The Other Side of the Closet: The Coming-Out Crisis for Straight Spouses and Families

by Amity Pierce Buxton

Book Overview

Candid, compassionate, authoritative-a rich source of insights, information, and practical guidance. "The first major work on the topic." --Gay Community News "A much needed comprehensive study of what happens to husbands, wives, and children during the coming-out crisis." --The Reverend Jane E. Vennard, founder Task Force for Spouses of Gays and Lesbians "The new enlarged edition adds important factors, especially children's reactions...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471021520
• ISBN13: 9780471021520
• Release Date: June 1994
• Publisher: Trade Paper Press
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

This book stopped the tears

I was devistated when my wife of 6 years (we'd been together for 12 years) told me early one morning that she was gay, she had beeen having an affair with a woman and that she was leaving me. Unfortunately, there wasn't anyone I could turn to to ask the right questions. This book helped me through the first week of my 'new life' (suddenly a single man) gave me the strength to abandon my desire to try and win my wife back. I have since leant it to my mum and dad, brother and sister. It's helped answer my family's questions -- if she was gay, then why did she marry? I would heartily reccommend this to anyone who has just had their spouse come out.

The ONE book you need if you find out your spouse is gay

This book turned my head around like hundreds of hours of therapy couldn't do... saved me thousands of dollars on anti-depressants. Thank you, Amity Pierce Buxton! This book is the ultimate resource for the spouse who finds their husband/wife is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Finally, someone acknowledges the pain, the confusion, the guilt, the incredible blows to self-esteem that happen to the spouse of someone with sexual-orientation issues.... I am so glad I found this book... Until the moment I discovered it, I thought the failure of my marriage to a bisexual was my fault, and that just one more therapist or self-help book could turn things around. With this book, I found out that it wasn't my fault, that I wasn't alone, and that life could go on for me. Life changed immediately. Buy it... join the Straight Spouse Network... take charge of your life again.

A life line in a time of dispair.

I found this book shortly after my husband of 13 years told me he was gay. This book helped me to process what was happening to me, and to realize that although I felt as if I were the only person on earth dealing with such a situation, I wasn't alone. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough.

This book was a lifeline!

This book was recommended to me and I reluctantly bought it - then I couldn't put it down. I kept writing 'YES" in the margins. If you are a straight spouse, you need this book to help guide you through the emotions and difficulties you are facing. You will realize that you are not alone. It was a godsend. Thank you, Dr. Buxton!

It saved my life!

This book concentrates on how the coming out process affects the straight spouse, which is often forgotten when the homosexual partner is going through the trauma of the coming out process. If you are in this situation you will be shocked at how similar the stories in the book are to your own story! It deals with moral issues, parental issues, self-confidence issues, sexuality issues, and much more. If you are married to (or suspect you are married to) a homosexual person of either sex, this is a must read, whether or not you decide to stay in the marriage. Thank you Dr. Buxton for writing this book!