Archival resource and champion fore the Title Research into writing for history i wrote continue to write the couldnt be done without these institutions so thank you all for that. [applause] our coverage of the 2023 library of Congress National book festival continues now. We are joined by other buttigieg, something to tell you that came out originally in 2020 but the young adults version came out this year. Justin buttigieg, can you tell us how you went from rx to washington d. C. In eight years, what happened . The stickiness of starbucks helped adjust to d. C. What happened was i guess i fell in love with the mayor did not my life Teaching Middle School to run for president but it certainly has changed life in many ways. I really miss teaching but im very happy to be on tour with this book. Having these important conversations especially at a time when books like this are little and impacts across the country. How did you change the language from the original . I should have given a new title, i have the book when i started adapting, a lot of stories, it wasnt just modifying the language, it was telling the story, that part of childhood to today and it was written for me, the book i wish i would havek had in middle school told w me it was okay toe gay and be myself and we didnt talk about that growing up in Northern Michigan so want to include more stories about that and learning to love myself and embracement differences in how the differences in experiences helpedf me in political and public life. Had you come out by the time you met the buttigieg . I came out to my parents the summer i turned 18. It was tough i wrote my mom a letter and apologized and thought i had to apologize for being gay and iran away from home and i was trying to put myself through Community College and figure it out, it was a rough time but likely my parents called me home and they didnt know anything about raising a gay kid and they put their prejudice and opinions aside, i think there was fear of rejection. In your family, in your school and community. That was pretty much the norm. The family growing up and in conversation with my friend lgbtq people and the only thing that was in my for each group at church in the hallways of rules, mark can get you killed and growing up Northern Michigan. When you did come out. Having your parents in your corner is lifechanging. I dont know what would have happened to younger me had i not had the love of my family. Come back we will figure it out. My friends in my corner who made me feel loved and accepted who were there when it was difficult, thats how i got better but it took a very long time for me to love myself and you grow up for 20 some years, not worthy and you will never know and you start to hate yourself and leave what people are saying. Allow me to love me. In germany and wisconsin. Yes. Germany was an escape, i got a governmentsponsored exchange program, that was to run away. I studied german for four years and was wellqualified on paper but i wanted to get out of Northern Michigan. Maybe not the big gay one you look for in college but i went to an art and study theater and found my community and was able to finish college and felt like it was okay to be me. You can see the number on the screen if you have comments you would like to make, any questions you have, the book is, i have something to tell you, a different version came out in 2020, was Pete Buttigieg out when you met him. Yes. Waste he comfortable being ia relationship . Hes talked about this. I think thats his story to tell, everyone coming out story is theirs to tell so i cant speak for him how he was feeling. I certainly know when we met each other head over heels, i think partly can be, it was an incredible moment from the beginning like a fairytale the way we wentrs from dinner to having tickets to the ballgame ballgameorks at the and i think we were both very much ready to focus on what it felt like to be truly loved by somebody else, i had different experiences being out. I talked about in the first book my experience with rejection and sexuals assault, very bad relationships and i was ready to move on and prevented me from allowing myself to be loved by someone else and i dont think i really understood what love meant until i met pete, really feel like somebody was there for all of your faults and charm. A truly support you and love you. If i remember correctly in 2020, the buttigieg to get one the iowa caucuses. You do remember correctly. What was that like . I think at the time the historical aspect thinking because it was happening so fast like a tomato when youre running for president theres no time to stop and think or catch your breath and realize what is happening around you. You need thousands of people a day having emotional conversations, folks drove four hours from rural town to see someone from their town saw you, they might be rejected or lose their job because they are not with the lgbtq, those conversations are on the rope line when somebody is so moved to see you exist, it took a long time to allow myself to realize your really part of something historical and still means a great deal to me. I know was in this positionn of privilege people are watching and paying attention to what you have to say and i want to make sure i use this moment to pulling other people of inking about how i use the platform because i do know it matters when you go out there. The campaign was, i know it was an stronger moment. It meant so much to people and we continue that to change is right. Do think michigan has changed since you were a teen . Dramatically. When i was growing up the put rainbow bumper stickers on the vehicles and said we are traverse city, it was like everyone longs but the anti lgbtq never people will were ripping them off and are never seen that in her thinking about the people and now we have a ride which is a fantastic organization in michigan, i did a pride march during the campaign and countless people doing the street, there was no people saying michigan is a movie on and it means a lot our families and you see a rainbow flag, you have a question whether or not its okay hold your hand on the sidewalk, the city is implicit and wants to be right side of history. And eighthgraders read this book, or do you want them to think . The thing i wish younger me would have known is the opinions of the people around you dont matter. I was so wrapped up in the opinions of my peers i thought whatever they think of me is what truly matters and i was terrified of them. I hid myself from them and tried to blend in with everybody and now i go to target someone says they went to high school with me, i have no idea who they are, i just wish i would have celebrated my differences and not worry so much about what others thought. You think we shortchanged others as well going to target and meeting somebody they dont know who you are. Ive had incredible conversations with classmates who have apologized. I dont remember them specifically doing but i had a heartwarming conversation with somebody i went to high school with and i dont but i did anything or said anything but it breaks my heart think i could have been part of the problem. I know we were growing up in a generation but having those conversations now meaning to me. I certainly know some people i think we remember high school fullest. I dont know if they changed or not but i got toto grow up and w i get to think about my kids and family and not with the High School Bully was saying. What i want middle schoolers to know is its okay to be different and this book is not just for middle school but for the parents and teachers and people who love them to have the opportunity to walk in the shoes and understand a little what is like to be a young lgbtq person in this country looking up to the wondering if it is truly safe to be themselves and they truly belong here and headed in the right direction. What is your comment . Its nice to hear about your family being inclusive. Although you are not transgender, i would like to know how you feel about its just become so popular that im concerned younger people arent considering the possible Health Consequences of surgery and hormones because you need to be on the rest of your life and i dont really hear this in the media talking about that and it is concerning from the health perspective. Thank you, we got your points. Anything you would like to address . Youre right im not transgender and you have to be specific with words and think about what to be a transgender person. I know what its like to feel the economy outside of conclusion, confused whether or not people would love me or my family would accept me but practicing growing up gay, i wished so desperately know something i was not gay and everybody around me made me feel it was wrong and i was told for 18, 19 years that i was wrong, something about me was broken s and theres nothing like that rejection from your peers and family and community and the thing you have to do especially people with problems is to listen to the Transgender Community and im more interested to hear what they have to say about their existence and healthcare and i should be learning from that. I believe those conversations and decisions should be left to a transgender person or their parents and those conversations can happen with your doctor but i should not weigh in on that. I want every kid to feel welcome and supported and every major reputable medical association supports gender forming care so im going to follow the experts because i value go lives and their lives matter and i want to keep them alive. As a country who want to keep trans people alive and listening to those experts we should spend our energy not on social media. I know you can go down rabbit holes. Eric, long island, good afternoon. I want to commend you for writing the book you did, thats the first thing. The second thing, how is it with christianityty and the whole thg about the bible saying everything is equal to another since but im struggling with that with you and your spouse. Im not sure about the specific question. Christianity and being gay. I was married in the church, my husband is a bit more religious than i am. I think everyone is on their own religious journey but i will say people i met been our church where we are extremely conclusive people. The way they interpret scripture and religion is to be of service to other people and the other people. Diabetic growinge up, my family was pretty religious and i wondered why anyone believed god would make a lesser human being. While got making this play to be discriminated by other people . The religion i believe in, thats what im supposed to do, choosing who gets right and who doesnt, who god loves and who doesnt and i appreciate belonging to a faith fundamentalists journey to talk about how they interpret scripture to me inclusive of more people and at the end of the day my family is like every other family. Waking up tired, trying to get our kids fed and get them out of the door get them to daycare. Bring everything family as going. The book is called i have something to tell you, the young adult version. Its the coverage of the National Book festival. Discussion of black literary identity. Next, more on the 2020 library of Congress National book festival. Shout out to everybody in the room as well as those joining