Coming Out: What Every Teen (Gay and Straight) Needs to Know

“It's just sort of like taking a leap off a cliff and hoping there's ground beneath it,” says Teá, a transgendered teen making the transition from male to female in a supportive school environment. She's one of the subjects featured in this excellent, straight-shooting guide to both coming out safely and also being a straight ally. A genial teenage host lays the groundwork by pointing out that an estimated 5 percent of American high school students identify themselves as lesbian or gay, and he reappears intermittently throughout the program to define common terms, such as “sexual orientation,” the acronym “LGBTQ,” “coming out,” and “homophobia.” Experts in human sexuality provide commentary to accompany the stories of several young people who've had positive experiences with both peers and family in identifying themselves as LGBT, as well as one straight teen who advocates for gay rights. Also covered are legal and psychological issues related to bullying and sexual harassment. Well-shot and edited, Coming Out brings a realistically optimistic tone to an emotionally difficult and controversial subject, allowing credible representatives to speak in their own voices minus any finger-wagging moralizing. The accompanying curriculum provides a guide to establishing a gay-straight alliance at one's school. Highly recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)