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My publicist tells me that it is typical for authors to get weepy the month before their books are released. That is this month.
Plus, June is Pride Month and San Francisco is awash in rainbows and memories.
Book bloggers on Instagram are recommending books for Pride Month. I am thrilled that my memoir is included in this Pride Stack.
The local news is filled this month with historic LGBTQ stories, some bringing me new insights about my family. One that recently caught my eye contains newly discovered photos of Compton’s Cafeteria, a place where in the 1960s drag queens and trans people regularly gathered. They were also regularly ejected by police who roughed them up and arrested them. In August of 1966, three months before the Stonewall Uprising that is credited with igniting the gay rights movement, a trans woman at Compton’s threw a cup of coffee in the face of one of the cops. The cafeteria erupted in violence.
I had already known the date of the riot but this time it made me go check my family records. I found that in August 1966 my dad was working in Union Square, half a mile from Compton’s. He would have known about this violence. And knowing him as I did, I know he would have been horrified by the injustice. But he would have returned home from work that week like any other day.
He would have dropped off his thermos in the kitchen before heading back to the bedroom to change his clothes. Perhaps he’d grab a quick cigarette out in the garden before joining my mom and the four of us kids at the dinner table. I was 15.
He would have asked about our days and shown a keen interest in what we had read that day. After dinner, he would have moved to the living room with a cup of coffee and the San Francisco Examiner (the evening paper then). But as a closeted member of the LGBTQ community, he would have never spoken to us about the injustice that happened that week just 20 minutes from where he worked.
I’ve been thinking about privilege and how as a member of the cis-gender majority I have never had to stay mum about news of any kind. I wish I could go back and ask my father a million more questions than I already asked him.
My publicist is right. It’s a weepy month. ❤️?????
Affliction: Growing Up With A Closeted Gay Dad will be released July 13.
Clarice L Griffith says
Congratulations, Laura & well done! Feel all those emotions, because this is certainly an exciting time for you as well as those emotions re: your Dad.
Laura Hall says
Thank you so much, Clarice.
Leanne says
Hi Laura—
I’m so happy-excited for you and your upcoming book release! I’ve just pre-ordered my copy and can’t wait to read it!! Much love and big giant hugs to you— ??
Laura Hall says
Thank you, Leanne! I’m so grateful for your support along the way. And I can’t wait for YOUR book to come out. Love and hugs back to you!
Eleanor Winters says
Good luck with all the publicity coming up with your book. I too am an author and I was surprised/shocked to discover that I was expected to do all the publicity. Hopefully your publisher will do much for you!!Best of luck to you and your marvelous new book. You certainly have done quite a bit already yourself!’ Ok
Laura Hall says
Thank you, Eleanor!