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.

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Showing posts with label 2024. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2024. Show all posts

Robyn McCutcheon - Queer Diplomacy

Full title: "Queer Diplomacy: A Transgender Journey in the Foreign Service" by Robyn McCutcheon.

"“This wildly compelling, beautifully written, first-of-its-kind memoir is an incredibly important, useful, and deeply humanizing story about one transgender woman’s unique experience navigating the complex world of foreign affairs and diplomacy. It’s a joy to read.” — Anthony Cotton, international inclusive development professional.

Join Robyn McCutcheon, an out and proud transgender woman, on her journey as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State. Follow her on travels that took her through the Soviet Union as a historian, to the stars as an engineer in the Hubble Space Telescope project, and onward to Russia, Romania, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan as a Foreign Service Officer representing her country on everything from human rights to nuclear arms control. Find out what it was like to transition gender while serving full-time overseas and to become an icon to the LGBTQIA+ communities in Romania and in Central Asia."

Brenda Bradford Ward - Forty Years to Live

Full title: "Forty Years to Live" by Brenda Bradford Ward.

"Discover the captivating journey of self-discovery and resilience in "FORTY YEARS to LIFE" by Brenda Bradford Ward. In this compelling narrative, Ward paints a vivid picture of a life lived in secrecy, offering readers a rare glimpse into the struggles faced by individuals navigating gender identity conflicts. Society's response to such conflicts often swings between permissiveness and suppression, yet true understanding remains elusive. Ward skillfully delves into this complex issue, shedding light on the challenges faced by those grappling with their true identity amidst societal pressures.

With meticulous research and heartfelt storytelling, "FORTY YEARS to LIFE" invites readers to confront the age-old questions surrounding gender identity. As Ward explores the history and intricacies of this deeply personal journey, she prompts us to reflect on how best to support and empower individuals facing similar challenges. Engaging, thought-provoking, and deeply compassionate, "FORTY YEARS to LIFE" is a must-read for anyone seeking insight into the human experience and the quest for authenticity. Join Brenda Bradford Ward on a transformative odyssey towards understanding, acceptance, and ultimately, liberation."

Lucy Sante - Ella era yo: Memorias de mi transición

Original title: "Ella era yo: Memorias de mi transición" (She was me: Memories of my transition) is the Spanish language edition of "I Heard Her Call My Name: A Memoir of Transition" by Lucy Sante.

"An iconic writer's lapidary memoir of a life spent pursuing a dream of artistic truth while evading the truth of her own gender identity, until, finally, she turned to face who she really was For a long time, Lucy Sante felt unsure of her place.

Born in Belgium, the only child of conservative working-class Catholic parents who transplanted their little family to the United States, she felt at home only when she moved to New York City in the early 1970s and found her people among a band of fellow bohemians. Some would die young, to drugs and AIDS, and some would become jarringly famous. Sante flirted with both fates, on her way to building an estimable career as a writer. But she still felt like her life a performance. She was presenting a façade, even to herself."

Hazel Krebs - Enthusiastically Me

Full title: "Enthusiastically Me" by Hazel Krebs.

"A journey of self discovery, covering only a few years, though a lifetime of emotions starting with despair and anguish created through expectations from family, society, and religion; eventually leading to discovering the beautiful life that was always held within. The journey uncovers the darkest paths of one existence, seemingly necessary to find the correct route for joyful happiness.

The story begins in March 2018, when the narrator, who is in the throws of a depressive episode, considers if this day will be the end. Along the path is the first stop at a familiar park, finding a bench that held the whole life for an afternoon. Eventually moving on from the bench and parts of the life, there is a meeting at that very bench, which is frustrating at first; however, later becomes the start of a new path. This time perhaps with a helpful trailblazer to join.

Giulia Martins - Metamorfose: Poesias sobre ser e existir

Original title: "Metamorfose: Poesias sobre ser e existir" (Metamorphosis: Poems about being and existing) by Giulia Martins.

Metamorphosis is a book of authorial poetry with rhythm, depth and, sometimes, a bit of unvarnished reality. The 13 poems reflect things that the author, Giulia Martins, a Brazilian trans woman, lives, has seen and lived in her transition experience.

Cadance & Catherine Anderson - Forever and Two Days More

Full title: "Forever and Two Days More: Our 50-Year Journey" by Cadance Anderson & Catherine Anderson.

"After a lifelong battle with dysphoria, the answer was to transition… From a young age, Cady knew she was a girl. The only problem was that no one else saw her that way. Life moved on, but the dysphoria never left Cady. When Cady was about 50 years old, she and Cathy, her spouse and the love of her life, knew that something had to change.

Thus began Cady’s journey to transition into the woman she knew she was, and for Cady and Cathy to grow as a transitioning couple. Through love letters written 50 years ago to entries from Cady’s journal, this memoir is the story of Cady and Cathy’s never-ending love, forever and two days more. Come share their lives and meet all the people they love."

Carla Antonelli - La mujer volcán: Memorias

Original title: "La mujer volcán: Memorias" (The Volcano Woman: Memoirs) by Carla Antonelli and Marcos Dosantos.

Carla Antonelli, an unredeemed activist and protagonist of laws that changed a country forever, has broken all the glass ceilings of trans women. This book is his incandescent account of a life plagued by struggle that travels the paths of abandonment, desire, freedom, and power. In the pages of this journey, there is hunger, love, conquests, and mistreatment; sworn enemies and infinite friendships.

Carla Antonelli (Carla Delgado Gómez) was born in Güímar, Tenerife, in 1959. She is a politician, activist, and actress. Currently a Senator of the Spanish Parliament for Más Madrid, she was a regional deputy for the Socialist Party between 2011 and 2021, becoming the first trans parliamentarian in Spain. Since the 80s, she has played numerous roles and cameos in television series, films, documentaries, and plays (Lisístrata, El síndrome de Ulises, La Veneno, El comisario, Paquita Salas, Periodistas, Triángulos rosas, Hijos de papá, El viaje de Carla…).

Nicole Johnson - Beyond The Binary Code

Full title: "Beyond The Binary Code" by Nicole Johnson.

"The book takes you on a deeply personal and thought-provoking journey of transcending the rigid confines of assigned labels and embracing the fluidity of self-discovery. This isn't just a story about transitioning from male to female; it's a vibrant story woven with threads of identity, vulnerability, and ultimately, self-acceptance. Stepping beyond the limitations of binary code, I delve into the intricate landscape of questioning, exploring, and ultimately defining who they are.

We witness the internal battles waged against societal expectations, the blossoming of self-awareness, and the courageous decision to break free from imposed limitations. This book is more than just a memoir; it's a conversation starter. It offers a window into the challenges and triumphs that many individuals navigating similar journeys face. Through honest and candid prose, Nicole Johnson challenges preconceived notions about gender, identity, and belonging, urging readers to reconsider the often-restrictive codes we all operate under."

Cecé Telfer - Make It Count

Full title: "Make It Count: My Fight to Become the First Transgender Olympic Runner" by Cecé Telfer.

"By turns harrowing and hopeful, MAKE IT COUNT is the inspiring story of the first openly transgender woman to win a NCAA title, following her traditional upbringing in Jamaica, her fight to become a US citizen, and her efforts to achieve her Olympic dreams. CeCé Telfer is a warrior. The first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA championship, she has contended with transphobia on and off the track since childhood.

Now, she stands at the crossroads of a national and international conversation about equity in sports, forced to advocate for her personhood and rights at every turn. After spending years training for the 2024 Olympics, Telfer has been sidelined and silenced more times than she can count. But she's never been good at taking no for an answer.

Richard M Hunter - Bernie Wagenblast's Transformative...

Full title: "Bernie Wagenblast's Transformative Expedition: Resonances Below Ground: A Voice Discovering Its Harmony" by Richard M Hunter.

"Descend inside the subway system at the center of New York City, where the sounds of millions of stories are mixed with the roar of trains. We meet Bernie Wagenblast here, in the midst of the busy platforms and flickering fluorescent lights—the voice that leads travelers through the underground veins of the city. 

However, "Bernie" is only a whisper, hiding the lady who is desperate to be free: Beatrice. A moving and engrossing journey through Bernie's metamorphosis, Echoes in the Underground is a symphony of emotions set against the backdrop of a world in upheaval. See his inner battles as he juggles his own need for authenticity with society's expectations. Sensitize to the quiver in his voice as he leaves the mask of "Bernie" and enters the platform as Beatrice, her voice now free to soar instead of being limited to announcements. This is a tapestry made of the threads of innumerable people impacted by Bernie's courage, not just her narrative. Watch how her transition encourages a young trans woman to speak up, deepens the relationship between a father and daughter, and challenges the city's systemic racism."

Fred W. Smith - RuPaul: Unveiling of Royalty

Full title: "RuPaul: The Biography of RuPaul" by Fred W. Smith.

"RuPaul: The Unveiling of Royalty" takes readers on an extraordinary journey through the life and legacy of the iconic drag superstar. In this revealing biography, the glittering facade of RuPaul is peeled away, uncovering the layers of resilience, creativity, and authenticity that have defined an unparalleled career. From the early struggles in San Diego to the dazzling lights of the mainstream stage, the book explores RuPaul's rise to global stardom.

Delving into the world of drag, the pages unfold a narrative of self-discovery, empowerment, and the relentless pursuit of individuality in the face of societal norms. Readers will witness RuPaul's fashion-forward evolution, challenging conventions and leaving an indelible mark on the runway. Beyond the glamorous exterior, the book unveils the complexities of a multifaceted personality - a mentor, advocate, and cultural force who has shaped the very fabric of drag culture."

Luca Conca & Gloria Ciapponi - Coccinelle: Chercher la femme

Original title: "Coccinelle: Chercher la femme" (Coccinelle: Look of A Woman) by Luca Conca and Gloria Ciapponi.

"In 1953, at the now legendary Madame Arthur cabaret, a young woman appeared on stage dressed in a modest sarong but already possessing captivating charm. The audience applauds and does not yet know that they have just attended the first performance of Coccinelle, an artist who will soon have a string of triumphs on stages around the world. However, nothing predestined Jacqueline Charlotte Dufresnoy, born Jacques Charles in a modest family and raised by a violent and authoritarian father, to shine in the spotlight.

At a time when cross-dressing is punishable by law and military service is still in place, Coccinelle invents a new way to live her life freely, and traces her own path as a liberated woman. Defended by lawyer Robert Badinter, Coccinelle became the first French public figure to officially change her marital status and performed on stages around the world, from Syndey to Rio de Janeiro via Dakar. In 1989, after nine months of triumph at the Casino de Paris, she was caught up in debt and was forced to distance herself from her French public for a while. A place that upon her return, she will never really be able to find again..."

Sophia Hartcrown - Huntеr Schafer Lеgacy

Full title: "Huntеr Schafer Lеgacy: A Chroniclеs Modеl, Actrеss, and LGBTQ Activist" by Sophia Hartcrown.

"Divе into thе mеsmеrizing tapеstry of Huntеr Schafеr's lifе, whеrе еvеry chaptеr unfolds a nеw facеt of lеgacy, couragе, and rеsiliеncе. In "Huntеr Schafеr Lеgacy: A Chroniclеs Modеl, Actrеss, and LGBTQ Activist", wе еmbark on a captivating journеy through thе еxtraordinary lifе of a trailblazеr.

From thе hеart of North Carolina, whеrе Huntеr's еarly activism against discrimination took root, to thе glitzy world of high fashion and thе pulsating еnеrgy of Hollywood, this chroniclе is a tеstamеnt to thе triumphs of idеntity and thе powеr of advocacy."

Douglas Thompson - Inside Out: The Extraordinary Legacy of...

Full title: "Inside Out: The Extraordinary Legacy of April Ashley: The boy who became the most famous woman in the world" by Douglas Thompson.

It was the first biography of April Ashley, written by Duncan Fallowell and April Ashley herself.

"April Ashley was a trailblazing figure in the history of transgender rights and advocacy. Born in 1935 in Liverpool, Ashley was assigned male at birth, but knew from a young age that she identified as a woman. At the age of sixteen, April left home and began her journey of self-discovery, eventually transitioning and undergoing gender-reassignment surgery in 1960.

She became one of the first British people to undergo the procedure, which was illegal at the time in the UK. April's transition was met with both admiration and hostility from the media and the public. Despite facing discrimination and transphobia, she remained dedicated to promoting trans visibility and acceptance. In the 1960s, she moved to Paris and became a successful model and cabaret performer, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau.

Inès Adler - Frau mit Nebenwirkungen

Original title: "Frau mit Nebenwirkungen: Transgender ohne Wahlfreiheit" (Woman with side effects: transgender without freedom of choice) by Inès Adler.

"She was an engineer, she was a dominatrix. She was a man, she was a woman. Macho and girl. All avenues were open to her, but she lacked courage. For over sixty years, my gender boundaries were blurred. Like hostile countries, constantly at war with each other.

Even as a child, I wanted to wear girls' clothes and quickly had to learn to hide my true self. The parents: hopelessly overwhelmed. In Germany's economic miracle, you had to achieve something. Children had to function. Therefore, this life story turns out to be a long, adventurous roller coaster ride. Due to a lack of enlightening information, I thought I was sick at some point.

Patricio Simonetto - A Body of One's Own

Full title: "A Body of One's Own: A Trans History of Argentina" by Patricio Simonetto.

"A history of Argentina that examines how trans bodies were understood, policed, and shaped in a country that banned medically assisted gender affirmation practices and punished trans lives. As a trans history of Argentina, a country that banned medically assisted gender affirmation practices and punished trans lives, A Body of One’s Own places the histories of trans bodies at the core of modern Argentinian history. Patricio Simonetto documents the lives of people who crossed the boundaries of gender from the early twentieth century to the present.

Based on extensive archival research in public and community-based archives, this book explores the mainstream medical and media portrayals of trans or travesti people, the state policing of gender embodiment, the experiences of those transgressing the boundaries of gender, and the development of homemade technologies from prosthetics to the self-injection of silicone. A Body of One's Own explores how trans activists' challenges to the exclusionary effects of Argentina’s legal, cultural, social, and political cisgender order led to the passage of the Gender Identity Law in 2012. Analyzing the decisive yet overlooked impact of gender transformation in the formation of the nation-state, gender-belonging, and citizenship, this book ultimately shows that supposedly abstract struggles to define the shifting notions of "sex," citizenship, and nationhood are embodied material experiences."

Kyne Santos - Math in Drag

Full title: "Math in Drag" by Kyne Santos.

"Join sensational drag queen Kyne Santos on an extraordinary journey through the glamorous world of . . . math? This sassy book is your VIP pass, taking you behind the scenes with a TikTok superstar who shatters stereotypes and proves that math can be fascinating and fun, even for people who think they aren't good at it. With her irreverent style and unique perspective, Kyne investigates mathematical mysteries while educating us about the art of drag.

She explores surprising connections, such as the elegance of ballroom culture and the nature of infinity, the rebellious joys of Pride and dividing by zero, and the role of statistics in her own experience on Drag Race. Kyne gets personal while sharing her experiences as a queer person forging a path in STEM, overcoming obstacles to stay fierce, stay real, and thrive! She empowers readers of all skill levels to break school rules, question everything, and embrace math's beauty. In Math in Drag, numbers glitter, equations sashay through history, and inclusivity is a celebration. Read it to fire your excitement and unleash your inner math diva!"

Chris E. Vargas & Others - Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects

Full title: "Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects" by David Evans Frantz, Christina Linden, and Chris E. Vargas.

"Spanning over four centuries, this volume brings together a wide-ranging selection of artworks and artifacts that highlight the under-recognized histories of trans and gender-nonconforming communities. Through the contributions of artists, writers, poets, activists, and scholars, this title reflects on historical erasure and imagines trans futures. An expansive array of objects chart not a patriarchal history but a gender-neutral, trans-centric history.

The first publication of its kind, this survey celebrates trans forebearers, highlights struggles and triumphs, and reflects on the legacies of trans creative expression. Contributions by Kate Bornstein, Ria Brodell, Vaginal Davis, Leah DeVun, Mo B. Dick, Zackary Drucker, David Getsy, Martine Gutierrez, Andrea Jenkins, Jade Guarano Kuriki-Olivo (Puppies Puppies), Thomas (T.) Jean Lax, Abram J. Lewis, Miguel A. López, Amos Mac, Cyle Metzger, Deborah A. Miranda, Morgan M Page, SA Smythe, C. Riley Snorton, Dean Spade, Sandy Stone, Jeannine Tang, Michelle Tea, McKenzie Wark, and many others probe new horizons where institutional critique and trans culture meet. This book is copublished by the Museum of Trans Hirstory & Art (MOTHA), a conceptual art project of artist Chris E. Vargas that is forever “under construction” by design to allow continual transformation."

Abi Maxwell - One Day I'll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman

Full title: "One Day I'll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman: A Mother's Story" by Abi Maxwell.

"A fiery, heartbreaking, riveting memoir that follows one New Hampshire family over the course of three years, unspooling a story of gender identity, poverty, trans youth, and a child caught in the riptide of America’s culture wars. Abi Maxwell grew up in rural New Hampshire, one of eight kids in a poor town abutting the wealthier lakeside village of Gilford.

As a young couple, Maxwell and her husband planned not to have kids, but when Maxwell became pregnant, she knew she wanted to raise her child near the mountains and lake of her youth. When her six-year-old asks to wear pink sneakers, asks to be a witch for Halloween, asks to wear a girls’ dance costume, Abi worries about how their small community will react. But when that child changes her name, grows her hair long, and announces that she is girl, a firestorm descends on the family.

Ariel Florencia Richards - Inacabada

Original title: "Inacabada" (Unfinished) by Ariel Florencia Richards.

"“Maybe the trans experience is inseparable from the rituals of death. Holding a vigil for the broken body, embracing it and caring for it in its passage,” wonders a daughter who yearns to end the silence that reigns between her and her mother on the topic of her sex change. Her thoughts circle back to two words – I am a woman – that imply both a rebirth and mourning for the person she has been for thirty-seven years. But does the transition ever end?

Full of profound reflections, Unfinished is a novel that explores the interstices between literary genres to find a language for bridging distances and soothing the grief of an unspoken identity even as it offers an intelligent appraisal of the potential to throw off family burdens and start living again."

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