dear baby queer,
Write a letter to your former self.
Submissions will be curated for Crush Life Manifesto Substack, Print, and Socials.
Living Archive
Submissions on substack
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Express yourself
Hello friends,
I am Danielle, and this project started nearly 10 years ago when asked to support a person who had just allowed their queerness. The question of what to say, and how to support, made me wonder what I wish I had known. This brought me into deeper relationship with my younger self, and I was surprised to find my voice there, patiently waiting.
The process of seeing and caring about my past self unlocked things I was afraid to say. Happiness increased. And it inspired me to articulate the world I needed, which is a path to understanding what I want and finding people who say yes.
My dream for this project is a collection of letters. If we piece together all the wisdoms our baby queers needed, we get a picture of the world we need to create. The release of the past increases our capacity to listen now.
I honor everyone willing to spend time healing our sexualities in the historic context rape culture, which is blocking embodiment. Innovation exists in our cells.
Thank you for sharing your letter.
much love,
danielle
What do you need to say?
Submissions
Thank you to every contributor for your additions to the archive. Our stories need to be expressed, adored, cherished. Visit the Dear Baby Queer archive at Crush Life Substack. Who else needs to write a letter? Please share this call with your communities. Click on the pictures to read the whole letter.
From
Supa Nova
Been Queering
15+ years
From:
Phil
Been Queering
5 + years
Sometimes I look back and share information.
This is the first Dear Baby Queer letter, published in our first edition Crush Life Manifesto: Audacity. It was originally written for a friend of a friend, who was trying to come into their queer sexuality. The number one thing I wish I had known more about is consent.
Just Talk to them
Ash Lee and I met for coffee in New York City in the fall of 2025. We got talking about our inner Baby Queers. Here are some snippets.
Ash leads programming at Henrietta Hudson, where Crush Life Story Lab was born through our collaboration. Ash is also the founder of SuciaQueer, a sex-positive grassroots community centering queer and trans BIPOC individuals through monthly play parties, workshops and health-equity driven collaborations.
Sometimes I look back and grieve.
First published in Crush Life Manifesto: Audacity. The reckoning with Baby Queer produced the death of something, and a reclamation. There was an old, tortured part of my spirit that was ready to rest.
The practice helps me stay present and look forward.
First published in Crush Life Manifesto: Ancient Luxuries. In this letter I was thinking about myself as a tween or young teen. It is an ode to being innocent and overwhelmed by incoming hormones, and needing to be treated like a child.
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