Missed Connections
Page 15
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you to my editor, Anita Chong. You have supported this work from the very beginning and that has meant the world to me. Thank you for your precision, your honesty, and your talent. I’m coming away from our time together a more thoughtful and self-aware writer. That’s a gift you’ve given me and one I’ll hold close in the years to come.
Thank you to the McClelland & Stewart team: Jared Bland, Kimberlee Hesas, Sarah Howland, Lisa Jager, Erin Kelly, Shaun Oakey, Abdi Omer, and John Sweet.
Thank you to my agent, Dean Cooke, and to the team at CookeMcDermid.
Thank you to Rob Kempson for the vision, the leadership, the friendship, and the Arby’s.
Thank you to Stacey Norton for all of your hard work and organization, and for your parents’ mini lights.
Thank you to timeshare performance, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Summerworks Festival, foldA, the wonderful Kingston team, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Toronto Arts Council, and to the talents of: Colin Asuncion, Bilal Baig, Hume Baugh, Samson Bonkeabantu Brown, Keith Cole, Daniel Jelani Ellis, Izad Etemadi, Sandra Henderson, Jeff Ho, Michael Hughes, Indrit Kasapi, Tsholo Visions Khalema, Brandon Kleiman, Daniel Krolik, Lucy McPhee, Eric Morin, Cossette Pin, Katie Saunoris, Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski, G. Kyle Shields, Katherine Smith, Chy Ryan Spain, Jonathan Tan, Curtis Te Brinke, Chris Tsujiuchi, and Geoffrey Whynot.
Thank you to Bill, Chris, Paul, and Andy.
Thank you to early readers Jamie Hunter and Tim McGregor.
Thank you to my parents, who are always with me, and to my family for their continued love and support. And to Ryan, Ella, and all the generations to follow.
Thank you to Serge, for every one of our memories.
Last, but not least, thank you to thirteen men who took a chance. I hope that love was waiting just around the corner.
LGBTQ2S+ RESOURCES
Even though it’s been almost thirty years since I came out, the reality is that queer people today still face bigotry, ignorance, hatred, and acts of violence, especially queer people of colour and trans people. If you’re struggling, help is available. Here are just a few resources.
TRANS LIFELINE
A national, trans-led organization dedicated to improving the quality of trans lives by responding to the critical needs of the community with direct service, material support, advocacy, and education for people of all ages. The hotline is run 24/7 by trans people for trans and questioning callers. Call 1-877-330-6366.
GENDER CREATIVE KIDS
A reference community organization that has supported trans, non-binary, and gender-fluid youth’s affirmation within their families, schools, and communities since 2013. Visit gendercreativekids.com for more information.
THE LGBT YOUTH LINE
A service that offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through their telephone, text, and chat services. Contact a peer support volunteer Sunday to Friday, 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Call 1-800-268-9688 toll-free, text 647-694-4275, or go to youthline.ca to chat online.
PFLAG CANADA
Canada’s only national LGBTQ2S+ organization offers peer-to-peer support striving to help all Canadians with issues of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. They support, educate, and provide resources to anyone with questions or concerns. Visit pflagcanada.ca for more information.
RAINBOW RAILROAD
An international charitable organization that assists queer people seeking safe haven from state-enabled violence, persecution, and the threat of death where homosexuality is criminalized. They provide information, connections, and funding for travel and other associated costs. Visit rainbowrailroad.org for more information.