To our chapter authors, the trust and bravery every contributor of this book embraces is inspirational. The conversations we continue to have and words on these pages that you have never spoken or written before in public settings is admirable. There is always a risk for being “you” so thank you for taking that risk because you are truly beautiful. Your sentiments will profoundly affect lives long after we are gone. Thank you for trusting us with your experiences, sentiments, emotions, and stories that resonate with the fortitude to be told here.
To all our loved ones who sacrificed time with us and showed patience as we embarked on this journey, thank you for your support, love, and understanding.
To the people we reference in our stories, we understand that your perspective may differ from ours. We hope these stories encourage conversations, growth, and connections for us all.
To the youngest author in the book, Keiran, thank you for bravely telling your story just as you start your journey into adulting. I (Sean) hope others your age read your story and realize sooner rather than later that their stories matter.
To the readers, thank you for embarking on this journey. We hope the words on the pages to follow inspire you to embrace your story, tell your story, and provide space for others to do the same.