Brave Face CONTENT WARNING, PART 1 I'LL KEEP THIS SHORT. A lot happens in this memoir. There's drug use, sex in the backseat of a Mustang, discussion of homosexuality, alcohol use, a smidge of profanity, and a little petty theft. Those, of course, aren't worthy of a content warning. Those are just the hundred million pieces that make up a life, and I'm not ashamed of them. But I'm also going to talk about depression, about cutting and burning myself, and about my attempted suicide. I'm not ashamed of those things either, but they might be tough for some of you to read, and I want to make sure you're aware of what's coming. I'm also going to use words that will probably make you uncomfortable. Words like "faggot" and "fag" and "homo." I know these words hurt to read. They're not pleasant to write, either, but they're part of my story. There were a lot of misconceptions about what being gay meant in the 1990s, and I absorbed them all. Many of my attitudes and beliefs were a result of internalized homophobia and are not beliefs I hold today. I should also warn you that I was selfish, arrogant, and kind of screwed up when I was younger. I made a lot of mistakes. And while I had my reasons for many of the things I did, they're not excuses. There are no excuses for the ridiculous crap I did when I was younger, and if I could apologize to every single person I hurt, I would. It's fine to hate teenage me a little, but trust me, no one will ever hate that arrogant little prick more than he hated himself. As you're reading, it's okay to put the book down if it becomes too much or if you need a break. I took lots of breaks while writing. Just remember that no matter how dark it gets along the way, I'm working on this from the light at the other end of the tunnel, and I'll be waiting for you there. Excerpted from Brave Face: A Memoir by Shaun David Hutchinson All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
