Inviting contributions for a forthcoming book:

                            COMING OUT OF THE TOO HARD BASKET

 edited by Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, School of Health Sciences, Deakin Uni (author of Someone You Know, Tapestry, Girls’ Talk and co-editor of the forthcoming Boys’ Stuff) and inspired by discussions with Michael Crowhurst (Context), Lesley MacFarlane (AWE) ,and the work of P-FLAG.

 To be published by Finch Publishing, Sydney, this book will be a collection of personal stories, practical suggestions and strategies from parents and other family members, teachers, youth workers, health workers, church leaders, academics and researchers (writing in a very accessible and breezy way!) and young people from around Australia that address the questions:

 * what to do when an adolescent comes out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender: how to deal with family, neighbours,  friends, local church communities, the school.

* practical strategies that work in classrooms, in schools, in youth groups for young people to address sexual diversity

 This book will be practical, heartfelt, creative and accessible. It will document the "good work" being done around Australia by parents, teachers, youth workers, young people themselves in breaking down homophobic and heterosexist practices and discriminations. It will be a positive and uplifting look at what can be done with support or against the odds.

Contributions can vary in length and style (including poetry, art, photos, diary entries, taped conversation, cartoons), easy to read, and a layout that will be accessible.

Contributions will focus on four aspects:

·         what the issue or experience was (eg homophobic grandparents, child coming home from being bullied at school, parish resistance, the local rural health service refusing to stock materials to support GLBT young people),

·         what you did about it,

·         what was the outcome,

·         and what would you say to others going through the same thing. 

 There will be three main themes:

 1. "Coming Out in The Family"

2. "Coming Out at School"

3. "Coming Out in the Community"

Please contact Maria on 03 9251 7198 (BH) or  mariapc@deakin.edu.au  
I am happy to come out to your organisation to discuss the project,
run discussion groups, tape interviews, collect materials, etc.