Skip to content
Home/ My Father's Closet
My Father's Closet

My Father's Closet

No customer reviews yet ISBN 9780814253960

Thirty years after her father's death, Karen McClintock sets out to find the gay father she never really knew. As we follow the unraveling family secret, we find ourselves drawn into her story as they stumble into infidelity, grieve heartbreaking losses, and remain loyal in love.

Set in Columbus, Ohio, My Father's Closet tells the story of how just before the war, McClintock's parents fell in love and married, while overseas in Germany the man whom she believes became her father's lover was concealing his Jewish and gay identities in order to escape to America. A set of her father's journals, letters her parents sent to each other during the Second World War, and a mysterious painting all lead her toward the truth about her gay father. McClintock weaves a complex secret into the fabric of lives we truly care about. And in the process, she leads us out of her father's closet.

This gripping memoir captures the longing children feel for a distant or hidden parent and taps into the complexity of human connection and abandonment. The characters are resilient and vibrant. The hidden lovers, the nosey neighbors, and surprise lovers all show up. In the end, this extraordinary family finds ways to connect and freedom to love. Anyone who grew up with a family secret will appreciate the dynamics afoot in this fast-paced and compelling story.

About the author

Product details

Pub dateApr 15, 2018
ISBN-100814253962
ISBN-139780814253960
LanguageEnglish
Last updated 2026-06-05 09:14
$20.23 $26.95 24% off
You save $6.72 · list price $26.95
In stock — ships in 24 hours with free tracking
Delivery by Monday, September 7, 2026
Qty
Sign in to Add to Saved list
Free delivery on orders over $35.
15-day returns. Any reason.
Secure checkout. We never store card details.

Readers who bought this also bought

More from LGBTQ+
See all
Letters to My Younger Queer Self: Inspiring, Influential Voices from the Lgbtqia+ Community
<p> <strong>'The compelling stories in this book are funny, uplifting and at times poignant and sad, but always honest. I learned such a lot.<em>' </em>-<em> Lorraine Kelly</em></strong> </p><p> <strong>'A beautifully heartfelt and poignant collection of wisdom, wit, and reflection.' - <em>William Hanson, author of </em>Just Good Manners</strong> </p><p> <em>If you could write a letter to your younger queer self, what would you say? What advice would you share? And what would you have really wanted, or needed, to hear?</em> </p><p>This heartfelt collection of letters written by eminent queer people across music, television, activism, comedy and politics, is <strong>a celebration of self-acceptance and an inspiring resource for anyone who has ever struggled with 'growing up different'</strong>. Each letter is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a powerful reminder that love transcends all.</p><p>Contributors include comedian Suzi Ruffell, concert pianist Cyrill Ibrahim, Nadia Whittome MP, Olympic gymnast Andrew Stamp, star of <em>RuPaul's Drag Race</em> Alaska, HIV activist Philip Baldwin, TV personality Ella Morgan and gallery director Robert Diament, to name a few.</p>
$19.71