This compilation of personal stories gives priceless insight into the less frequently acknowledged aspects of gay, lesbian, and transsexual life.   It is clear that the purpose of this book is to educate its audience to take action by providing steps that anyone can take to bring society closer to equality.   The authors of these articles reveal their most private feelings and experiences in an effort to help others gain a deeper awareness of gay and lesbian issues and a more thorough understanding of people's struggles.   Included in this anthology are short stories about transgendered parents, the importance of exposing your children to the words "gay," "lesbian," and "bisexual" in a positive way, and finding words to describe your own sexuality or the sexual orientation of others.   The "Steps for Equality" always directly relate to the preceding story as a way to provide readers with possible actions to improve the problem being addressed.   Because the articles will often leave people asking how they can do their part to change these social norms, the book offers different ways for them to incorporate awareness and activism into their daily lives. -A.D.

Noelle Howey's "Taking on the Pronoun Challenge (But Don't Lose Sleep Over It)" is a thoughtful piece on the difficulty of adjusting semantics to fit gender changes.   She describes her personal experience of adjusting to her father's decision to become a woman, explaining that it was not hard to accept her father as a woman, but rather it was more difficult changing the way she regarded her in speech.   Howey did not want to refer to her father as "mother" because her dad was her dad, despite a gender change.   She concluded to calling her "Da" because she felt it was comfortable and appropriate to her situation.   Howey addresses the issues of outsiders engaging in conversation with her and referring to her father as a "him".   Instead of getting upset, as many transgender families might, she accepts the word misuse as unintentional, relating the mistake to her own struggles with correct word use.   She explains that some people will switch up the gender pronoun to be cruel, but most people that mix up the words care enough to ask about her father's well-being, showing that they are not doing it on purpose.   Overall, Howey shows that it is not the pronoun that makes the person, but rather it is the personality traits and the interests.   -KM

Howley shares her experience growing up with a father who became a woman.   She discusses pronouns and their pivotal role in routine discourse.   She was unsure how to refer to her father.   She already had a mother, and the title of "father" did not compliment her father's sex.   She finally settle's on the term "da."   Howley continues by sharing her frustration by how the society which she lives in judges "da" because of her genitalia, while having certain expectations as well.   Howley's anger is really directed at gender roles, and how "da" challenges them by being a woman who enjoys vodka, women, and watching television.   Howley questions why "da" is constantly seen as a part of a collective (one of many women) and not an individual (simply "da"). - A.H.

            In our changing, diverse society, it is oftentimes difficult for "ordinary" heterosexual individuals to keep track of terminology relating to the LGBT community. The very brief articles in this section offer information on how to tactfully address gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals from the perspective of LGBT individuals as well as friends and family members. More importantly, the information is sensible in that they all stress respect before insisting on accurate political correctness; the authors do not want readers to lose sleep in regards to overanalyzing the issue. Whether it is taking on the "pronoun challenge" in regards to a transgender father or perhaps answering your child's question of "What's a lesbian?"--this section tackles these oftentimes unknown territories in a frank, honest and sincere manner. Moreover, a "Steps for Equality" bit is provided after each article in which follow-up information and suggestions for resources is provided. All in all,   "Take on the Pronoun Challenge" is an immensely useful resource not only for friends and family members interested in diversifying their knowledge of how to correctly address the LGBT individual in their lives, but also journalists, writers, and bloggers who may be confused as to how to tactfully address LGBT individuals. - M.B.