Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr.

Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr. is an advocate for minoritized youth, a speaker, and a Kentucky Teacher of the Year. He is the author Gay Poems for Red States (University Press of Kentucky), which was named • a Book Riot Best Book of 2023, • a Top Ten Best Book of Appalachia by Read Appalachia, • a top ten 2022 Southern Book in Garden and Gun, • an IndieBound and American Booksellers Association’s must-have book of 2022, • a 2023 Top Ten Over-The-Rainbow book by the American Library Association, • a 2024 Community of Literary Magazines and Presses Pride Month poem selection, • a current 2024 long-list for the Whippoorwill Book Award, • and awarded a 2024 Stonewall Book Award – Barbara Gittings Literature Honor Book. Willie has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Kentucky. His story has been featured across U.S. and international media, including ABC, CBS, The Washington Post, Le Monde, and Good Morning America. His advocacy has led him to engage President Biden and to testify before the United States Congressional Committee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. His creative work has been published in 100 Days in Appalachia, 2RulesofWriting, Young Ravens Literary Review, Another Chicago Magazine, Harbor Review, Smoky Blue Literary Magazine, Miracle Monocle, Good River Review, Salvation South, and Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide. He is an unapologetic cat person.