|
Advice Columnist loses a Sister - Gains a New Purpose helping gays and lesbians
But even life & career experts sometimes hit snags in their lives. When life & career expert Alison Blackman Dunham's twin sister and partner died, she realized that her own career needed adjusting. She has begun a new, ambitious project -- one that she feels strongly she is perfect to pursue, and that will help advance the cause of civil rights for gays and lesbians....an intensive research and book project that gives an intimate look at the daily lives of long-term gay and lesbian couples.
(PRWEB) May 1, 2004 --Until her twin sisters death two years ago, life & career expert and advice columnist Alison Blackman Dunham was primarily known around the globe as ½ The Advice Sisters® . The savvy sisters dispensed relationship advice in a unique double-take" (two views for every question) format. They were hailed as the next Ann & Abby" and they also wrote nine books on relationship-oriented topics.
But even life & career experts sometimes hit snags in their lives. After her twin's death, Ms. Blackman Dunham realized that her own career needed adjusting. While she still creates the Advice Sisters Relationships Web Site http://www.advicesisters.net/ and writes double-take advice columns simply as Advice Sister Alison,"she has started a new, ambitious research and book project -- one that she feels strongly she is perfect to pursue, and that will help advance the cause of civil rights for gays and lesbians.
We live in an era where the potential for equal rights for lesbians and gays is possible and nothing in decades has polarized religious and political groups (not to mention society at large) like this issue has," she explains. However, in working with men and women around the world and listening to their concerns and interests, I realize that gay relationships are traditionally so private that there is simply not that much credible information available. Ignorance breeds anger, contempt and negativity. This has to change! I have built my reputation as an intelligent advisor, someone who cuts to the heart of issues and gives people information that lets them jump start their own thinking and make informed decisions. I write in a no-nonsense but highly entertaining style that is hard to duplicate. As a happily married, straight woman who has spent years helping men and women to make their relationships better, I am the perfect author to write a book that is neither judgmental, nor reflects any special interests and that will acceptable to both gay and straight people. This is a project that I feel compelled to do!"
Ms. Blackman spent months querying gay and straight adults about what they wanted to know about long-term, gay and lesbian relationships. You cant imagine all the questions I really wanted to ask when I also included what I felt was important, but I knew that people wouldnt respond to a gazillion questions, so I settled on 25," she says. Couples who fill out the questionnaire who also want to be interviewed further can note that on their survey forms, and thats just about everyone," she reports. The information Ive received so far is as diverse as there are stars in the universe," reports Ms. Blackman, but what is so moving about the responses is the obvious drive to connect to just one person in a special, enduring way --its just universal to all human beings."
Ms. Blackman is still seeking gay and lesbian couples who have been together at least five years to interview. I need at last another 50 couples or as many as I can gather in the next two months," she says. She's also hoping that some gay celebrities and politicians will also step up and participate. So far, the feedback from couples who have been interviewed" via the questionnaire has been highly positive. They report that the questions made them really think about their relationships, and that the overall experience was positive, beneficial and fun. Although so far, no one has requested it, she says that she is willing to "mask" specific identities or details.
The final phase of her research will be a book that is a fusion between a fascinating "read" and inspirational love stories" merged with practical, and useful resources and ideas for how to make strong relationships that last. Ms. Blackman Dunham is interested making herself better known in the gay community, and hopes that people will write to her with support, ideas, and of course to volunteer as participants in her relationships survey. She is also interested in talking to potential publishers about the resulting book. If you would like to be part of this survey, query Ms. Blackman Dunham about publishing her book, or want to offer suggestions and support, Ms. Blackman Dunham welcomes your emails to her at: advicesisters@advicesisters.net.
|
