In 2011, Greek transgender activist, writer, and artist Anna Kouroupou published her deeply personal autobiography Γιατί δεν έχω σαν το δικό σου, μαμά (Because I’m Not Like You, Mom). More than a memoir, the book is an unfiltered journey through the highs and lows of a life lived in defiance of societal expectations, moving from the vibrant chaos of Athens’ nightlife to the political trenches of human rights advocacy.
Anna’s story begins in Pieria, where she was born before moving to Athens as a child. From an early age, she was aware of her gender identity, yet her path to self-realization unfolded against the backdrop of a society that, at the time, offered little understanding or acceptance for transgender people. Her memoir captures this journey in vivid, unflinching prose, charting a life that has been as much about survival as it has been about self-expression.
The title itself is both a statement and a conversation. Addressed to her mother, it encapsulates the core of her truth: that her life, body, and destiny are her own. It reflects both the intimacy and the confrontation that often coexist in family relationships when gender identity challenges entrenched norms.
