who she is, interview with the writer

Juno Dawson is one of the best-known English writers in the LGBTQIA+ community, author of young adult fiction, screenplays, and television programs. In 2015 she declared herself a transgender woman and began documenting the transition in one of her columns; Juno Dawson writes mainly about sexuality, identity and literature, in 2014 she was named “Queen of Teen” for her dissemination activity as a children’s writer, her books will receive several awards and have been translated into over 10 languages.

Among Dawson’s most famous works are international bestsellers such as “This Book is Gay”, “This Book is Trans”, “It’s All My Fault” and “Cannon Fodder”. In 2022, she successfully debuted in adult fiction with the fantasy trilogy “Her Majesty’s Royal Coven”.

This book is gay, in particular, has received unanimous praise for its authenticity and frankness in dealing with LGBTQIA+ topics. Enriched by Spike Gerrell’s humorous illustrations, the book has become a fundamental guide to understanding diversity and dispelling stereotypes; With frank language and irreverent humor, Dawson offers a path of self-exploration for teens, encouraging them to explore their sexuality beyond social expectations.

This comprehensive manual addresses a wide range of topics, from coming out to relationships, providing practical advice for navigating the complex world of sexual identity and building an authentic and fulfilling life. In a context where labels and cultural pressures often limit individual freedom, Juno Dawson offers a message of empowerment and self-acceptance.

We met her for you.

Is writing for you more a work of personal introspection or a tool to inspire change in the reader?

I think you have to write for yourself, always. With my novels, I always try to think “what’s the book you can’t find in the bookstore?” This way, I always have the guarantee that at least one person will appreciate it! With nonfiction books, especially those about my experience of queerness, I write for my younger self. Which book would have made my adolescence easier?

What book are you most attached to and why?

My favorites are Clean and, more recently, Her Majesty’s Royal Coven. Those books really changed my life. That said, it would be crazy to leave it out This Book Is Gay; That book meant so much to so many young people around the world. It’s mind-blowing. We sold almost a million copies in America.

Have you ever been censored and was your sexual identity a burden in the work environment?

A lot: I had school visits cancelled, e.g This Book Is Gay is one of the most contested titles in the United States right now. I don’t see it as a burden, I see it as a call to battle. While queer people are told we are second rate, I will make my voice heard even louder.

If your essence, your most intimate and personal essence, could materialize in a dress, what would it be?

I got married in two dresses! One was a vintage Vivienne Westwood with that perfect classic Grecian drape, while the other was a bespoke dress by designer Joanne Flemming. I had her reinterpret Jennifer Connelly’s ball gown from the movie Labyrinth!

Is there a success story of an LGBTQIA+ person in the fashion or entertainment industry that has particularly inspired you, why?

I love that transgender people, from Gottmik to Hunter Schafer, are able to succeed in fashion, but we don’t have to limit ourselves to very young, very white, very thin people! For this reason, I want to applaud Janet Mock and the Wachowski sisters, who have the task of directing the work and wearing the clothes.

If you had to choose a designer to star in your next book, who would it be and what type of novel would it be?

I love a brave British designer! I love Charles Jeffrey from Loverboy, or Rottingdean Bazaar. It would be a novel about rebels and London at night!

Has fashion helped you express your gender identity and sexual orientation?

When I began my transition, clothing was such a vital way of signaling to the world that I sought to be recognized as a woman. Fashion, especially in the mainstream, is still so gendered, so it can be a shortcut in this sense. Nearly a decade later, I use fashion like everyone else; it’s theater! For an awards show I might want to be goth, or Hollywood, or a hottie. Most days, though, my clothing is pretty gender neutral.

Are you working on any future projects that you would like to share with us?

I divided my time between writing novels and writing for television. I have some really exciting things in the works, but I can’t say too much! Right now I’m adapting a fantastically dark novel called Penance, by Eliza Clark.

Can you dedicate a sentence from one of your books to Harper’s Bazaar readers?

I’m about to cheat. I have a quote from Alexander McQueen at the beginning of Meat Market. “Fashion should be a form of escape, not a form of imprisonment.”