Still trying to wrap my head around this one!
I recently made my national television debut on PBS’s The Whitney Reynolds Show, where I had the chance to talk about storytelling, LGBTQ+ representation, teaching, identity, and why stories can help people feel less alone
Growing up queer in the Midwest, I rarely saw people like me centered as heroes in books or media. So much of my work as both a professor and author has been about creating the kinds of stories I needed when I was younger. Stories about resilience. Fear. Hope. Chosen family. Survival. Love. Becoming who you are even when the world makes that difficult.
To now speak about that journey on PBS honestly means the world to me.
If you’d like to watch the segment, here it is: https://www.pbs.org/video/joe-chianakas-ii-with-wr-q9cmsz/
LGBTQ author and mentor Joe Chianakas shares his story
Thank you to everyone who has supported my books, teaching, speaking, and advocacy work over the years. Every message, share, conversation, classroom moment, and reader connection matters more than you probably realize. 🌈📚