A gay Christian author wants youth to know they don香蕉视频直播檛 have to choose between their faith and their sexuality.

Stacey Chomiak, an LGBTQ illustrator and author who recently moved to Chilliwack, is sharing her personal story about her young self as she struggled with coming to terms that she was both gay and Christian.

Chomiak香蕉视频直播檚 queer, illustrated, young-adult memoir Still Stace: My Gay Christian Coming-of-Age Story is being released on Oct. 19 and there will be a book launch and signing in November.

She wrote the book because she doesn香蕉视频直播檛 want others to feel alone.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e always wanted to share my story somehow because I never had anybody I could talk to. The term 香蕉视频直播榞ay Christian香蕉视频直播� didn香蕉视频直播檛 exist.香蕉视频直播�

Chomiak grew up in Winnipeg in a conservative, evangelical home and always loved attending Bible camp.

The book starts out when she was 16 years old, about 25 years ago, when she met a girl at church camp.

香蕉视频直播淚 started to realize I had feelings for girls, but didn香蕉视频直播檛 know what that meant because I didn香蕉视频直播檛 even know the word 香蕉视频直播榟omosexuality.香蕉视频直播� I was very Christian. I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 allowed to go to sex ed,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 literally had to go to the library and look up what homosexuality was.香蕉视频直播�

The next 13 years were a struggle. Everyone in her life said it was wrong, including God. She thought she couldn香蕉视频直播檛 be gay and also be Christian.

香蕉视频直播淚 can香蕉视频直播檛 exist being wrong. My faith is really important to me,香蕉视频直播� Chomiak said. 香蕉视频直播淚 couldn香蕉视频直播檛 walk away from it, I didn香蕉视频直播檛 want to do that, yet I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 pray it away. I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 get rid of these feelings.香蕉视频直播�

Her story of heartbreak, family conflict, trying to become ex-gay, wrestling with her faith and finding love all unfold in Still Stace.

香蕉视频直播淚 remember feeling so alone for years.香蕉视频直播�

The book ends happily on her wedding day at the age of 30.

She香蕉视频直播檚 hoping Still Stace will show gay Christian youth that they don香蕉视频直播檛 have to change.

The suicide rate is 香蕉视频直播渁stronomically香蕉视频直播� high for teens of faith who are gay, she said, adding that she too had those same thoughts.

香蕉视频直播淚 can香蕉视频直播檛 pray this away, no one understands it and God hates me. So what else is there?香蕉视频直播� she recalled thinking when she was younger.

Chomiak is now married with children. She and her family moved to Chilliwack this summer and she recognizes there is a divide here between the queer community and the faith community.

香蕉视频直播淭hey do not mix, they do not overlap香蕉视频直播� but my story makes peace with both with a happy ending 香蕉视频直播� which is rare.香蕉视频直播�

She wants people to have conversations, open their minds, meet other people and hear their stories.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 no black and white to anything,香蕉视频直播� Chomiak said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檇 love to get more positive conversations going so less people feel alone. If I can tell somebody else 香蕉视频直播榊ou are beautiful as you are and flourish in that,香蕉视频直播� that香蕉视频直播檚 my hope.香蕉视频直播�

The book launch for Chomiak香蕉视频直播檚 memoir Still Stace: My Gay Christian Coming-of-Age Story is on Saturday, Nov. 20 at Smoking Gun Coffee Roasters (101-46168 Yale Rd.) from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

She香蕉视频直播檚 also part of a multi-author book signing event at The Owl and The Cat Bookery (105-45655 Tamihi Way) on Saturday, Nov. 6 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Folks can buy the book at either of those events, at The Book Man ($27.99), or by going to .

Chomiak has a degree in animation and is currently art directing a series of shorts for DreamWorks. She also illustrated children香蕉视频直播檚 book Rainbow Boy which came out in January.