In the following stories names have been changed to protect identities.

D—who telephoned FFLAG to say that when he ‘came out’ to his parents his father threatened to kill him. When D sent them a Christmas card it was returned to him torn into pieces.

A married couple with two sons, J and S. J was about to get married and S was to be his best man. When S ‘came out’ J instantly withdrew the wedding invitation and wanted no further contact with his brother. The parents could not see a way forward which would not alienate one or other of their sons.

J—a smart and attractive young police officer who is lesbian. Her mother has rejected her completely. J said that nothing in her life or her achievements pleased her mother who told her that she was so ashamed of J that she no longer wanted her to visit.

P—a divorced father who single-handedly brought up his son. P was shattered when his son ‘came out’. He was however, determined to overcome his negativity towards his son. He regularly attended a FFLAG support group and is now reconciled to his son’s sexuality and has handed over his business interests to him.

A—a community worker. He wanted to know if support groups/resources for gay Muslims were available. He requested absolute confidentiality as his standing within the Muslim community could be damaged if it became known that he was seeking information about homosexuality

S–whose son was a victim of homophobic bullying at school. A psychologist, consulted because of the son’s distress, blamed S for the fact the her son is gay and suggested he be removed from her influence to undergo corrective therapy. S disagreed with the psychologist and moved her son to a different school—no further difficulties!