Roxane Gay

Yes, that's true.

I'm sure they would have quite the time.

Yes, exactly.

Oh, well, I mean, I think she'll admit she came out at 50.

I remember the alternative definition of Santorum very fondly.

It's really unpleasant and it involves semen.

And speaking of grandparents, your grandmother was one of your favorite people.

My favorite person.

And you said that she was encouraging of your confidence.

You've said it delighted her when you were yourself.

How did that help you to stay confident, especially as a woman, as a gay woman growing up in a world where women are often told, as you well know, to make ourselves smaller?

Yeah.

And, you know, it's interesting to see how some people are able to just do that and then others stay in that place until they're ready or until they're shoved out.

Yeah.

Yes.

You have seen the AIDS crisis during college.

And I think for many of us, that was formative.

I went to school on the East Coast and we would go to New York on the weekends and act up.

was very active at the time.

And it was amazing to see that there was this way of fighting back and that there were people who are willing to tell those stories.