YouTube video released of fathers reading a children’s book about coming out gay
A NEW children’s book about a young boy coming out as gay to his dad has just been launched today, accompanied with a YouTube video of three real-life fathers reading the book.
Written by Australian author and , I Think I鈥檓 A Poof is reflective of the author’s personal experience of coming out to his progressive parents.
鈥滻 hope [I Think I鈥檓 A Poof] can help break down the stigma attached to gay men and their relationships with their fathers,” Leighton-Dore told the Star Observer.
The accompanying聽video of fathers of gay dads (scroll down聽to watch), including Leighton-Dore鈥檚 own dad Bruce, sees them reading the tale of acceptance (tinged with a comic聽tone) and聽challenges that gay men and women experience at some point in their life.
鈥淚t’s my belief that our childhood exposure to stories is imperative to sculpting the ways we confront adversity later in life,鈥� Leighton-Dore said.
鈥淭he importance of diverse childhood storytelling can’t be ignored. Even as adults, we’re constantly looking to find fragments of ourselves reflected in the fictitious heroes we’re surrounded by.
“An absence of diversity in these heroes is not only deeply disheartening, it can be detrimental to our early sense of belonging.鈥�
The book ,聽with the limited first edition print run individually numbered and signed by Leighton-Dore himself. Proceeds will also be donated聽to LGBTI youth organisation Twenty10 and QLife.
Watch the video for I Think I’m A Poof:
you can encourage a child to be gay and it is good, but encourage a child to have hetro sex and you are a pervert??????
Micah Winter
Friends, Let’s support this program
Love the idea behind the book. Just not the word “poof”. There’s better words that could have been used. Especially for a children’s book. I think he should rethink the words he uses.
The concept is good, but the text is lacking. Perhaps a joint authorship with the writer’s parents might have avoided some of the more gauche passages.
Well done Samuel Leighton-Dore. Definitely gonna grab a copy to read to my kids.
Celeste
I think its heart is the right place and the illustrations are good but I don’t like the overall message.
It perpetuates stereotypes and how it depicts women is awful – either as wombs for hire or punishment for straight men as “wives”.
I applaud the effort but I think it needs a re-write.
Been called ‘poof’ by poofs, i’me ok with that, also tells me quite a bit about the callers!
Fuck me swinging. Note to self never never attempt to make any contribution to anything- or else a professional offence taker of some kind will vilify me for even having a go. It’s not a choice to be same sex attracted, but it is to be an annoying twat who puts shit on some bloke and his book. So what if it it’s crap- I think people will work that out at the time of purchase or use. You all don’t have to save the world from him.
This is a monumental fail. And I hate the word poof.
Robbie
Brenton Anthony Luke
This is realism. Kids get called names. Why be ashamed. If someone calls you a fag or a poof just say “Yeah, what’s yr issue.” You’ll find that 90% of the time they back down. What’s wrong with you people. Take a punch and give one back. This is the way life is and whining amoungst ourselves doesn’t make it any better.
Oh wow out come all the negative haters in the world….have not read it so can’t comment. That said a book is progress. If it’s a start then why don’t all you negative haters start some positive contribution to writing one.
All you had to do was click the link and watch the video of the 3 Dad’s reading it out loud, Hayden. Not that hard really. But hey, you did comment anyway even though you said you couldn’t. lol
how dare he encourage the derogatory term POOF..im soo offended.
Out come the political crap. Leave it alone, this would have been banned back in the day. This is progress nego’s.
well maybe yr just a sill old faggot…..dont like that? its just as powerful & offensive as the term poof. i don’t want the general public thinking its ok to call me those names
I dunno where you are from, but realise you seem rather precious and fucking rude. We have claimed the word Poof back as a term of endearment in Melbourne. We have a Night Club called Poof Doof, A Club For Gay Men! It’s on a banner outside the club. Words are just words. Would you prefer it be called “Daddy I think I may be a Homosexual or Queer or part of the LGBTI community?” I see this as progressive. Fuck you and your rudeness by the way. Get a back bone and say “Yeah I’m a Poof, what’s yr problem?”
Any gay person who uses the word ‘poof’ has blood on their hands. Stop actively trying to destroy our progress for equal rights.
What rubbish. would you prefer Fag, Faggott, pillow biter, Wufter? Did you think that maybe the Author actually deliberately used that word because the kids going to grow up being teased (just as we all were) albeit with laws and protection we didnt’t have. Poof, I think is the least offensive of them all.
No offensive words should ever be used. End of story. We should not be teaching our kids to tolerate hate, we should be teaching them to put a end to it.
This book is just creepy. I’m gay and a father but would never have read this shit to my kid or any other.
I wondered, does the author have children himself?
The answer: No.
In fact, looking at a couple of past write ups on this dude, I learn he says things like; ” I want a child that is mine “.
And there-in lie the problem in the context of his verbiage. Children are not fashion accesories. You do not own them. Ask yourself, do your parents own you? Of course not.
Parents are responsible for their children. Not some childless wannabe who makes money writing books because he is jealous of others in the fairy-tale world he created in his own mind at the age of 5. The book is not about the children but his own desire to own his own fashion accessory.
Sorry, I should have cited at least one of the things I read when looking this.
Then the book wouldn’t be needed by you as you would already know how to address the issue with yr lucky kid. If you had a Father like mine you would agree.
I wish I had thought of this…
Aloof doesn’t even rhyme with poof…
Alan – seeing as you’re so hell bent on posting your opinion around the place, I thought I’d share mine as well.
Do you think that the majority of the literature and story telling that is put forward to children isn’t already full of stereotypes? Damsel in distress seeks out her knight in shining armour, and the bad guys get theirs in the end – the plot line for almost every successful Disney movie for the past 70 years. I think the book is great, why not give children who are struggling with their sexuality something to hold on to?
In the story, I think it is pretty obvious that the Father is trying to cheer up his son by sharing the possibilities of how his life could be. Maybe the Dad is ill informed, but so what? He is helping him overcome the fear and anxiety he feels about accepting his sexual identity – most probably caused by the pressure placed on him to behave like all the stock-standard characters and ‘role models’ who never deviate from a woman falling in love with a man. In my opinion I think they are the real negative stereotypes.
Yours truly,
One big poof x
Alan, do you think that the majority of the literature and story telling that is put forward to children isn’t already full of stereotypes? Damsel in distress seeks out her knight in shining armour, and the bad guys get theirs in the end – the plot line for almost every successful Disney movie for the past 70 years. I think the book is great, why not give children who are struggling with their sexuality something to hold on to?
In the story, I think it is pretty obvious that the Father is trying to cheer up his son by sharing the possibilities of how his life could be. Maybe the Dad is ill informed, but so what? He is helping him overcome the fear and anxiety he feels about accepting his sexual identity – most probably caused by the pressure placed on him to behave like all the stock-standard characters and ‘role models’ who never deviate from a woman falling in love with a man. In my opinion I think they are the real negative stereotypes.
Yours truly,
One big poof x
“one big poof”. The one thing i hate more then homophobic straight people are homophobic gay people. Stop using such extremely offensive slurs.
I find this book to be quite derogatory and offensive.
The book to be full of stereotypical innuendos.
1:19 – “You will dress well” – Feeds the stereotype that well dressed people are gay. Not all LGBTI dress in a “well dressed way”.
1:20 – “Be funny and Smart” – Everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation/identity are “funny and smart” in their own way
1:27 – “Or collect Art” – Not all LGBTI are “artistic or have an appreciation of art
1:30 – “Live in a big house” – This feeds the stereotype that all LGBTI are extremely financial and have lots of cash. We all have the same living expenses as our Heterosexual counterparts. This is particularly offensive.
1:36 – “maybe pay a stranger to give birth to your child” – Cheapens LGBTI families. It implies LGBTI simply want to “buy” their children.
1:41 – “Dad that sounds so cool” – Implies it is a choice to be LGBTI.
1:56 – “An average life with a wife and nothing too great” – This tells children that you can only be “happy” if you are gay. If you are straight, your life will be boring.
2:04 – “They will move to the suburbs where they will work all day” – Really? So only heterosexuals live in the suburbs? Only heterosexuals have to work?
2:08 – “Then go to the pub and drink it all away” – So are all heterosexuals alcoholics?
If the author wanted to try to educate children that being gay is natural, it could have been done in a far less demeaning, offensive derogatory offensive way.
Instead of calling the author offensive, demeaning and derogatory maybe appreciate the fact that FOR NOW it is easier to explain in a stereotypical way rather than an in depth way. The book is for children … not an installment for the next encyclopedia britannica release …
I find the book derogatory and offensive, not the author (who reading his bio, eludes to being gay himself)
In my opinion, it could have been written without the stereotypes. Currently it only will continue to feed them, ingrain them into the next generation. Writing it at a level for children, showing it is no different to if you are gay/straight, again in my opinion, would have been best.
I agree!!! Appalling!
Instead of a blow-by-blow critique Alan, maybe spend that time on something more positive, like writing your book that builds on the work of others. :D
Normally I’d be saying you’re a whinger Alan, but I agree with you. Whether straight or gay, we as a community know there is a better message than this to send to children. I’d settle for a story about two men who have a meaningful, loving relationship together. The size of the house, art collection can be secondary.
Well said, Alan.
So we need to reinforce straight acting masculine only stereotypes instead? Why is your set of cliches more valid? The author is a very sweet young gay man who is trying to get across parents acceptance and you cut it down? Don’t buy the book. It’s written simplistically to suit kids.
Totally agree with your assessment.
As a gay man, I find this book to be quite derogatory and offensive.
The book to be full of stereotypical innuendos.
1:19 – “You will dress well” – Feeds the stereotype that well dressed people are gay. Not all LGBTI dress in a “well dressed way”.
1:20 – “Be funny and Smart” – Everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation/identity are “funny and smart” in their own way
1:27 – “Or collect Art” – Not all LGBTI are “artistic or have an appreciation of art
1:30 – “Live in a big house” – This feeds the stereotype that all LGBTI are extremely financial and have lots of cash. We all have the same living expenses as our Heterosexual counterparts. This is particularly offensive.
1:36 – “maybe pay a stranger to give birth to your child” – Cheapens LGBTI families. It implies LGBTI simply want to “buy” their children.
1:41 – “Dad that sounds so cool” – Implies it is a choice to be LGBTI.
1:56 – “An average life with a wife and nothing too great” – This tells children that you can only be “happy” if you are gay. If you are straight, your life will be boring.
2:04 – “They will move to the suburbs where they will work all day” – Really? So only heterosexuals live in the suburbs? Only herterosexuals have to work?
2:08 – “Then go to the pub and drink it all away” – So are all heterosexuals alcoholics?
If the author wanted to try to educate children that being gay is natural, it could have been done in a far less demeaning, offensive derogatory offensive way.