In his teens and well into his twenties, Rob Lawrence Russo harbored doubts that he would ever be a happy, independent, financially solvent adult. Raised by a hateful father and an infantilizing, passive-aggressive mother, Rob entered adulthood emotionally fragile, not knowing who he really was or what career path suited him. On a psychological level, Rob spent decades coming to terms with being homosexual in a homophobic world. Despite having a mother who once told him she would kill a son who was gay--as well as enduring exposure to a lifetime of anti-gay rhetoric from religious leaders, politicians and even from some mental health professionals--Rob has not only survived, but flourished. His story, as presented in his book "Oh, Bob! I Thought It Was Curtains," should serve as a beacon of hope for any adult who's the product of a traumatic childhood, and it could be especially helpful for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer youth who are attempting to find their way. Also, if you know or suspect you are currently raising a LGBTQ child, Rob's exquisitely personal narrative may assist you in avoiding some of the soul-murdering mistakes his parents made.