Charlie’s Gay Resources Page

About This Page	Suicide
Youth	General
Parents, Families & Friends	Shopping
Personal Stories

About This Page

This page was created to provide assistance to lesbian, gay and bisexual youth, their families and friends. The resources are listed in the order that I think is most helpful to someone in crisis who is dealing with sexuality issues for the first time. If you are lesbian, gay or bisexual, or think you might be, click here. Parents, family and friends click here to scroll down to your own list. There is additional material in the General section and in my original writing. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further help.

You can help keep this page up to date by reporting broken or redirected links or letting me know if there’s something specially wonderful in a given topic area that I should link to.

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Youth

These resources for youth will also be of help to those who may be a bit older, but are just coming to terms with their own sexuality.

Homosexuality: Common Questions & Statements Addressed: An excellent primer for those just starting to ask questions about homosexuality. [Last available version dated 7 December 2003. Accessed via the Wayback Machine.] Note: Many of the links in these archived pages are out of date (including the link back here!). However, the material on the site itself is still very helpful. Just be sure to come back here or search Google to find where listed reources may have gone.
American Psychiatric Association: Psychiatrists explain why you aren’t sick.
American Psychological Association: Psychologists explain why you aren’t sick.
Uncle Charlie’s Checklist: If you’re just coming to terms with your sexuality, or if someone else has “just found out,” or if you’re saying to yourself “What now?!” here’s some advice from somebody who’s been there.
On God and Being Gay: Some thoughts on the religious angle from a Christian perspective.
The Caterpillar: I wrote this poem for a friend. But if you are young and having a tough time, it’s written for you, too.
Read This Before Coming Out To Your Parents: The classic PFLAG brochure on what to think about before you have that little talk.
Youth E-mail Lists: Young people just like you manage several e-mail lists for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning youth only. One is for youth 13-17, one for youth 17-21, and one for youth 21-25 (17- and 21-year-olds can join either or both groups that apply to them). There are additional lists for straight/supportive youth and youth living with HIV/AIDS. There’s nobody here but other people your age.
Read soc.support.youth.gay-lesbian-bi: A moderated Usenet newsgroup, which provides support for les/bi/gay and questioning youth.
LYRIC: Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center. Peer-led programs for youth up to age 23 in San Francisco. LYRIC’s Youth Talkline can be reached at (415) 863-3636 in the San Francisco Bay Area, and (800) 246-PRIDE from elsewhere in the United States.
Queer Resources Directory: The premier source for online information and links.
QRD Religion Resources: The Queer Resources Directory’s list of religious resources for all faiths.
The Cool Page for Queer Teens!: Scott Bidstrup’s page for gay youth.
QueerAmerica!: Database of resources in the U.S.
GayCanada: Database of resources in Canada.
GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. Student Pride, a program of GLSEN, is the only national network of student-led Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) in schools across the country.
Safe Schools Coalition: Practical guides for students, families, educators and administrators.
Oasis: ... because it’s a desert out there! E-zine by and for youth.
Blair: Another youth-oriented mag. Note: Blair uses graphics heavily and they do not provide ALT text, so those who cannot access graphics easily should skip this one.
Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Index: The Open Directory Project is the largest human-edited directory of information on the Web.
Resources for GLBT Teens: The James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center of the San Francisco Public Library provides these lists of resources for GLBT Teens. Don’t fail to visit when you’re in San Francisco. You’ve got to see the mural!
A Different Light: Gay and Lesbian Literature.
PFLAG National: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. The very best place to turn to get help for you and your family in their coming to terms with a loved one who is les/bi/gay/trans. You always have a home in PFLAG!
PFLAG-Talk & TGS-PFLAG: Online “virtual chapters” of PFLAG. There for you anytime, day or night, between meetings of your local chapter. The web pages are also full of helpful links and information.

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Parents, Families & Friends

These resources will be of help to those who have a loved one who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered.

Homosexuality: Common Questions & Statements Addressed: An excellent primer for those just starting to ask questions about homosexuality. [Last available version dated 28 December 2003. Accessed via the Wayback Machine.] Note: Many of the links in these archived pages are out of date (including the link back here!). However, the material on the site itself is still very helpful. Just be sure to come back here or search Google to find where listed reources may have gone.
American Psychiatric Association: Psychiatrists explain why your loved one isn’t sick.
American Psychological Association: Psychologists explain why your loved one isn’t sick.
“My Child is Gay”: Article from Mental Help Net’s Perspectives magazine.
On God and Being Gay: Some thoughts on the religious angle from a Christian perspective.
PFLAG National: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. The very best place to turn for help in coming to terms with a loved one who has come out to you or whom you think may be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered. You always have a home in PFLAG!
PFLAG-Talk & TGS-PFLAG: Online “virtual chapters” of PFLAG. There for you anytime, day or night, between meetings of your local chapter. The web pages are also full of helpful links and information.
PFLAG San Francisco: Local PFLAG chapter.
Youth E-mail Lists: Young people manage several e-mail lists for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning youth only. There is also one for straight/supportive youth. If you're a young straight person and a friend or family member has told you they are lesbian, gay or bisexual, or you suspect they might be, this is the list for you. There’s nobody here but other people your age who are sympathetic to your situation.
My Child Is GAY! Now What Do I Do?: Scott Bidstrup’s page for parents.
GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. Student Pride, a program of GLSEN, is the only national network of student-led Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) in schools across the country.
Safe Schools Coalition: Practical guides for students, families, educators and administrators.
COLAGE: Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere. If you have a gay parent, this is your support group.
Queer Resources Directory: The premier source for online information and links.
QueerAmerica!: Database of resources in the U.S.
GayCanada: Database of resources in Canada.
Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Index: The Open Directory Project is the largest human-edited directory of information on the Web.

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Personal Stories

Gabi Clayton: Gabi Clayton’s son, Bill, took his life at age 17 after he became a victim of homophobic violence.
Rhea Murray: Rhea Murray’s son, Bruce, was forced to drop out of high school at 14 because of anti-gay harassment. She continues to fight for her son’s right to be himself.

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Suicide

Did you know that about a third of teen suicides are kids who were gay and thought they had no future? Here is some sobering information which will show you how important it is for les/bi/gay youth to know that they are OK just the way they are. A big factor in these statistics is rejection or fear of rejection by family.

Gay/Bisexual Male Youth Suicide
HHS Youth Suicide Study
Youth Suicide Paper (Tremblay)

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General

See Youth or Parents, Family & Friends for helpful information for those who are dealing with sexuality or coming-out issues for the first time, and be sure to visit these sections of my links page:

The Newsstand, where you’ll find online newspapers, magazines and useful links pages.
Reference has links to online library and reference resources, and to booksellers who carry helpful books on LGBTQ issues.

San Francisco Pride: The official home page of the San Francisco Pride Parade. Did you know that the Pride Parade is the second largest event in California each year? Only Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses (the Rose Bowl parade) is bigger. Has links to pride events around the world.
Dyke March: Every year on “Pink Saturday” (the eve of the San Francisco Pride Parade) thousands of women take to the streets in a march all their own.
Human Rights Campaign: Working for lesbian and gay equal rights.
GLAAD: Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
PlanetOut: Internet portal site with references to everything queer.
NAMES Project: It’s The Quilt, stupid!

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Shopping

American Booksellers Association: This web site lets you find independent booksellers near you. Browse by geographic location or use the “Search Bookstores” page and keywords “gay lesbian” to find booksellers who carry the specific literature you’re looking for.
A Different Light: The nation’s premier specialist in gay and lesbian literature.

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