Paris Lees - What It Feels Like for a Girl

2022, English, Paris Lees, UK,

Full title: "What It Feels Like for a Girl" by Paris Lees. 

"Thirteen-year-old Byron needs to get away, and doesn't care how. Sick of being beaten up by lads for "talkin' like a poof" after school. Sick of dad - the weightlifting, womanising Gaz - and Mam, who pissed off to Turkey like Shirley Valentine.

Sick of all the people in Hucknall who shuffle about like the living dead, going on about kitchens they're too skint to do up and marriages they're too scared to leave. It's a new millennium, Madonna's 'Music' is top of the charts and there's a whole world to explore - and Byron's happy to beg, steal and skank onto a rollercoaster ride of hedonism."

"Life explodes like a rush of ecstasy when Byron escapes into Nottingham's kinetic underworld and discovers the East Midlands' premier podium-dancer-cum-hellraiser, the mesmerising Lady Die. But when the comedown finally kicks in, Byron arrives at a shocking encounter that will change life forever."

"Paris Lees was born in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. She is a Contributing Editor at British Vogue, and has written for the Guardian, VICE and the Telegraph. She has received multiple awards for her journalism and work as an anti-bullying campaigner - and an honorary doctorate from the University of Brighton. She was the first openly trans woman to present on BBC Radio 1 and Channel 4 and also the first to appear on Question Time. This is her first book."

Paris Lees is a British transgender rights activist, journalist, and broadcaster. She gained prominence for her advocacy work on transgender and LGBTQ+ issues. Lees has been an important voice in raising awareness about the challenges faced by transgender individuals and promoting acceptance and understanding within society. Lees has written for several major publications, including The Guardian, where she has discussed her personal experiences and perspectives as a transgender woman.

She has also been involved in various media projects, appearing on television programs and contributing to discussions on gender identity and LGBTQ+ issues. In addition to her journalism and media work, Paris Lees has been active in advocating for better rights, representation, and understanding for transgender people. She has spoken out against discrimination, stigma, and violence faced by the transgender community. Lees' efforts have contributed to increasing visibility and awareness of transgender issues in the UK and beyond.

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