Several months ago, Evan invited me to see his middle school musical. The night of the show, I rode my bike across town and found a seat next to his dad, who was watching for the second time. The audience filled up, and the lights went down.

It ended up being a remarkably good show, but one of the most memorable moments for me took place right away in the opening number. Evan was unmistakeable in the front row, eyes darkened with makeup and shining at the audience. His voice carried through the ensemble. His body committed entirely to the scene. He was captivating. 

That was the moment I wondered if he had a story to be told.

Continue reading on Medium

FURTHER READING

You can read about the Dream Crazier ad campaign that Evan talked about on Nike News, and watch the video itself on Vimeo.

SOURCES

Niobe Way, Intimacy, Desire, and Distrust in the Friendships of Adolescent Boys →

Clementine Ford, Boys Will Be Boys →

Michael Chabon, My Son, The Prince of Fashion →

CONNECT

Breaking the Boy Code is part of the NGM Podcast Network. Next Gen Men is a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging boys and men in the movement for gender justice. Learn more about our efforts and how you can support us at nextgenmen.ca. Reach out at [email protected] or on social media.

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