Jon Paul Higgins, Ed.D, is an educator, cultural critic, social justice leaderand now, an author. If youve spent any time on queer social media in the last few years, youre likely already familiar with Higgins, also known as Doctor Jon Paul. But if not, the release of their debut book,Black. Fat. Femme: Revealing the Power of Visibly Queer Voices in Media and Learning to Love Yourself, will be the perfect introduction.InBlack. Fat. Femme., Doctor Jon Paul delivers a powerful and personal exploration of what it means to live at the intersection of Black, fat, femme, and queer identity. Through sharp media critique and vulnerable storytelling, they spotlight how authentic representationand the lack of itshapes how we see ourselves and each other.The Power of Queer KinshipDuring a particularly weary political momentabout two years into Donald Trumps presidencyDoctor Jon Paul came across drag starLatrice Royaleon X (then still Twitter). The two soon struck up a kinship.She ends up following me on social media, and were going back and forth, just sharing love with one anotherand you know, again, still in this really weary, rocky place, said Doctor Jon Paul in an interview withNews is Out.After meeting in person at DragCon, the connection only deepened.So I meet her, and like I said, it was very much just immediateboth of us. Like, I didnt expect her to cry, said Doctor Jon Paul. Im crying, shes crying, were hugging each other. And it very much just kind of became: Latrice Royale is now my sister. Shes my family.When Doctor Jon Paul was writingBlack. Fat. Femme., it was clear that Latrice needed to be a part of it. After reading the chapter about her in the book, Latrice said yesand penned the introduction.Who the Book Is ForBlack. Fat. Femme.is, in some ways, a memoir. Stories and lessons from Doctor Jon Pauls upbringing in rural Compton, California, find the right inroads to connect to the heartno matter who you are or where you come from.I wrote this book for the 16-year-old Black kid in the South who is also struggling with finding themselves, said Doctor Jon Paul. I was living in a very rural part of Southern California at the time I was growing up, and so as much as I dont know the South, I know what its like to feel like youre looking around and you dont see yourself. I wrote this book for not only that kid who doesnt see themselves and whos scared to be themselves, but I also wrote this book for the dreamerfor the kid who believes in themselves more than the world does.For Doctor Jon Paul, its about the exploration of lovingand believingin yourself.We all know what it feels like to not be it, they said. You knowthe worlds telling you to be thin. The world is telling you to starve yourself. The world is telling you to be less this and more that. A lot of the voices we have in our head are not ours, and I thinkI want folks to read this book and say, Wow, it helps me find my voice. The voice thats talking to me in my head, the voice I love hearing. The voice that is telling me, No, girl, eat the donut. Youre okay. Youll be fine. The voice in my head that tells me your Blackness is fine.This book really is for everyone, because we all know what it feels like to be the other. Becoming That B*tchIn the chapter called Becoming That B*tch, Doctor Jon Paul reflects on the journey theyve been onnot just of self-love, but of taking up space and creating the life they deserve.I used to feel very guilty about liking myself or loving myself, they said. I used to feel guilty about the femininity I had. I used to feel guilty about wanting to celebrate my Blackness the way that I celebrated. I used to feel guilty about being a big mouth, right? The world used to make me feel like I was the problem. And I think, in a way, becoming that bitchin the joking wayI walk into rooms and Im like, Move, bitch. Get out my way. Im in here, and if you dont like it, then leave. Thats the kind of energy.On promoting yourself as a queer authorDoctor Jon Paul has been working hard to get the word out about their bookand has some real talk for other queer writers doing the same.I think it is imperative that if you are a queer author, regardless of how else you identify, being a queer authorthere has to be this element of having the same energy of a white cis het man, they said. Who just kind of knows that theyre important. You kind of have to embody that energy.In other words: You have to have audacity.But that constant self-advocacy can be exhausting.Ive always had to advocate for myself, and I hate it. I hate that Im always having to be my biggest cheerleader and having to push my own boulder up the hill, while also trying to help other people push theirs.Lessons learnedWriting a book is a lesson in self-discovery all on its own. So, what did Doctor Jon Paul learn about themselves while writingBlack. Fat. Femme.?Im just moving different, you know, they said. I think every dayshes behind me, they added, referring to a poster of the book on the wall opposite their desk. I come into my office and I look at her I wrote the book in four months, and I fought like hell to get it published. I dont feel like its a masterpiece. There are so many things that I could critique, but I feel like, goddammit, I did it. I mean, against the grain.I think, for me, I look at myselfand like I said, I dont get the support, or I dont get the like, people dont I dontpeople dont hold Dr. Jon Paul up the way that some other folks do. And I go, but I still show up every day, and I still keep doing it. And its likeIm justI think this book really taught me how proud of myself I should be.Black. Fat. Femme. is available now wherever you buy your books.The post Doctor Jon Paul is here to help you love yourself inBlack. Fat. Femme. appeared first on News Is Out.