Foreword

February 23, 2025

I want to start this book off with a message to any young, queer American who may be looking for solace in these trying times with this abhorrent administration we are now living under.

This book was written during a very pivotal time in my life, between the years 2018-2020, and has been published for over 4 years now. The Mural is more than a coming out story. It's a story about acceptance, grief, love, joy, community, and discovering your own power. All of these things are important for our personal lives, and will become even more important for our communities with the coming days ahead of us.

I am making this book free and available here on Wattpad because I have always believed in writing and sharing uplifting queer media with a happy ending with my community, especially for those who may have trouble accessing it, whether because of paywalls or other lack of resources.

While this book will be published in parts for free here on Wattpad over the coming weeks, it is available in full on Amazon, although I do not know how long it will remain there. If you want a physical copy, please feel free to purchase one, but please do not feel obligated.

To my young, queer readers in the United States, or any other part of the world, who may be feeling discouraged or scared, please know you are not alone. The LGBTQIA+ community has been around for as long as humanity has existed, and that won't change because of the current administrations seeking to dehumanize and demonize us. Throughout this book, I will provide resources and knowledge that I have gathered over the years to help you, ease your mind, or just uplift you in times of need.

Please feel free to also follow me on Bluesky, as I am no longer on Twitter (X) and Wattpad no longer has DM capabilities. My username is: lauynabrooks.bsky.social