Exploring Gender Identity and Representation with Author Kelly Vincent

Jaimie sits down with Kelly Vincent, author of the YA series "Ugly, Uglier, and Ugliest," to discuss gender identity, representation, and the challenges faced by LGBTQIA individuals. Kelly shares personal experiences of growing up in Oklahoma, the impact of societal gender norms, and the journey to embracing an agender identity. The episode explores the importance of diverse stories in fostering understanding and normalization, with a focus on the current political climate and its effects on the queer community. Also, hear about the remarkable reception Kelly's books have received."I felt like I was failing at being a human because it seemed so easy for other people to be comfortable in who they were." Kelly🏳️‍🌈Check out ByHeart and use my code QUEERFAM for a great deal: byheart.com, and our ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠ supporters.🏳️‍🌈Interested in advertising? Check out our packages ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠🏳️‍🌈Key Takeaways:🏳️‍🌈 Kelly Vincent's Journey: Kelly shares their personal experiences with gender confusion and societal pressures in Oklahoma, leading to their self-identification as agender.Books on Gender Identity: Kelly's series "Ugly," "Uglier," and "Ugliest" provide a narrative on gender identity through the eyes of a high school teenager, offering both representation and insights.Impact of Fiction: Kelly discusses how fiction can be a powerful tool for understanding complex issues like gender identity and fostering empathy.Current Political Climate: The conversation touches on the escalating political challenges facing the LGBTQIA community and the need for activism and representation.Educational Resource: The novels serve as valuable resources for both🏳️‍🌈About The Guest(s)🏳️‍🌈 Kelly Vincent is an acclaimed author specializing in young adult (YA) fiction. Growing up in Oklahoma, Kelly experienced a lot of gender confusion, which became a central theme in their writing. Their series, centered around the protagonist Nick, includes titles like "Ugly," "Uglier," and the upcoming "Ugliest." Kelly uses their platform to shed light on important social issues, gender identity, and the complexities surrounding them. Their work has gained critical praise, including a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and runner-up placement in SCBWI's Spark Award.🏳️‍🌈Resources mentioned in the episode: The Art of Being Ugly Series Kirkus Reviews:SCBWI: Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators 🏳️‍🌈If you like the episode, make sure to leave us a review and support The Queer Family Podcast on⁠⁠⁠ Patreon ⁠⁠⁠for as low as $2/month!🏳️‍🌈We want to hear from you! Call us: 646-470-1840 ⁠⁠⁠thequeerfamilypodcast.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠FB⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠: @thequeerfamilypodcast🏳️‍🌈Watch Video Episodes right now on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ and on ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠🏳️‍🌈Order the #ITOCT book based on this podcast on ⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠IndieBound⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Audible⁠⁠⁠.🏳️‍🌈Edited by Jerson Barajas. Theme song: ⁠⁠⁠Tiffany Topol⁠⁠⁠\ Logo art: Daneen Stevenato.🏳️‍🌈Buy our merch ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠🏳️‍🌈For a full transcript of this episode and more info about the host visit our ⁠⁠⁠websiteAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy