Abbott, Steve

In your 1976 journal you wrote about raising me, a single gay dad: I'm not trying to get her to grow up gay. I'm not trying to hide my gayness to get her to grow up straight...Hopefully by the time she grows up we will have a society where those dichotomies of gay/straight, man/woman aren't so important. Where people can just be as they feel most natural and comfortable in being. You didn't live long enough to see me all grown up, or get married, or have two kids. But your legacy of love lives on in me and the lives of everyone you touched. I love you, Dad.

Just complete a novel by Steve Abbott's daughter, Alysia. Fairyland... a touching and moving story of being raised by a parent that was gay. This novel is an excellent work. I am amazed by the frank nature of her story.

In Fairyland, Alysia Abbott says about her father, ...I am very much a product of his world... All of us are products of our parents' worlds, and may Alysia Abbott's brave honesty embolden readers to embrace their roots just as she has embraced hers. This world was blessed by Steve Abbott-- by his gentleness, his hopefulness, his commitment to poetry. Steve walked the talk. He had the courage of his convictions and deserves every heartbeat of his daughter's love.

Just finished his daughter's book tonight,wonderful tribute.

Many thanks to Alysia for writing Fairyland, a beautiful memoir of her father, Steve Abbott. Fairyland is a fascinating read; may it open the eyes of many as to the true meaning of family.

Just completed Fairyland. What a great book of family and love. I read it in 2 days and it made me cry.

I just finished FAIRYLAND by Alysia Abbott. What a wonderful book. Thank you, Steve, for raising this thoughtful woman, and thank you, Alysia, for giving us the story of you and your dad.

I just finished reading Fairyland by Alysia Abbott, a memoir about growing up in SF a single child with a single gay dad. An absolutely brilliant and beautifully written book, the story so tenderly and intelligently opened my eyes to the gay world of San Francisco in the 70s and 80s. I learned so very much from this book and now have a deep appreciation of a particular time in a particular place for a particular generation. I was also so moved by Alysia’s own journey into young adulthood. So glad she wrote this book—so worthwhile; such a gift, such a tribute, to her beautiful father.

I just finished reading Fairyland by Alysia Abbott, a memoir about growing up in SF a single child with a single gay dad. An absolutely brilliant and beautifully written book, the story so tenderly and intelligently opened my eyes to the gay world of San Francisco in the 70s and 80s. I learned so very much from this book and now have a deep appreciation of a particular time in a particular place for a particular generation. I was also so moved by Alysia’s own journey into young adulthood. So glad she wrote this book—so worthwhile; such a gift, such a tribute, to her beautiful father.

Profound book, Fairyland. Inspired me to research and find lost friends of that era. Thank you for writing.

Thank you to Steve's daughter, Alysia, for the beautiful book about Steve and the time. It puts a human face to the AIDS epidemic and the personal anguish and loss to society. It also is an honest reflection of nursing a dying parent.

I just finished reading Fairyland after also seeing the recently released film. Thank you, Alysia Abbott, for writing such a beautiful tribute to your father Steve’s love for his daughter, his accomplishments as a poet and novelist, and his bravery facing AIDS. You also evoke so vividly the fear and stigma of the AIDS era, as well as the compassion and kindness of so many who helped both those with AIDS and their caregivers. For those of us who lived through that era it will always be with us.