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Mississippi Sissy: The Extraordinary Life and Tragic Death of Kevin Sessums

Andres Carter

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Kevin Sessums, A Young Man With Short, Dark Hair And Piercing Blue Eyes, Smiles Gently. He Is Wearing A White Shirt And A Black Blazer. Mississippi Sissy Kevin Sessums

Kevin Sessums was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 1957. From a young age, he felt different from the other children around him. He was sensitive, artistic, and attracted to other boys. In a small, conservative town like Hattiesburg, these qualities made him an easy target for bullying and abuse.

Mississippi Sissy

by Kevin Sessums

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	626 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	324 pages

Sessums's childhood was a nightmare. He was physically and emotionally abused by his father and stepfather. His mother, who was mentally ill, was unable to protect him. Sessums found solace in books and writing, but it was not enough to escape the pain of his home life.

When Sessums was 16 years old, he ran away from home and made his way to New York City. He lived on the streets for a time, but eventually found a job as a waiter. It was there that he met Andy Warhol, who became his mentor and friend. Warhol encouraged Sessums to write about his experiences growing up gay in the South, and in 1989, Sessums published his first novel, Mississippi Sissy.

Mississippi Sissy was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its honesty, its humor, and its unflinching portrayal of the challenges faced by LGBTQ youth in the South. Sessums became a sought-after writer and journalist, and his work appeared in publications such as Vanity Fair, The New York Times Magazine, and Rolling Stone.

Despite his success, Sessums struggled with addiction and mental illness throughout his life. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and struggled with alcohol and drug abuse. In 1997, he attempted suicide, but was unsuccessful. He died in 2017 at the age of 59 from a drug overdose.

Kevin Sessums was a brilliant writer and a courageous advocate for LGBTQ youth. His story is a reminder of the challenges that LGBTQ people continue to face in the South and around the world. It is also a testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and achieve great things.

Mississippi Sissy

by Kevin Sessums

4.3 out of 5