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Queer in the Midwest
By Dustin Eads
Description
Description
Queer in the Midwest is a coming-of-age memoir about growing up queer in small-town Missouri, where being yourself doesn’t always feel safe or accepted.
It follows the journey from a closeted, confused kid in a strict, church-heavy environment to someone learning how to leave, survive, and slowly build a life that actually fits. It’s messy, honest, and rooted in the quiet, everyday moments that shape who we become.
At its heart, it’s about what it takes to stop shrinking yourself and start becoming who you really are.
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Quote From The Book
Quote From The Book
"I tried to say the words, but it felt even harder now. Despite all the courage I thought I had built up, I realized that being disowned by your mother is a lot scarier than being rejected by friends in your fifth-grade class."
"I tried to say the words, but it felt even harder now. Despite all the courage I thought I had built up, I realized that being disowned by your mother is a lot scarier than being rejected by friends in your fifth-grade class."
Chapter Titles
Chapter Titles
Chapter 1- Small Town Charm
Chapter 2- All Amerian Family
Chapter 3- I'm Coming Out
Chapter 4- Want the World to Know
Chapter 5- Middle School
Chapter 6- First Love
Chapter 7- SEXuality
Chapter 8- My First Pride
Chapter 9- Stepping into Adulthood
Chapter 10- Kansas City
Chapter 11- Running From My Problems
Chapter 12- Homesick
Chapter 13- College Experimentation
Chapter 14- ST.Louis Gay Scene
Chapter 15- Getting On The Plane
Chapter 16- New York State
Chapter 17- The Life I Built After
About the Author
About the Author
Dustin Eads
Dustin Eads
Dustin Eads is a queer, non-binary writer and youth advocate based in Central New York. They work directly with young people and are actively involved in leading CNY Pride, focusing on building community and creating spaces where LGBTQ+ individuals can feel seen and supported.
Their work is driven by lived experience and a commitment to making sure younger generations have access to the kind of visibility and support they didn’t always have growing up. Whether through organizing, advocacy, or writing, Dustin centers honesty, resilience, and the importance of telling your own story.
Queer in the Midwest is their debut memoir
Lake Of The Ozarks
Lake Of The Ozarks
Lake of the Ozarks isn’t just a destination. It’s a contradiction. Tucked into the heart of Missouri, it’s a place of glittering water, summer tourism, and postcard-perfect sunsets. But beneath that surface is a small-town culture shaped by tradition, religion, and quiet expectations. In Queer in the Midwest, Lake of the Ozarks becomes more than a backdrop. It’s where identity first took shape, where difference was felt before it was understood, and where survival meant learning how to exist in a place that wasn’t always built for you.
This book is for the younger version of me. The one who was told to be quieter, smaller, different. The one who faced criticism from people who were supposed to understand, and chose to be themselves anyway. You didn’t have all the words yet, but you had the courage. You kept going, even when it would’ve been easier not to. This story exists because you refused to disappear.
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