Transparent – Seeing Through the Legacy of Adoption – by Gary Coles
Product details
Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: Self-published
ISBN: 1921019131
Trim size: 195 x 130 mm
Synopsis
Transparent: Seeing Through the Legacy of Adoption is a collection of essays that explore the experiences of birth fathers in the context of adoption losses for all members of the family of origin (the mother, the father and their child, who was raised by adoptive parents). The book highlights the inhibitive effects of deceit, secrecy and denial and advocates, in their stead honesty, openness and generosity as practical measures for healing the wounds caused by adoption separation. Reader feedback about Transparent: Seeing Through the Legacy of Adoption includes:
- “Gary Coles’ second book … is a selection of informed and informative essays discussing a range of adoption-related issues. He has obviously read widely about adoption, clearly stating his position regarding his adoption experience (that of a relinquishing father).” Lyn Devine, birth mother
- “I recommend Transparent: Seeing Through the Legacy of Adoption as an interesting collection of essays from a perspective not often heard - that of a birth father.” Janet Henagan, Manager of a post-adoption services organisation
- “… highly recommended, not only for birth fathers, but also adoptees and birth mothers. It is not often we get to hear this side of the story.” Trevor Jordan, ethicist and adopted person
About the Author
Gary Coles is a father. His first-born son was raised in New Zealand by adoptive parents.
He graduated with BSc Honours, majoring in geology, from Victoria University of Wellington. He has spent most of his adult life living and working in Australia.
Gary began exploring his adoption experience in 1992. He made his first presentation to an adoption conference in 1998, coincidentally in the city where his adopted son lives. Since then he has written extensively about adoption, particularly bringing the viewpoint of birth fathers into the discussions. He has published three books (in 2004, 2005 and 2010) in paper and electronic formats, plus another three as ebooks (in 2012, 2014 and 2015). Gary has published more than seventy papers and articles (1998-2015), made presentations at three Australian Adoption Conferences (2000, 2004, 2008), presented seminars in Australia and New Zealand and been a keynote speaker on three occasions for Concerned United Birthparents in the USA.
Gary’s immediate past position was Manager of VANISH Inc, the Victorian post-adoption services and support organisation. Previously, he had been a VANISH service user and then he served as an office-bearer on the organisation’s Committee of Management. In 2012 he was appointed to the Forced Adoptions Apology Reference Group, responsible for advising the Prime Minister of Australia about the contents of the National Apology, delivered on 21st March 2013. In 2013 and 2014 he served on the Forced Adoptions Implementation Working Group. Gary continues to educate the public and the helping professions about the impact of adoption.
