Juno Roche - Queer Sex

2018, English, Interview, Juno Roche,

Full title: "Queer Sex: A Trans and Non-Binary Guide to Intimacy, Pleasure and Relationships" by Juno Roche.

When Juno Roche published Queer Sex: A Trans and Non-Binary Guide to Intimacy, Pleasure and Relationships, the book arrived like a long overdue conversation in a culture that too often silences or misrepresents trans and non-binary voices. Roche, a transgender activist, writer, and public speaker, has never been afraid of candor, and here she creates a book that is equal parts manifesto, testimony, and love letter to the possibilities of intimacy. At its core, Queer Sex is not a “how-to” manual in the traditional sense. Instead, it is a rich and often funny collection of first-hand accounts, dialogues, and reflections. Through interviews with diverse figures from across the trans and non-binary community, Roche takes readers into the heart of discussions about sex, dating, gender, desire, and the beauty of trans bodies. The book celebrates difference while dismantling the shame and silence that so often surrounds queer and trans sexuality.

 

The voices within Queer Sex speak with openness, humour, and sometimes vulnerability, all while challenging the cultural scripts that insist on rigid binaries around gender and sex. By showcasing lived experiences, the book calls out prejudice and empowers readers to reimagine their own definitions of intimacy. For trans and non-binary readers, it is both a mirror and a roadmap; for cis readers, it is an invitation to listen, learn, and expand their empathy. Caryn Franklin MBE, fashion and identity commentator, summarized it beautifully: “Everyone needs the transparency of a commentator like Juno. I salute this deeply personal, honest and instructive book. It will be a comfort to many, and for others a much needed testament to the indisputable fact that we are all individuals able to encourage each other towards authenticity.” Similarly, CN Lester, musician and author of Trans Like Me, framed the book as “an audacious and inspiring challenge to a system that shames trans bodies and desires.”

Part of what makes Queer Sex so engaging is the intimacy of the interviews. Roche is a generous listener, and the voices she amplifies bring warmth and realness to topics that are too often confined to theory. From Charlie Craggs, founder of Nail Transphobia, who wrote of how grateful she felt for the book while contemplating surgery, to Barbara Carrellas, author of Urban Tantra, who praised Roche for “having the kinds of conversations about bodies, intimacy and sex that I've been longing to hear in the queer and trans communities,” the testimonies underline just how necessary this book is. Kate Bornstein, the legendary author of Gender Outlaw, captured its resonance with the remark: “Ahhh, now these are the sex talks I'd like to have had back when I was first transitioning.”

 

The book is at once informative and deeply personal, bridging the gap between private conversations that trans and non-binary people have amongst themselves and the larger cultural silence that often surrounds these topics. Some reviewers have noted that while the title suggests a “guide,” the book functions more as a narrative exploration of identity, intimacy, and desire. Miranda Dube of the American Library Association observed: “This book is less of a traditional guide book and more of a personal narrative and exploration of the binary rules society imposes and the ways we can move past them.” This is precisely where its power lies. Roche is not prescriptive; instead, she invites readers into the evolving, messy, and joyful realities of queer intimacy. By weaving together her own journey with the words of others, she presents a kaleidoscopic view of love, sex, and the body, one that insists on celebration rather than shame.

Roche’s voice has been central in conversations about trans lives and rights for years. In her 2017 interview with Heroines of My Life, she spoke about her activism, her writing, and the importance of truth-telling. That interview provides a valuable companion to Queer Sex, highlighting how Roche’s commitment to authenticity and visibility shapes every aspect of her work. The book has been praised widely: Bitch Media called it “simply phenomenal,” while Workers' Liberty described it as “poignant, thought-provoking, ground-breaking and refreshingly honest.”

 

From book clubs to feminist circles, Queer Sex has sparked conversations about the way society views gender, relationships, and bodies. Ultimately, what shines through is Roche’s belief that all people, cis, trans, non-binary, queer, or otherwise, deserve to feel “brave, beautiful and sexy.” Queer Sex is a reminder that intimacy and desire belong to everyone, and that shame has no rightful place in our conversations about sex. Queer Sex is not only a landmark in LGBTQ+ nonfiction but also a deeply human book that resonates beyond labels. It challenges readers to reflect on their own assumptions about sex and gender, while offering compassion and solidarity to those who rarely see their experiences reflected in mainstream culture.

 

As Freiya Benson, author and writer, put it: “The interviews in Queer Sex are captivating and offer a real and often warm-hearted look at how our thoughts around intimacy and sex are constantly evolving. Juno's writing shines throughout, and on more than one occasion I found myself nodding my head and thinking, yep, I feel that!”For anyone interested in understanding how trans and non-binary communities reimagine love and intimacy in a world still learning to accept them, this book is a gift. Roche offers honesty with humour and heart, and in doing so, ensures that these conversations will no longer be sidelined.

Available via Amazon

Photo via Heroines of My Life

 

 

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