Playing Dress Up

From the dress up trunk to Hollywood..... Three-year-old Christian Classen, alive with brilliant imagination and an eye for the beautiful, was fascinated with playing dress up. He was passionate about everything in his dress up trunk---the shoes, jewelry, gowns, tiaras, capes, feather boas, and makeup. He was the preschooler who freely gave friends and family honest to goodness fashion advice. Playing Dress Up is the true story of a mother’s journey as she raised a talented gay son who enjoyed dressing up as Cinderella as a child, and now plays dress up for a living as a Hollywood fashion stylist. No longer make-believe, Christian's passion for fashion has launched him into the real world of haute couture, red carpets, and celebrity photo shoots. Part of the story is about raising a gay son in a world that is often cruel and misunderstood. But the greater part is retelling the proud, humorous, and hopeful anecdotes the family experienced along the way. The message is one of acceptance and compassion. The story offers companionship and comfort to a parent or child who may identify with one or more of the family’s experiences, and provides awareness of the devastating effects of bullying, isolation, and intolerance. Growing up gay is not easy, but with unconditional support and acceptance, anything is possible! Note: Your purchase helps others! A portion of the author's profit from the sale of each paperback copy will be donated to one of three non-profit charities: It Gets Better Project, The Trevor Project, or the Born This Way Foundation.