The book you are about to read is written by my son, Christopher. I have a unique perspective, having been present at many of the crossroads in his life. There have been incredible moments, and there have also been deeply challenging ones.

You will notice, as you read these pages, that my son insists on Christopher. Never Chris. He writes about why in the chapter that opens this book, and I will let him tell that story in his own words. What I will say is this: I am his mother, and I am one of the few people in this world who still gets to call him Chris. That name belongs to our kitchen table, to the years before he became who he is publicly, to the voice I used when I needed his attention and the voice I use when I just need to show up as his mom. When you see me use it in this letter, please know it's intentional. It is the name that lives between us. It always will.

What makes Christopher so remarkable is how he transforms challenges into successes. He uses his life experiences to shape his approach to equity, fairness, and love. He approaches life with hope and optimism, seeing chaos and conflict not as obstacles, however as opportunities to improve, to make things better, and to create meaningful change.

I saw that quality in him long before he had a platform or a public voice. Christopher struggled with reading when he was younger. When he wanted to take college-level English in high school, I pushed back hard. I remember him looking at me and saying, “I have dreams of going to college, I need this class to make that dream a reality. You will not take that away from me.” He went on to prove me wrong in the best possible way. Two master’s degrees later, Christopher has shown that he would never allow his reading struggles to stand in the way of what he truly wanted to achieve. That moment taught me something I have carried with me ever since: when Christopher decides who he is going to be, the world eventually agrees.

Christopher’s life has taken many complicated twists and turns, and he has faced each one head-on. He has experienced bullying, and he has also stood up as a protector for others who have been bullied. As his mother, I often had to step back and let him choose his own path, even when I wanted to intervene in moments that seemed deeply unfair. Time and time again, Christopher chose to face those challenges himself.

I carry one morning with me more than most. I gave Chris a ride to high school, and as we pulled into the parking lot, I could feel him tense up. When we reached the area where all the students were gathering, and it was time for him to get out of the car, I paused and said, “Chris, you seem really tense.” He looked at me and said, “Mom, walking through that crowd, I am going to get pushed and teased. My books are going to get taken, and it is not going to be pleasant.”

In that moment, all I wanted was to go with him. I even said, “I will walk with you. I will walk you through the crowd.” He shook his head and said, “No. You will just make things worse. I am going to do it myself.” I let him get out of the car, then pulled around and sat in the parking lot watching. I cried. I do not know what happened to him on his way into school that day. What I do know is how it lived in my heart: sadness mixed with great pride. He chose to face it on his own, and that mattered.

If there is one thing I admire most about him, it is his determination: to figure things out, to overcome adversity, and to help create a future where others may have an easier path.

This book is rooted in Christopher’s lived experiences, not only what has happened to him personally, however also what he has witnessed in the lives of friends, strangers, and within our broader society. He takes on issues of equity and belonging because he believes deeply that true happiness comes from creating a world where everyone is welcome.

His motto, “I know I belong when…,” has touched many people in deeply personal ways, myself included.

As the mother of a gay son and as a lesbian woman now in my senior years, I have faced my own obstacles. I did not come out until I was a young adult. I spent a large portion of my life in the closet. When I read Christopher’s words, “I know I belong,” it stopped me in my tracks. It made me reflect on the ways I had hidden or softened who I truly was, out of fear of what might happen if people knew I was gay. Even as an adult, there have been times when I chose not to mention it or avoided sharing stories that would reveal that part of me.

Reading those words helped me refocus on the moments and places where I truly did know I was included. Some of the strongest of those moments came through my nursing career and in my work with my dogs, spaces where I was accepted for who I was, without hesitation or conditions. When I listen to Christopher’s words, I find clarity and a path forward. He has an extraordinary ability to cut through distraction and bring comfort, even in moments when people are struggling to understand who they are. He creates a safe space for others to explore, to question, and to grow.

This path has not been easy for him. He has made sacrifices that most people will never see.

For Christopher to live fully and honestly, he had to make difficult choices. One of the most painful was giving up his relationship with his father. Growing up, Christopher worked on the farm with his dad, and they shared many hours side by side. All Christopher wanted was to be acknowledged and valued for who he was. Unfortunately, his father was unable to do that.

As an adult, Christopher eventually realized he had to step away. That choice did not mean he was not grieving the loss. It meant he chose himself. I am incredibly proud of him for having the courage to do so.

And then Christopher became a father. He adopted his sons out of foster care, and in doing so, he gave those boys something he understood in his bones: a home where their full selves would be welcomed without condition. He also gave me the gift of being the grandmother I had always wanted to be. I had waited a long time for that. Watching Christopher step into fatherhood confirmed what I had known about him since he was young: his capacity to love is not something he learned from a book or a theory. It is something he lives. Every day, in the way he shows up for those boys, he is building the kind of belonging he not only writes about in these pages. He is not just teaching it. He is raising it.

I know, from countless conversations with him, that he would not choose any other path. His passion is rooted not only in what this work means to him personally, however also in the positive impact he sees it having on others and on our communities.

Christopher is relentless in his pursuit of a world where everyone belongs.

Within these pages, you will find deeply personal stories. Christopher does not hold back, and that honesty is where the true power of this book lies. It has not always been easy for him to revisit parts of his past, be present in the current moment, or understand what the unknown of the future holds. He has done, and will always do, so with courage and purpose, so that others may know they are less alone.

And that is just the beginning.

Though this book reflects his life so far, his journey is still unfolding. It is grounded in his past, yet energized by the future. As you read, I believe you will not only find answers. You will also discover a deeper sense of belonging within yourself.

I am incredibly proud of Christopher and all that he is accomplishing. And I am excited to continue watching his journey unfold in the years ahead.

I hope that within these pages, you find what I have found in watching Christopher live his life: belonging is not something you have to earn. It is something you already deserve.

With love and pride,

Christopher’s Mom

04/04/2026