Ties That Bind - Familial Homophobia and Its Consequences

Sarah Schulman's Ties That Bind: Familial Homophobia and Its Consequences is an extensive dissection of the role that families play as nurturers of homophobia. In a decade of the resurgence of family values, such "values" include the development of homophobia, as well as the practice of alienation towards gay people.

While many more Americans are now more accepting of diversity, including homosexuality, Schulman makes it clear that familial and cultural homophobia is still quite prevalent in our society. Schulman grimly lays out the cruelty of families' shunning behaviors and their destructive and consequences for everyone involved. It's rare that a gay or lesbian person has not experienced some kind of discrimination, denial of love, or denial of approval because of his or her sexual orientation. Unfortunately, this experience usually starts at home, among parents or siblings.

Schulman's analysis emphasizes the fact that gay people are routinely subjected to forms of psychological abuse, and sometimes even physical abuse, never experienced by heterosexuals. Schulman, through specific examples, emphasizes how abusive treatment of homosexuals at home enables abusive treatment of homosexuals in other relationships, and in turn, society. Sarah Schulman helps readers understand that homophobia is not only a personal problem for the individual gay person, but also a widespread cultural crisis.

Schulman's book is based on her own experiences, research, and work as an activist. Ties That Bind is a very important work, which should be required reading for anyone interested in promoting full acceptance of all humans as equal persons in society.