Creating Gay Childhood Heroes When I was in middle school, I fell in love with a singing trio that protected me for the rest of my school years. Nowadays, I have to wonder how Tony Orlando and Dawn (TOAD) became such a strong interest of mine and why I was [...]

An Open Letter to my 6th Grade Gym Teacher This is an open letter to my sixth-grade gym teacher, which I mailed on Sept. 3. I believe as gays and lesbians we should confront — when we can and when it is safe — those who harmed us for being different [...]

Are You Getting The Love You Want? Have you just begun a relationship that you want to keep? Want to resolve longstanding conflicts with your partner? Want to decide if your relationship can be saved? Want to make a good relationship even better? During the weekend of April 15–17, 2005 I am [...]

article appears in "In the Family Magazine" Summer Issue 2002. In the Family Magazine is a mental health magazine for Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgender people and their loved ones. In 1978, when I was 15 years old, there were no gay role models. I remember going to a local bookstore and seeing pornographic magazines on [...]

Local therapist says reliving childhood can be empowering. By Jason Michael One of my most vivid childhood memories is of riding in the backseat of our family car, on the way to the circus - and crying. I was crying because I realized that our little circus outing was causing me to miss the "Sonny and [...]

Originally published in “In the Family” magazine Fall, 2003 Q: I've heard therapists say that a male adult who sexually abuses a boy isn't necessarily ‘homosexual.' This seems confusing: If he isn't homosexual, then why would he sexually molest boys, instead of girls? This is a very good question, and there are several ways to respond [...]

When people think about children, rarely is their focus on how homophobia can hurt them. Usually it is raised when talking about a gay parent and how they may “impact” their offspring, or how the behavior of gay and lesbian adults will influence them. But even more rarely do people concentrate on how homophobia impacts children, [...]

Homophobia, an unrealistic fear of gays/lesbians, affects all of us in this culture – straight and gay alike. It’s characterized by a generalized negative attitude towards homosexuals, if not outright feelings of hatred. Gays and lesbians experience internalized homophobia as a result of growing up in a culture that allows/encourages discrimination against homosexuals. Internalized homophobia can [...]

The following article originally appeared in the Port Huron, Michigan Times Herald as a "Guest Opinion" column. Some weeks ago you published a story about the local Gay Pride group. As a pastor and counselor of more than 40 years in Port Huron, I have followed with interest TalkBack and letters, which have since appeared, on [...]

This article originally appeared in the Michigan Imago Therapy Association newsletter, 1999. In a society that sees most relationships as disposable, lesbian and gay relationships are seen and treated as even more disposable. Thus, when conflict arises and the relationship becomes more difficult, it seems easier for lesbian and gay couples to give up on the [...]