A random collection of over 1910 books and audiobooks authored by or about my transgender, intersex sisters, and gender-nonconforming persons all over the world. I read some of them, and I was inspired by some of them. I met some of the authors and heroines, some of them are my best friends, and I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing some of them. If you know of any transgender biography that I have not covered yet, please let me know.
2023,
Casa Susanna,
French,
Isabelle Bonnet,
Sophie Hackett,
Susan Stryker,
Original title: "Casa Susanna: L’histoire du premier réseau transgenre américain 1959-1968" (Casa Susanna: The Story of America's First Transgender Network 1959-1968) by Isabelle Bonnet, Sophie Hackett, and Susan Stryker.
"In 2004, 340 photographs, dating from the early 1960s, were found at the New York flea market. These amateur snapshots reveal a vast clandestine network of transvestites between the United States and Canada. They belonged to the famous Susanna, who regularly hosted transvestite friends at her property in Catskill (NY). Essential to their practice of transvestism, photography is preciously preserved by its followers as proof of their "inner daughter". These photographs testify today to the existence and aesthetics of a pioneering network in American transgender history."
"Casa Susanna" refers to a collection of photographs taken in the 1950s and 1960s at a private resort in upstate New York, where a group of cross-dressing men gathered for weekends of camaraderie and self-expression. The resort was run by Susanna Valenti and her wife Marie, who provided a safe and accepting space for these individuals to explore their identities.
The collection of photographs captures candid moments of the guests at the resort, engaging in various activities and embracing their cross-dressing personas. The images provide a unique glimpse into a subculture that existed at a time when such expressions of gender identity were often stigmatized and hidden.
The Casa Susanna photographs were discovered in 2004 by collector Robert Swope and were subsequently published in a book titled "Casa Susanna" in 2005. The book's introduction is written by Michael Hurst and includes interviews with some of the individuals who were part of the Casa Susanna community. The photographs offer a historical and personal perspective on gender identity and LGBTQ+ experiences during a time when societal norms were far less accepting than they are today.
The Casa Susanna collection is a significant piece of LGBTQ+ history and a testament to the resilience and courage of those who sought to express themselves authentically in an era when such self-expression was often met with prejudice and discrimination.
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