Real Talk about LGBTQIAP: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Pansexual

Coyt’s comprehensive if perhaps overlong explanatory book for fellow “straight allies” of LGBTQ people helpfully addresses questions that they might otherwise burden marginalized people with and provides a thoroughly articulated case for respecting others. The book follows a q&a format, with answers supported by data from mainstream scientific, research-based, and advocacy sources, as well as personal statements from interviews with respondents with LGBTQIAP identities. She separates the initialism into sexual orientation topics (lesbian and gay, bisexual, asexual, and pansexual) and gender and body variation topics (transgender and intersex); the awkward section for “Q” usefully discusses the complexity of reclaiming slurs, but also, possibly confusingly, introduces genderqueer topics before transgender ones. Further sections discuss coming out, legal and societal equality, and the lack of textual evidence of objections to homosexuality in the Bible. Sometimes, answers to more socially complex topics like that of “passing” are oversimplified, and a few spots, notably the discussion of intersex biology, are technically wrong or overly vague. Throughout, Coyt reaffirms that “discomfort [is not] an excuse to be disrespectful” and advocates for “treating our fellow humans with love and respect.” This targeted resource may be just the right thing to guide uninformed potential allies gently onto a path of compassion. [em](BookLife) [/em]