When Everything Feels Like The Movies Feels Like a Winner

Marriage equality was granted in Canada only ten years ago, but people of all sexualities and genders have been fighting for their rights for as long as anyone can remember. There used to be time where you were jailed for who you loved. Today, there are still some countries that will do that or worse. Luckily, most of the world has evolved and expanded their ideas and beliefs of gender and sexuality; however, there is still progress that needs to be made, and the reactions of the public to both Reid’s novel and his award prove this.

Raziel Reid’s When Everything Feels Like The Movies gives an in-depth perspective of life as a flamboyant teenager, whose gender and sexuality is not constrained to one set of ideals of what is “right”. This novel gives a voice to a whole generation of kids who feel like that can’t be themselves, because who they are is “wrong” or “unnatural”. The author challenges stereotypes and gender norms, shedding light on the struggles that queer teenagers face every day. The very fact that people are opposing this novel winning the Governor General’s Award further proves that there are still people out there who are uncomfortable with self expression if it doesn’t conform to their set of prehistoric ideals and beliefs. 

We live in a world where children are constantly ridiculed for who they are. From a very early age, our society has instilled their own beliefs into children’s brains, from gender roles to ideal body types to premarital sex. Our society tries to prevent any self-expression and doesn’t leave any room for this kids to grow into their own. This is why we need books like Raziel Reid’s novel, books that break boundaries and give hope. 

Raziel Reid by Ash Mcgregor 

All of that being said, the fact that this novel did in fact win the award, goes to show that the world is still changing and that our country has an ever growing love and acceptance for people of all sexualities and genders, giving real life teenager’s like Jude’s character the strength to be who they truly are, wholly and without any regrets.