Throughout my time as an activist and organizer, I have benefitted from the knowledge of many an overworked queer activist, including Chris Bartlett, Mandy Carter, Amber Hollibaugh, Sue Hyde, Suzanne Pharr, Tony Valenzuela, and Urvashi Vaid. Similarly, academic thinkers like Leo Bersani, Cathy Cohen, Patricia Hill Collins, Gayle Rubin, and Michael Warner have all deeply informed the way I think about sex, desire, and gender.

But perhaps most important to my continued efforts in making this anthology happen have been the various queer male friends who have constantly provided fuel for my fire at each stage in my life. Coming out in North Carolina at the age of 14 was no easy feat, and there are many gay men in Charlotte who made that more bearable, most notably James Bartlett and Jon Darcey. I am indebted to my friends from UNC Chapel Hill, who first provided a support network in which I could thrive, including Justin Carter, Win Chesson, Spencer Derrico, Zach Howell, John Jackson, Drew McLelland, Tommy Rimbach, Nick Shepard, Jon Tirpak, and Troy Wood. San Francisco brought new men into my life, equally as important: Jackson Bowman, Ethan Suniewick, and of course honorary gay men, Jennifer Feeney and Bonnie Zylbergold. Now in Michigan, I’m blessed to have the support and encouragement of my friends Andre Cavalcante (who generously composed and recorded the music for the Beyond Masculinity podcasts), Nat Coleman, and Maxime Foerster.

I want to take a special moment to thank two friends who have been particularly important to me as I’ve worked on this anthology. Troy Wood, who has been with me – through all the wonderful ups and agonizing downs – for eight years now. Troy, you are so beautiful, thoughtful, and deliciously irreverent.  Don’t ever change. And Jackson Bowman, who I knew would be important in my life the moment he slammed down his fork and knife at Sparky’s Diner on Halloween night, outraged over my offhand complaints about a sexist professor. Jackson, thank you for listening to me and for never being afraid to say and represent what is needed.

Most of all, thank you to all the queer feminist men out there, who I know are out there living their lives at full volume. Beyond Masculinity is dedicated to each and every one of you.