Book Review: Over the Top
by Andrew Downing
If you want to be a better person and a better leader, read about people different from you. The harder their life and the more different it is from yours, the more you learn and the more empathy you develop.
Jonathan Van Ness is a TV personality, podcast host, famous hairdresser, and an activist for LGBTQ+ rights. His (Van Ness identifies as nonbinary/genderqueer, but prefers “he” and “him” pronouns) book, Over the Top, provides an intimate look at what it was like growing up gay in Quincy, Illinois, where his flamboyant personality made him an easy target for bullies.
An openly gay kid growing up in a small town will always draw attention, yet Van Ness has always lived his truth. Unfortunately, there’s no version of his story resulting in an easy life, and that’s a shame. We have a long way to go in our country before the LGBTQ+ community can live their truth, always feeling loved and supported, but with people like Van Ness leading the way, we are on the right track.