I'm Gay and Drink Water: A Memoir

Ally can count on one hand the number of times she had fun and felt safe consuming alcohol. She knows first-hand the struggles student athletes face with their sport during school and after graduation. She also knows how it feels to fall in love with a teammate. From balancing classes to exploring one’s sexuality to navigating alcohol in social outings, Ally reflects deeply on those three aspects throughout six years of her life. What started out as a dream come true, playing division one soccer in the Southeastern Conference aka the SEC, unfortunately became one of the hardest times in Ally’s life. The depression she struggled with while trying to balance soccer and going to school ultimately led her to transfer schools and move back to her hometown, St. Louis, MO. Ally eventually moves to her favorite city, Chicago, but she quickly learns that while she can leave home, she can’t leave her problems there, too.

During those six years and along with the loss of a close family member, Ally learns to grieve different versions of herself: college athlete, alcohol consumer, and playing the part of a heterosexual. The only way for her to fully live is to stop running, sober up, and tell the truth.