In 'Family Outing', Chastity Bono, daughter of Sonny and Cher, weaves her own dramatic story into those of other gays and lesbians to illustrate the phases, pitfalls and rewards of coming out. We hear how gays and lesbians often feel indescribably "different" when they are quite young, how they come to recognize and explore that difference in themselves and then deal, in various ways, with parents' reactions, those of friends and co-workers, and their own unearthed homophobia. Ultimately, we learn how enormously empowering the whole process can be.
While 'Family Outing' provides sensible, helpful advice to gays and lesbians who are thinking about coming out, it is also an important primer for parents. We hear parents talk about their difficult - but ultimately successful and satisfying - journey through their part of the coming-out process. And in conversations with Chastity, Cher tells her side of the story, relating her suspicion, denial, confrontation and eventual acceptance of her daughter's sexual orientation. For, as Chastity says, "Parents come out too."
Practical, revealing and utterly necessary, 'Family Outing' is a guide like no other.
