Date: Tue, 9 Feb 1999 11:38:37 -0500 From: PFLAG Communications Subject: PFLAG News Release: When a Spouse Comes Out, PFLAG Offers Help *** PFLAG PRESS RELEASE *** For Immediate Release Contact: Janice Hughes, 202-638-4200 February 9, 1999 Mike Neubecker, 734-783-2950 When a Spouse 'Comes Out,' PFLAG Offers Help Families with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered spouses are highlighted in the newly revised publication "Opening the Straight Spouse's Closet." It addresses many of the issues facing those whose spouses have "come out" to them as gay, lesbian or bisexual. "Opening the Straight Spouse's Closet" also features an expanded discussion on the issues that children face in coping with the news of their parents' sexuality. The publication, by Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), addresses the feelings that straight spouses and their children experience, and the coping stages that they go through. Reactions of shock and grief, empathy and acceptance are shared by men and women as they work toward rebuilding and resolution in their lives. "I feel shaky and vulnerable and alone," says one woman after her husband's disclosure. "Opening the Straight Spouse's Closet" lets straight spouses know that they are not alone, and that their feelings are not unusual. Estimates indicate that 2 million married people are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered, and about 3.5 million children have gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered parents. "It is often difficult when a loved one 'comes out', and this situation is even more complicated if that person is involved in a heterosexual relationship," says PFLAG Executive Director Kirsten Kingdon. As the mother of a gay son and a son whose wife came out as a lesbian, Kingdon understands how complex these issues are, and how great a need there is for a publication like this. "Opening the Straight Spouse's Closet" encourages replacing misinformation with truth, and stresses the importance of unlearning prejudice through examples of love and acceptance. Final resolution for spouses and children comes as everyone involved honestly faces reality and commits to forging new paths for their future. The publication (15 pp.) offers ways others can help spouses heal, and an extensive list of resources, including the Straight Spouse Network. Like PFLAG's 425+ chapters, Straight Spouse groups are located across the United States providing support and information for spouses and their families. (Prices start at $1.60/ea. Bulk rates available.) ### Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through-support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. PFLAG provides an opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. Serving more than 75,000 members, PFLAG has over 425 affiliates in the United States and abroad. 1101 14th St., NW, Suite 1030, Washington, DC 20005 * (202) 638-4200 Fax: (202) 638-0243 * e-mail: info@pflag.org * http://www.pflag.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe from PFLAG's Email Action Alerts, send a message to info@pflag.org, subject line "unsubscribe." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~