LGBT+Me- Meet The Maker!
Paul Harris is the co-creator of LGBT+Me, the educational comic book made for children and young people to learn more about who they are, what different identities exist, how to navigate big life changes (like moving to big school.. eek!) and much more.
Paul has always been passionate about supporting young people with their mental health and wellness, specifically advocating for the environment, transgender rights and protecting the bees!
Paul played an incredibly important role in LGBT+Me’s development. Paul supported Bell, the other amazing creative who illustrated and collated the book, to navigate the story of a group of animal friends at a sleepover. At this sleepover, they ask each other questions they may have been too worried to in the busy school hallways! Paul helped bring the story to life with experiences, suggestions of quotes and angles best to take for children and young people to get the most out of the FREE resource.
We spoke with Paul to get an idea of all things LGBT+Me and here is what he had to say:
1) Who are you and what role did you play in making lgbt+me?
I’m Paul, I helped out Bell with the writing and research elements of LGBT+Me!
2) What was your favourite part of making the publication?
Being able to use some of my own lived experience as material to play with in writing was sort of therapeutic, Seeing situations from a third person view and thinking of how I’d handle them now or explain them to my younger self.
3) Do you have a page, or a few, that really resonate with you?
The page of Mei texting her family to ask if she could be picked up, I think every sleepover I’ve ever went to I ended up doing that! As a kid, I had an undiagnosed anxiety disorder. A lot of adults overlooked my mental health and minimised it to being an anxious child. I wish someone had explained to me what anxiety is and gave me tools to manage it. The method I suggested to include in the book is one I’ve found really helpful for myself,
4) Why do you think this publication is important, is this what inspired you to make it?
The state of gender identity care for young people has become absolutely shocking in the last few years. Villainizing young trans people is somehow commonplace in Britain's largest newspaper publications. The reality is that these young people are just children, children who need love and support like anyone else. Putting fear into their and their families hearts will not change and gender or sexual identity, it’ll for sure cause a level of trauma though. Being able to make a light hearted but realistic presentation of queer identities in childhood feels like sticking it to all those newspapers. At this point queer joy is an act of protest itself, I hope by Bell and myself publishing a comic of young LGBTQ+ identities simply being themselves and enjoying childhood is a small speck of light amongst all that gross hate thats going on at the moment.
5) Who is your favourite lgbt+me character and why?
I think I found myself identifying with Mei the most, Although she was a little nervous about the sleepover she stuck with it and had a great time, I’m so glad she has such a supportive group of friends!
If you want to discover who your favourite character is and what page you like the most, why not grab your hands on a free copy of LGBT+Me, as well as a free sticker sheet (while stocks last.) You can order your book by emailing hi@comicsyouth.co.uk to collect your book from our Liverpool City Centre based office and keep your eyes peeled for delivery options available in the next few weeks.
