Disney star explains why they won’t discuss being non-binary in new memoir
Alyson Stoner’s new memoir doesn’t touch on their non-binary identity. (John Nacion/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust)
Alyson Stoner's new memoir doesn't touch on their non-binary identity. (John Nacion/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust)
Former Disney star Alyson Stoner has shared why they decided to cut themes of gender identity from their memoir, revealing that readers may “already feel quite shocked” by the book.
The Camp Rock alum, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, released their debut book, Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything, earlier this week.
Although Stoner has been vocal about their coming-out journey and navigating life in the spotlight from a young age, the writer decided not to discuss their non-binary identity in the memoir.
The book’s blurb reads: “Actor-dancer Alyson Stoner’s revelatory and incisive memoir—from family violence and betrayal, to eating disorders and religious trauma—may begin in Hollywood, but its chilling relatability will resonate with anyone navigating identity, privacy, purpose, and mental health in a digital age.”
The performer came out as queer in 2018 via a personal essay for Teen Vogue and later shared their non-binary identity and updated pronouns. However, Stoner has yet to publicly discuss their coming out journey as a non-binary person.
Although Stoner revealed to Out Magazine that they “had things drafted”, they had decided that “it wasn’t time to talk about their gender journey just yet” and cut out the draft discourse on the topic.
“I realised that there would be people who had never met a single openly queer person in their life, reading this alongside people who would probably already feel quite shocked by all of the other revelations and my journey with gender identity,” they told the outlet.
Stoner continued, “This book really highlights the first quarter of, hopefully, my 100-year-long life. I feel like I could write a whole book on it because once you unpack gender, now you start to deconstruct every construct in society.
“I was trying to think of everyone who’s going to be reading this, and how many things I could tackle in one book before it actually was too much to process,” they said.
It is not yet clear when the newly published author plans to share more about their non-binary identity, but the outlet hinted that such discussions could come in “a second season of their podcast or a second book”.
PinkNews has contacted a representative of Alyson Stoner for comment.
Alyson Stoner’s book Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything is out now.
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