Three Grim Fairy Tales and a Happy Ending is based on personal experience and insight of an active straight advocate in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual (GLBT) Community. Debi Lowry's son, Ian, is gay and the organizations she supports and contributes to support the rights of those individuals. Some of the storylines used in this book are drawn from the experiences of people she has met. None of the fictional parts are based solely on one individual, but on a composite of many of the people who she has encountered over the years.

Being the openly accepting parent of a gay child is not easy. Parents who do not hide the fact they have a gay child run the risk of seeing a broad range of reactions. People will often ask, "What are you going to do?" "How did it happen?" They will offer apologies and sympathy. They will suggest seeking help from clergy or mental health professionals. They whisper and speak in hushed tones to others when the topic of sexuality comes up. They make comments about not having grandchildren. There is not so much concern about how the gay child is doing, but more about what will be thought of the family of the gay child.