August 17 2007
Awful Kids Book
posted by Ana Samways at 11:38 amLast year we featured a CNN report showing Richard A Cohen’s wacky therapeutic approach to “curing gayness”; now we spotted this disturbing picture book called Alfie’s Home, about sexual abuse, on Cynical C.
The story is about a kid whose parents are arguing, whose mother leans on the kid emotionally, and whose old man isn’t around much. Kid is then molested by an Uncle and therefore thinks he’s gay. Enter therapist who tells him he’s not gay, blames his father for being distant and cures the boy. Sheesh. (More after the jump…)
The thought of those poor bible belt 10-year-olds who aren’t into sport having this rubbish foisted on them is truly depressing. For solace, watch The Daily Show lampoon the author…
Go here for the full book. Come back and tell us what you think.
August 17th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
That’s f*cking sick. Did uncle Pete get a visit from Mr Policeman, I wonder? It’s the sort of simplistic, snide, patronising shite that causes more problems than it solves.
August 17th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
that makes me mad and sick at the same time.
August 18th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Frightening, and unfortunately reflective of some fairly common thinking. Sure the book exaggerates it but there are significant portions of the population who think that gays are just frustrated heteros that have had disappointments in love or family situations.
There’s also the inappropriate touching which is another concern. Unfortunately some people make jokes about it including this comment on TradeMe from Brooke Howard Smith. Hope Amanda gave him a rap across the knuckles!. Not sure if the thread is still active on TM but there is a copy of his comment here
August 18th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Amber not Amanda lol typo