approach to the reason why she wrote it in the first place. From the beginning, it's clear the author has no agenda or assumptions about people who may read this book. A lot of similar titles take the approach that straight people don't understand gay people, but I didn't get that feeling at all with "Queer Questions," which was refreshing. Instead, I felt more as if this were a way of starting a difficult discussion about an intimate subject many might not be comfortable talking about openly.

I also enjoyed the author's emphasis on open communication. The priority is always respect, and these questions allow readers to start a discourse that will bridge the gap created by society's perceived notions of "straight" and "gay." The author's humor is suffused in each chapter, lending a touch of whimsy to what could otherwise be a very heavy subject.

Who would this book most benefit? People ready to come out as homosexual, as well as loved ones who might not understand how to accept that a family member or friend has come out to them. This book is fresh, poignant, and pertinent to today's society, and I would heartily recommend it to anyone. Whether you have these same questions in mind but can't articulate them, or you're looking for a way to open yourself to entertaining such questions from your friends and family, this is a great starting point that will hopefully help straight and gay people realize that, despite their differences, they are alike more than they know.

[Trisha]

Dees wrote this book to help aid in communication between homosexuals and their families and friends. With a bit of advice, a bit of humor, and a lot of interesting, Queer Questions Straight Talk can probably really help get a conversation going. To read it just to read it, however, is not quite as satisfying. I wanted to hear more answers instead of primarily reading a list of questions.

This is not to say I didn't enjoy the book however. Certain portions were extremely intriguing. If you have someone with whom you should be having this sort of conversation, I highly recommend picking up this book. If not, I'd say take it if you have the chance, but there's no real need to seek it out.