"Speaking Out: families of LGBTQ+ Advance the Dialogue is an interview project inspired by the author's daughter in the spirit of pushing back against current hateful anti-LGBTQ+ politics and trends. Including 19 interviews with LGBTQ+ people and parents of LGBTQ+ people who describe their journeys and their growth over time, the book is intended to provide connection and to suggest pathways-ones to take and to avoid--for people who may be struggling with their children or families. Coming from a wide range of backgrounds and experience, the participants share their stories as a form of activism, in the hopes that giving readers the opportunity to know them will start to dissolve stereotypes and promote acceptance. They address a range of topics, but all answer the question, "What do you want to say to the parents of LGBTQ+ people?" These families had different starting points: some had to deal with the dissonance of beliefs and perspectives that too often cause people to reject their children; others, though lacking such baggage, still had to deal with minority stress and with how that has affected their children (and them). Full-length interviews resist hyper-abbreviated ways of sharing and knowing. Proposing connection and visibility as a response to bullying and hatred, they invite readers to dwell for a moment with the courage of LGBTQ+ people and their families, and to admire and celebrate their resilience"-- Provided by publisher.