a non-traditional father

The Velveteen Father by Jesse Green (306.8742 GRE) is not your typical story about a father with children.

You see, Green is a gay man who fell in love with Andy, a guy who had just adopted his first child, a baby boy named Erez. Instantly, Jesse became a father. This is his autobiography reflecting on the joys and pains of raising him. He contemplates on how much trouble gay couples have with adopting because of the stigma in society - with excuses ranging from "a child needs a mother" to "gay men are pedophiles." Although Green's Jewish mother is supportive of her son in many ways, she has no desire to consider Erez as part of her family.

After Jesse and Andy have been together for a while, Jesse and Andy decide to adopt another child.

The Velveteen Father provides a different slant on what it's like to be a father.



c Waterloo Public Library 2008