Thank you for picking up on one of the most important ideas behind the story. Paxton's struggle isn't just about realizing who he is. It's about the damage that comes from forcing yourself to live a life that isn't yours. In trying to protect everyone else from the truth, he ends up hurting himself and the people around him.
And you're absolutely right about Pride.
Ty is loud, confident, and unapologetic, but not because everyone has the luxury of being that way. He's loud because many people can't be. Pride has always been about celebration, but it's also about visibility. It's about reminding people who are scared, isolated, or unable to be themselves that they're not alone and that there are people standing beside them, even if they've never met.
That was something I really wanted Out Loud to capture, so it means a lot that it resonated with you. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts <3