Comments on: Friday the 13th Birthday

by: Jene

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:50:04 +0000

Kevin,

Thanks for a great summer read. I also grew up in Mississippi and now live and teach high school there. I know that growing up in Mississippi is a challenge to say the least, but to grow up gay there means that God either has a wicked sense of humor or truely does test those he loves. I tend to believe the latter.

I called and spoke to you shortly after reading your book. I thank you for being so kind and polite to someone who you have never met. I suppose the southern hospitality does exist or maybe your just “good people.”

If ever you come back to Mississippi for book signings or for whatever reason ( You did tell me that you had just left and I missed you in Oxford and Jackson) feel free to email me and I’ll be glad to introduce you to a great Mississppi welcome.

Again, I thank you for writing Mississsippi Sissy.

by: Ric

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:36:30 +0000

As an African-American and a homosexual — but never really a sissy — I didn’t expect to get much out of “Mississippi Sissy” but just needed a 4th book to complete my reading list during 2 weeks’ vacation in Europe.
Suffice to say, I loved it. I started it somewhere over the Atlantic, and continued it (with intermissions) during a cannabis-filled 3 day tour of Amsterdam. But, somewhere after Paris, and before Lisbon, Tangier and Barcelona, I began to pray that it would never end.

Thank you for airing your story in beautiful prose. I haven’t felt this way about an autobiography since Paul Monette’s “Becoming A Man” which I’ve read 3 times in about 5 years.

Fortunately for me, and unlike Mr. Monette, you’re alive so that I could express my sentiments.

by: Ric

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:24:47 +0000

As an African-american, I didn’t expect to get much out of “Mississippi Sissy” but I needed a 4th book to complete my reading list during 2 weeks’ vacation in Europe.

by: joe to hell

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:06:20 +0000

was great to meet you this summer in ptown….this was a great story - very touching. please say hi to michael

by: Tally

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:42:49 +0000

Kevin - I just discovered your background and book on James Wolcott’s blog. I cannot wait to read your book! I can almost anticipate what you wrote, but look forward to reading your experience of it!
I was born in Jackson, but reared in Forest. To discover another person who survived Mississippi, and especially Forest, is like visiting an old time reunion without flies and dust landing on the fried chicken and homemade ice cream! I wonder if you attended Forest High. It is hard for me to remember names from there; events seemed to catch my attention and there were many back then. I am trying to remember you and visualize where you lived.
I was an outcast in Forest. My friends were restricted and chosen for me. I was not allowed to read Emerson because he had been a friend of Pound. And TN Wms? Ha! He exposed things that should have been kept quiet in proper circles! I have often wondered how many of us breathed in and out, counting the minutes, til we could leave and experience the real world on The Outside, everything that frightened the grownups around us. We must have scattered like wildflower seeds on the wind when we left! However, my first stop was Belhaven in Jackson where I watched Miss Eudora plant bulbs across the street instead of paying attention in Latin class. That is where I became a covert activist and also experienced my first demonstration where I protested the use of my SS# as an ID rather than my name! Later, I was “strict campused” for subversive acts like urging folks register to vote after the poll tax was rescinded and protesting Nam Lies. The administration shut the campus newspaper down, but forgot to check the annual, The Clan Call, that year. It had a bright red cover and caused a bright red reaction! : ) I have not been back to MS except 3 times, mostly funerals. I seem to pick up the dialect of wherever I live, however, I still have our maid’s pronunciation of “get” as “git”, even after speech therapy during my FHS years! I learned what love, the real thing, meant through “the maid”. She was my rock until she “ran off” to Chicago to join her children who had made a better life for her. I miss her and am thankful for her love to this day. This is probably not the place for this type of chit-chat. Guess I got excited because I deeply understand from where you came and admire what you have so well done since. I look forward to reading your book. Salut!

by: Robert from Canada

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 19:05:34 +0000

I don’t know where else to post this message - I just finished reading “Mississippi Sissy” - a book I could barely put down. Thank you for writing it! A true masterpiece.

I grew up on a farm in Manitoba’s beautiful parkland region - I considered that to be a rather conservative environment, but after reading your story I realize that I grew up in a very liberal environment. I find it difficult to believe that people could have been so uncaring as to cheer at the deaths of the public figures like President Kennedy, RFK and Martin Luther King Jr. but I guess they saw those people threatening their very way of life.

I, like your friend Frank, was extremely angry when that “pillar of the church” was abusing you, stealing your first sexual experience from you, and leaving such horrid memories. How horrid.

Anyways, I must not go on - I hope the rest of your life has been more positive.

by: Lora

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:59:18 +0000

Kevin: I’ve so enjoyed reading your blog ever since I found “Mississippi Sissy.” (By the way I am anxiously awaiting the next book as well.)

Have you ever thought about doing a Q & A type thing like Rosie O’Donnell does on her blog? She scrolls through and chooses which questions to answer and posts all the questions/answers on her blog. She also does “talky blogs” where she answers questions on little movies. I would LOVE to see you do something like that.

Lora