Husbands Matthew and Paul Castle have taken TikTok by storm. With 2.4 million followers on the app, their content ranges from hilarious to heartwarming, documenting their lives as an interabled couple. Paul, who is a blind artist and activist, is also an author and illustrator of kids books.
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Recently one of his books faced backlash due to its LGBTQ themes. In honor of Banned Books Week, the couple joined GLAAD’s Anthony Allen Ramos to talk about that and much more.
The Secret Ingredient is a children’s book about different types of non-traditional families, including same sex couples and adoption. “Kids nowadays really need to see that representation whether or not they have that sort of family or their friends do,” Paul explains.
He talks about how he had been touring and signing books at bookstores around the country when he was met with “an unusual email.” A bookstore, where he was supposed to host an event, had banned his book, stating, “The message didn’t align with the bookstore.” Paul knew instantly that it was because the book includes LGBTQ couples.
@matthewandpaul 😢 #booktok #bookish #author #illustrator #childrensbook ♬ original sound – Matthew and Paul
“I saw it almost immediately as an opportunity to talk about censorship,” Paul says.
“It’s really sad,” Matthew says. “It’s a reminder of how important it is for advocacy work still to be done.” He continues, “Sometimes it’s easy to forget that there are people out there that are actively trying to practice discrimination and silence diversity. It was a wake up call, a reminder that there’s so much work to be done.”
“I hope that people understand that whether your child is part of a queer family or not, this is the kind of literature i think all children should be allowed to consume. It’s very wholesome,” Paul says.
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“It’s a universal message about what makes all families strong and what makes them work,” Matthew adds.
On what a book like this what of meant to them as a kid to have had access to, Paul shares, “It’s really the impetus for having created them. I wrote and illustrated these passion projects for my younger self. I created them for little Paul and little Matthew.”
Matthew talks about their rise to TikTok fame through hilarious prank videos and what he hopes fans take away from their content, “All relationships require compromise, being there for each other physically, mentally, emotionally. Our relationship is a very visual example of how I am there for Paul and what I can do to accommodate for him, but even if you’re in a relationship without a physical disability, you still have to be there for your partner.”
Paul has several new books in the works, including his third book “Adoroscopes,” a field guide to the twelve astrological signs as woodland creatures. Check out Paul’s book collection at paulcastlestudio.com and follow Paul and Matthew on socials @matthewandpaul!