This isn’t just a memoir about addiction—it’s a confrontation with the systems that nearly killed him.
In My Suicide Race, Mark A. Turnipseed offers a raw, unfiltered account of his 20-year battle with heroin, alcoholism, suicidal ideation, and identity suppression. Raised in a conservative evangelical culture that preached “pray the gay away,” Mark internalized a toxic theology that left him ashamed, closeted, and spiraling. But as he began to shed those inherited lies and embrace his bisexual identity, something remarkable happened: he began to heal.
 
From a 230-pound heroin addict to a six-time sober Ironman triathlete, Mark's transformation wasn’t just physical—it was spiritual, emotional, and deeply personal. His story is a brutal takedown of the destructive messaging of the church and a powerful testament to the freedom that comes from self-acceptance.
 
My Suicide Race is more than a redemption story—it’s a declaration of queer resilience, a memoir of spiritual rebellion, and a roadmap for anyone who’s been made to feel that their truth is too heavy, too sinful, or too much.
 
If you’ve ever struggled with addiction, identity, trauma, or the burden of religious shame, Mark’s story will speak to your soul—and remind you that healing begins when you stop apologizing for who you are.