Alternating between distant and recent past, and between New York and Japan, Maeve DuVally’s memoir charts her journey to finding herself — at last, in her mid 50s. Maeve credits her sobriety for both saving her literal, physical life, as well as her existential being; without it, she says she’d not have found the clarity and self-acceptance to realize she had always been Trans. In fact, her drinking was a combination of family history and un-diagnosed depression. Depression, she eventually learns, rooted in trying desperately to live a life and an identity out of alignment with her authentic self.
This is why visibility and representation matter — for us to know we are not alone; to know there are others like us, both imperfect and aspirational; to know that we, as a people, exist. Just the knowing of the concept, I believe, can save so many from harm and from suffering. Seeing Queer Joy lets us know self-hatred is not the answer to living in a cis/hetero-dominant world. Even people with privilege end up suffering. Hopefully, thanks to people like Maeve who share their stories, fewer Queer folks will wallow in isolation and sadness, knowing there are many who are living their truth. And not just living, but thriving.
Much thanks to the team at Tantor for this title!
🖤🤎❤🧡💛💚💙💜 { progress rainbow heart emojis }
Cheers!
Nicky
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