When Did You Know and Who Did You Tell?

Compelling LGBTQAI+ Stories

By: Beverly Gandara

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

How would you cope if your family rejected you, your religion abandoned you and society labeled you an outcast?
Read the compelling stories of 25 LGBTQAI+ role models who journeyed from strength to strength to become their authentic selves.

This collection is a profound exploration into the lives of 25 individuals spanning ages 21 to 80 from the LGBTQAI+ community. It's not just a series of narratives but a chronicle of courage, resilience, and the quest for authenticity in a world that often presents challenging and hostile environments for those who deviate from societal norms.

Through candid interviews, it unveils pivotal moments of realization and acts of disclosure that have marked the lives of its contributors. These stories showcase the diversity of experiences within the community, from dealing with family rejection and abandonment by religious groups to overcoming societal labels of being outcasts. Yet, despite these challenges, each narrative is a testament to the strength and perseverance of individuals on their path to personal fulfillment and growth.

The feedback provided by participants underscores the significance of this project. They express gratitude for the opportunity to share their stories, highlighting the importance of visibility and representation for queer individuals, especially in fields where they are underrepresented, like STEM. The collection is praised for its role in amplifying voices that are often marginalized, providing a platform for inspirational and impactful stories at a time when homophobia and transphobia are on the rise. This work is a testament to authenticity, courage, and the power of living one's truth, serving as a valuable resource for both those within the LGBTQAI+ community, allies seeking to understand their experiences and advocates to support their transitions.

“Bev, thank you so much for including me and all of the other queer stories in this work. I would have killed to read something like this as a 12- year-old.” – Matt

"Bev, thanks for this amazing opportunity. Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields are a vital component to the advancement of the built world. Having access to profiles of amazing people doing fantastic things could be a valuable tool to inspire and impact. Especially queer folks. Thank you for doing this." - Brooke

“This is an important project and a wonderful thing you are doing for our community. Thank you.” – Penny

“Thank you, Bev, for giving me a platform to share my journey to become my authentic self. I am honored and thrilled that my family chose to support my interview.” – Jade

“I want to start by thanking Beverly Gandara for giving me the opportunity to introduce myself in this book.” – Shaquinn

“Thank you, Bev, for bringing gay women’s voices to the forefront and all you do to contribute to the cause.” – Gina

“Thank you for this important work at a time of increased homophobia and transphobia.” – Alyssa

A fine book

This is a fine, educational book for our time. It includes the stories of interviewees that are real. The shories include elements of unhappiness but also lots of pictures of happiness and hope. I definitely recommend it as a free title

The AI reading performance was a little better than okay. It wasn't off putting. If this is what is needed for more books to be released on audible then fine. I'm glad some authors are willing to go that direction so we can be exposed to the contents of their books.

For a book like this that matters I think a living reader would make a difference.