The future of this newsletter
Here's what you can expect from me going forward.
When I started writing this newsletter in November of 2020, everything was different.
The world was still reeling from Covid-19, for one thing, and I was at the very beginning stages of writing (never mind publishing) my debut book, "Morally Straight."
I started the newsletter with a vague mess of goals. I wanted to build an audience for the eventual book, but I also wanted to give myself space to write about things I couldn't write about anywhere else.
Eventually, I put some more structure behind it: Occasional posts became weekly, I launched a paid membership tier that supported in-depth journalism, and I even started a podcast.
I'm extremely proud of the work I've done over the last four years, in no small part thanks to you, my readers, who challenged me and inspired me to do some of my best work.
And now, with my book finally published and out in the world, you can probably guess where this is going.
Here's why
- Publishing and launching and marketing a book is exhausting. I want to give myself the time to do that properly without burning out, which means letting some things go for now.
- I've accomplished everything (and more) I wanted to with this newsletter. The range of topics and stories I've told has far exceeded what I ever expected, and there are few things left for me to dig into at this point.
- I respect you, my readers, enough to only give you my best. I don't want to squeeze out weekly posts just for the sake of it when I know I won't have the capacity to do it justice.
Here's what you can expect from me going forward
- Occasional posts when there's something important to share. This might be a dispatch from book land, or an update on an important Scouting topic.
- A continued presence online and on social media. The best place to find me and hang out with me these days is on Instagram. That's where I'll be sharing my work, no matter what shape it takes.
- Something new... eventually. Once I figure out what my next act is, you'll hear from me. Whether that's Scouting-related or not, I hope you'll join me for the ride.
If you have a paid subscription...
- I'll leave your next step up to you. Here are your options:
- You can adjust or cancel your subscription. You can do this by going to the home page of this newsletter, and clicking the "Account" button in the top right hand corner. That should let you manage your subscription status.
- You can leave your subscription as-is. I certainly won't say no to receiving your support! Even in this newsletter's absence, it would support my work as an independent journalist.
Here's what I'd like to leave you with for now
I've filled the virtual pages of this newsletter with heaps of advice, wisdom, guidance and encouragement on all things diversity and inclusion in Scouting. Please search through the archives whenever you have a question. Here are some of my favorite pieces from over the years:
Mike De Socio
Mike De Socio
Mike De Socio
Mike De Socio
And finally, thank you
I cannot say it enough. 💖 The engagement and support I received from this community carried me through some of the most challenging periods of writing and publishing a book.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for asking questions. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Thank you for being here.
Morally Straight: How the Fight for LGBTQ+ Inclusion Changed the Boy Scouts—And America
This deeply-reported narrative illuminates the battle for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Boy Scouts of America, a decades-long struggle led by teenagers, parents, activists, and everyday Americans.
