A little about my life...
I grew as the third of six children: four girls, two boys. We had the very picture of a conservative upbringing. My father was an Evangelical Christian minister. My mother was a stay-at-home mom who home-schooled all of us at the farm house. Memorizing passages of the Bible, butchering chickens and learning the ins and outs of canning our own food was all a part of the curriculum.
Growing up, I had no idea I was Queer because I didn’t know that was a thing. I had no idea what it meant or that Queer people even existed. I was told I was straight, that everyone was straight, and I believed it.
When I went to college, my world began to open. I learned about the spectrum of sexuality and gender expression and finally understood myself as a Queer person. It was like the lights suddenly coming on in a dark room I had been stumbling through my whole life.
"Queer" is a word that means many different things to many different people. It fits my experience of moving outside of the distinct lines of Gay or Straight to an open space between. It's also a way to make sense of my gender which never seemed to fit just in terms of male or female. I use he/him pronouns.
It wasn't until I was 20 years old that I came out to myself. Within the next several months I had come out to my family, my friends and my college. It was exhilarating, but also one of the hardest things I have ever done.
Growing up, I had no idea I was Queer because I didn’t know that was a thing. I had no idea what it meant or that Queer people even existed. I was told I was straight, that everyone was straight, and I believed it.
When I went to college, my world began to open. I learned about the spectrum of sexuality and gender expression and finally understood myself as a Queer person. It was like the lights suddenly coming on in a dark room I had been stumbling through my whole life.
"Queer" is a word that means many different things to many different people. It fits my experience of moving outside of the distinct lines of Gay or Straight to an open space between. It's also a way to make sense of my gender which never seemed to fit just in terms of male or female. I use he/him pronouns.
It wasn't until I was 20 years old that I came out to myself. Within the next several months I had come out to my family, my friends and my college. It was exhilarating, but also one of the hardest things I have ever done.
Slowly, day by day, I became stronger. Reading the stories of other people on the LGBTQIA spectrum gave me life and courage. Writing became a way for me to write hope into my own life, and, I hope, into the lives of others.
I switched my major to writing and graduated from North Central University in 2010. I went on to earn my Master of Library and Information Science from St. Catherine University.
Today, I live with my partner, Kris (they/them pronouns), and our son. We live in St Paul, Minnesota. I write, block print, keep house, and am the stay at home parent for our son. I have never been happier.
I switched my major to writing and graduated from North Central University in 2010. I went on to earn my Master of Library and Information Science from St. Catherine University.
Today, I live with my partner, Kris (they/them pronouns), and our son. We live in St Paul, Minnesota. I write, block print, keep house, and am the stay at home parent for our son. I have never been happier.