The book Transgender by Adam Suchý and Alena Vernerová presents an intimate, open, and honest conversation between a mother of a transgender child and a clinical psychologist who has spent nearly two decades working with transgender individuals undergoing medical transition. This topic has become one of the most discussed in recent years, generating intense emotions, polarizing opinions, and a mixture of myths, ideologies, ignorance, and prejudices.
Transgender issues intersect with social, legal, diagnostic, and global changes, making them both highly visible and deeply personal. Through an engaging dialogue, the book offers the latest knowledge, research findings, personal experiences, and stories, acknowledging that while not all answers are known, the courage to ask the questions is invaluable. It is intended for anyone affected by transgender topics, not just transgender people themselves, but also their parents, siblings, teachers, professionals in helping roles, and a broader professional audience interested in understanding the contemporary world more fully.
The book was longlisted for the Magnesia Litera 2025 award in the category of educational literature. Transgender emphasizes that gender identity is far more complex than simply what someone has between their legs. As the authors explain, biological sex refers to anatomy, gender is experienced in the mind, and sexual orientation resides in the heart, with none of these aspects directly determining the others. The book begins with a deeply personal moment for Alena Vernerová, who discovered a note from her fifteen-year-old child saying, “Hi Mom, I’m a boy, and I don’t know how to tell you.” That note turned her world upside down, transforming what was once an abstract topic into a lived reality. Initially, she and her husband thought it was a temporary phase of adolescence, but it did not pass, and today they are proud parents of a son. Two years later, Alena reconnected with childhood friend Adam Suchý, a clinical psychologist specializing in the psychodiagnosis of transgender individuals. Their unexpected reunion led to the creation of Transgender, a dialogue that combines professional expertise with personal experience.
Opening the book, one might expect a dry academic text, but it quickly proves to be a compelling conversation that draws readers in from the first pages. It is not a textbook but a dynamic exchange between a seasoned professional and a parent navigating a child’s gender identity. The book serves as a guide for those encountering transgender questions in their lives, offering both understanding and practical knowledge. The process of writing together was challenging for the authors, requiring a balance between authenticity and the need to provide well-researched information. For Adam Suchý, it was an opportunity to organize years of research and confront the limits of current knowledge, emphasizing that certainty is rare in public discussions, and often the more one investigates, the more complexities emerge.
One of the striking aspects highlighted in the book is the contrast between public perception and reality. Many people express strong opinions about transgender issues without professional knowledge, or they reduce the discussion to simplistic notions of binary sex, overlooking the existence of transgender individuals throughout history and across species. The diversity of the transgender community is often ignored, with transitions ranging from social, where a person lives according to their gender identity without medical intervention, to medical, involving hormones and possibly surgery. Extreme cases are sensationalized, but the majority of transgender people navigate their transitions quietly and thoughtfully.
The book uses data to illustrate that despite the societal attention, the number of people directly affected is relatively small, comparable to a small town. In the Czech Republic, about 0.4 percent of the population identifies as trans or nonbinary, with only a fraction pursuing medical transition. Statistics on surgical transitions show a steady but not dramatic increase over time, and many approved surgeries do not ultimately occur, debunking common myths of widespread, immediate transformations. The book explains the structured, careful approach to transition in the Czech healthcare system, which can take two to three years. Diagnosis requires two years of documented gender incongruence before any medical intervention. Children cannot undergo surgery, but puberty blockers may be introduced from age twelve with parental consent, and hormone therapy can begin at sixteen.
Psychologists, endocrinologists, gynecologists, internists, psychiatrists, and other specialists collaborate to ensure a comprehensive and individualized process. A mandatory real-life test requires at least one year of living in the identified gender role while undergoing hormone therapy before surgical intervention can be considered. Even for adults fully committed to transition, the process typically spans several years, underscoring that there are no shortcuts or universal solutions. Scientific understanding of how transgender identities arise remains incomplete, but current hypotheses suggest that gender incongruence develops prenatally, influenced by hormonal balances during the second trimester. This understanding reassures parents that their child’s identity is innate and not the result of upbringing, which can alleviate feelings of guilt or responsibility. When confronted with a loved one’s revelation that they are transgender, the authors emphasize the importance of a measured response. Panicking, rushing to solutions, or dismissing the identity can be harmful. Professional support and time to reflect and discuss the situation safely are recommended, allowing both the individual and their family to adjust gradually.
The historical and cultural context of transgender identities is also explored, demonstrating that gender diversity is not a modern invention. Mythologies and historical societies frequently depict individuals whose gender identity does not align with biological sex, from Greek myths of Achilles, Dionysos, and Hermaphroditus to accounts of the Gauls and Amazonian warriors. Even in the animal kingdom, gender-variant behavior is observed, illustrating that transgender existence is part of a broad natural spectrum rather than a recent social trend. The book also considers the role of the internet and social media, which provide access to information and community support but are not the cause of transgender identity. Modern technologies such as virtual reality may offer opportunities for exploring identity, but real-world acceptance remains crucial.
The authors make it clear that while transgender topics are often sensationalized in media and public debate, the lived experience is typically ordinary: transgender individuals lead full lives, pursue hobbies, education, and careers, and navigate relationships just like anyone else. The central message is that understanding and empathy, rather than fear or judgment, are key to supporting transgender people and their families. Transgender is a timely and necessary book that opens up meaningful conversations, provides clarity amidst confusion, and affirms that being transgender is a natural, enduring, and human part of life.
Available via knihydobrovsky.cz
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