Novelist Jodi Picoult On Her Son Coming Out

Out's April issue is dedicated to Ladies We Love, including the incredibly successful novelist Jodi Picoult, who has over 14 million copies of her books in print. We recently chatted with Picoult for the Symposium section of the issue and learned that her latest book, Sing Me Home, which will soon be adapted into a film with Ellen DeGeneres serving as producer, was by the author's curiosity about why "people who are opposed to gay rights feel that way."

Picoult says:

"In particular, why is the Christian evangelical right so hell-bent on having a political agenda to prevent gay marriage, gay adoption, and gay parenting. When you travel as extensively as I do on book tours, it becomes incredibly clear how commonplace and accepted same-sex couples and families are abroad, or at least in other Western societies like England and Australia, where it's not even an issue. It's very apparent when you come back home that this is still an enormous issue here -- one that has polarized the country along religious lines -- and I really wanted to dive in and tackle it."

Coincidentally, the topic hit her a lot closer to home when, while Picoult was writing the book, her 17-year-old son came out to her via his college application essay. To read how Picoult felt about her son's revelation, head to Out.com.

And for other Ladies We Love from the April issue, including Britney Spears, Madonna, Stockard Channing, Glee's Heather Morris, La Roux's Elly Jackson and others, click here.

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