Gay Men Choosing Parenthood

March 1, 2004
Using a"decidedly gay-affirming lens" that does not assume heterosexuality is the norm, Mallon's study of gay parenthood employs case studies and interviews to illuminate its subject. The author, an associate professor of social work at Hunter College, examines the factors that contribute to the changes in gay men's lives once they become parents and offers suggestions as to why these changes should impact the child welfare system and professionals who work in the human services fields. Focusing on dads in New York and Los Angeles and using cogent, non-technical prose, Mallon explores issues such as the initial reactions to bringing a new child home, community responses to gay dads and gender politics. He also provides insight into the emotions common to gay men who choose to become parents. His study should enlighten psychologists, policy makers and anyone working in the field of childcare and the legal and social institutions surrounding it.

April 1, 2004
Marriage is a uniquely powerful institution that would bring stability to gays, and this stability would benefit all of society. This is the central point in Rauch's provocative book in favor of gay marriage. A writer for the Atlantic Monthly and National Journal, Rauch (Government's End: Why Washington Stopped Working) believes that civil unions are unacceptable because they do not bring the community support of marriage, and the possibility of civil unions would weaken marriage by making it just one option among several. Rauch addresses several of the opposition's arguments, e.g., that marriage is for procreation and that gay marriage will lead to polygamous marriage and beyond. Though he has a remarkably rosy view of marriage and lesbians are largely absent from the discussion, this is a timely and readable book that will provoke people on both sides of the argument. In a much more academic work, Mallon (social work, Hunter Coll.; Let's Get This Straight) examines the experiences of 20 gay men from New York and Los Angeles who became fathers without a female coparent in the 1980s. Mallon conducted extensive interviews with the men, discussing how they got their children, how they created a family, the responses of the community, and the implications of gay male parenthood for society. He illustrates his points with verbatim excerpts from the interviews. Interviewing men who became fathers so long ago allows Mallon to present the long view of raising children, but it leaves one wondering how things might be different for gay men becoming fathers today. The subject of gay fathers is rarely studied and has implications for child services. With the topic of gay marriage on so many minds lately, Rauch's book is recommended for all libraries. The interviews and extensive bibliography make Mallon's a good purchase for academic libraries.-Debra Moore, Cerritos Coll., Norwalk, CA

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