Written on September 30, 2006, as follow up FAQ to this blog post.

Q: What’s next for you, Abigail?

A: Finding new employment…but doing what, exactly, I don’t know yet.

Before launching Families Like Mine, LLC, I served as a program officer at a private foundation. I loved the work and would like to land a position in a foundation again. I’m realistic about the low turn-over at foundations, however, so I am open to other possibilities as well — perhaps working in communications / PR, or a yet-to-be-identified position in which I can utilize some combination of my writing skills, media relations, research skills, diversity experience and/or public speaking.

In the past decade I have launched a website with a consistent following, developed a book proposal and marketing plan that I sold to a major publisher, created my own media kit and marketing materials, lectured in over half of the United States, spoken on countless radio and TV programs, coached other families before being interviewed in the media, helped editors and producers avoid biased coverage of our families, participated in strategic meetings with leaders of national organizations, and had tons of fun meeting a true rainbow of diverse families.

My work in recent years has been without typical success markers (such as earning a higher job title or getting promoted), so I will need to find an employer who “gets” how my non-traditional career translates into marketable skills.

Q: Can’t you just keep doing this, and get a “day job,” too?

A: Nope. While some people have assumed this is “just a hobby,” since 2002, the demands of FamiliesLikeMine.com have been a more-than-full-time job. To get another job on top of this would mean no sleep and/or no life.

Q: Why now?

A: Well, I’m 34 and I have been very focused on this work since I graduated from college. I have been strongly committed to building a queerspawn movement that does not rely to heavily on one voice, or even a small handful of voices. I am enjoying the increased awareness about kids of queers and their right to express their own opinions.

Just in the past few months, for example, Alison Bechdel “came out” about her gay dad her new book, FUN HOME, Jesse Levey spoke at the Log Cabin Republican convention about family values and his lesbian parents, and Kaitlin Colombo lovingly exploited her single gay dad for material in her act on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.”

Although our families’ struggle for equality is by no means over, I am encouraged by how the isolation is decreasing as more “kids” like Alison, Jesse, Kaitlin, and countless others tell their own family stories in their own words.

Q: What does this mean for FamiliesLikeMine.com?

A: Many of you have already noticed changes as I am gradually phasing out my responsibilities. I am no longer sending out a monthly E-News. I have discontinued the conference listings, and my advice column has been archived. The website will continue to be available for web-users looking for information on FAMILIES LIKE MINE (the book) and related resources, but it will not be updated regularly.

Q: What about Oversampled.net?

A: Since the initial development a little less than a year ago, Oversampled has proven to be a high-fun, low-maintenance project. I will be happy to continue to host it and always encourage more bloggers with LGBT parents to come aboard.

Q: What about the other parts of your activism?

A:

Lectures: I am booking lectures until the end of 2006, but not scheduling appearances in 2007 or beyond.

Advice: “Answers from Abigail” is fully searchable and accepting comments from readers, but I will not be adding questions to it.

Blog: I will continue to blog at www.abigailgarner.net, but I’m not making any promises as to how often. You can be alerted to new posts if you subscribe to my RSS feeds at “Damn Straight.” (Click here to learn how feeds work and how to subscribe to a blog.)

Outreach / Organizing: I have often collaborated with national organizations, such as PFLAG, COLAGE, and the Straight Spouse Network. I will be referring emails and inquiries to them.

Book: My greatest wish is that my book, Families Like Mine: Children of Gay Parents Tell It Like It Is will continue to speak on behalf of queerspawn, in places where they are not yet safe to “come out” or have yet to be “invited to the table.” You can help keep it in print by continuing to recommend it to friends, teachers, LGBT leaders, etc.

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