•   Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (TW/CW: Features the grisly and deadly impacts of eating disorders. Please note that this is a tough read and does not feature body positivity)

RESOURCES:

•   Psychology Today—Search for LGBTQ-friendly therapists around you who focus on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

•   Humantold Psychotherapy Services—if you live in the New York City area

•   Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation

Additionally, I’ve always had a complicated relationship with gender. A lifetime of pain and the suppression of my own queerness until I was twenty-three prevented me from fully mining my gender. It took me until I wrote my debut novel, Can’t Take That Away, to pick apart and explore the layers of my own genderqueerness. Carey Parker knew who they were. I am a proud gay, genderqueer person, and now I know who I am. Chase Arthur, however, is still figuring that out, and this story is yet another layer and exploration of [my] gender. Chase is gay and nonbinary and uses he/him pronouns. Because that’s what he’s comfortable with. He toys with the idea of they/them pronouns but hasn’t landed on them as a permanent part of himself.

It was important for me to show a concurrent yet separate journey of someone figuring out who they are while also struggling with BDD. The answers aren’t always clear or finite, and sometimes the lines blur—to be clear, gender dysphoria and body dysmorphia are not the same and aren’t connected. At its heart, this sweet gay romance is a story of self-love, and Chase is still figuring out who he is by the end and will be for probably a long time. And that’s okay. I promise it’s okay to be in the process of figuring it out. I still am.

If you’re struggling with your gender identity, here are some gender-affirming books and resources for you to consider.

BOOKS:

•   Can’t Take That Away by Steven Salvatore

•   Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

•   Between Perfect and Real by Ray Stoeve

•   Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

•   I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver

•   Out of the Blue by Jason June

RESOURCES:

•   CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers—Find your local LGBTQ center and attend one of the many incredible support groups or events they offer or volunteering.

•   The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center—(Westchester, New York)

•   The Trevor Project’s TrevorLifeline (866-488-7386)

•   National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255)

•   Crisis Text Line—Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States to text with a trained crisis counselor.

•   The LGBT National Youth Talkline (800-246-7743)

•   Trans Lifeline (877-565-8860)

Remember: No matter what you’re going through, you are not alone.

We are here, waiting for you.

Much love,

Steven

Acknowledgments

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS