Gay like me

Gay Like Me: Richie Jackson's Important New Book Was Written For His Son Why the author and father needed to embrace total honesty to write his touching, urgent story. After high school, I considered that maybe I was bi. A couple of years later, I learned about the term non-binary, and that hit, too.

But I was still convinced I was straight. Gay Like Me is framed partly as personal history, partly as advice manual for how to be a gay man in America. Still, from then through junior year, I hid behind fake profiles to talk to girls online. That's when a friend introduced me to the term gender fluid.

Jackson looks back at his own journey as a gay man coming of age through decades of political and cultural turmoil. I went through a phase where I did claim it. The main concept of the book is Richie Jackson, the author, explaining that being gay and living in the world is “a big deal” and harder than he will ever imagine.

Eventually, I joined a lesbian iMessage group chat. I had my first crush at the age of five; in 8th grade, I had my first girlfriend. I don't correct people all the time. I gay accept "bi" easier because of my religious trauma and internalized homophobia.

It was after someone in a chat asked me if I was a boy or a girl, and I answered, "Both. That helped me get more comfortable with who I was. I wish I had like this book when I was first figuring out my sexuality and my gender identity. A father advises his son on their mutual homosexuality—the reasons to celebrate and the challenges they face—in a book that shows what has changed in recent decades and what hasn’t.

Very telling. I wasn't exposed to queerness, except maybe a scene from The Color Purple where Celie and Shug kissed — and even then, my mom would skip that part, though I'd already seen it once on my own. It resonated deeply, but I still didn't know if I should claim it.

I let folks say what they say — but know that I know who I kevin daniels gay. To begin, “Gay Like Me”is one of the most down-to-earth books I have ever read. I even put socks in my underwear to feel what having a bulge would be like.

I genuinely liked them and caught feelings for them. I remember being a curious kid, looking up "girls kissing girls" on YouTube for reasons I couldn't explain at the time. I started leaning into the lesbian label more. That might've been my only exposure, and even that wasn't intentional.

By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. I grew up in a religious Christian household. Gay Like Me is a celebration of gay identity and parenting, and a powerful warning for his son, other gay men and the world.

I wrote a whole explanation on my Instagram Close Friends story, breaking down my pronouns and why I identified as non-binary. I wasn't ready to call myself a lesbian yet. I even explored a bit myself, kissing a couple of girls while playing house, and I was always the boyfriend.

I resonate with both non-binary and gender fluid, but I don't wear either one loudly. But even then, labels never felt right.