It is rare for heterosexuals to acknowledge, much less write about, their own homophobia. This black grandmother who grew up in the homophobic culture of Jamaica in the 40's and 50's offers a moving look into the challenges faced daily by people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) because of the learned biases, attitudes and behavior of heterosexuals. The author, a behavioral scientist, who migrated to the United States 30 years ago, shares examples from her early life experiences as well as examples from her long career as an organizational consultant in the United States and Europe. The centerpiece of the book is a spontaneous dialogue between the author and a gay pastor about the realities of life for members of the gay community. This is a standout element that sets the book apart. In a particularly valuable part of the book, the author describes common scenarios of heterosexual prejudice and bias towards LGBT people that will ring familiar with many readers. The responses she recommends will be useful in building relationships between members of the gay and heterosexual communities. Throughout, the author strikes a good balance between professional reserve and personal openness. She comes across as sincere, candid and open-minded. She effectively uses her own life experience to demonstrate that we are not born with inbred prejudice. Rather we learn our biases from the culture in which we are raised and from well-intended people in our families and communities. She emphasizes that as adults, we have the capacity to move from indifference, to compassion, to support for human rights. This book will appeal to a wide audience that includes organization consultants and managers who are concerned about diversity and inclusion, as well as to educators and parents who are preparing children for a world in which we value and respect each other regardless of our differences.
About the Author: Shirley Anderson Fletcher has consulted to private corporations, government agencies and non-profit organizations for over thirty years. Her primary mission has been to assist clients in the United States and internationally to develop organizational cultures that value and support excellence in performance from all employees regardless of sexual orientation, national origin, culture, race, gender, age or other social identity. She is an Applied Behavioral Scientist with a Masters Degree from Johns Hopkins University, a graduate Diploma in Education from Oxford University, and an Honors Degree in History from London University/University College of the West Indies. Shirley is an accomplished organization systems analyst, executive coach and group facilitator. She has applied her expertise to companies in the pharmaceutical industry, banking, and the petroleum industry as well as public utilities. She is also an avid gardener, and crossword puzzle fanatic. She and her husband of forty-six years have two children and three grand children.