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.
Original title: "Kami bukan lelaki: sebuah sketsa kehidupan kaum waria" (We are not men: A sketch of transgender life) by Kemala Atmojo.
The covers experience of transgender women in Indonesia, following their struggles and endless challenges that need to be tackled in order to be real selves.
1986,
Indonesian,
Kemala Atmojo,
Original title: "Sesuai kata hati: kisah perjuangan 7 waria" (As the heart says, the story of the struggle of 7 transgender women) by Hartoyo, Titiana Adinda, Prodita Sabarini,Tanti Noor Said, and Gusti Bayu.
This book is a collection of stories from people who have been considered "other" by the social system. They have to fight through life to stay afloat. Various stigmas and violence are often part of their identity. Maybe we think they are male, female, transvestite or transgender but each of them defines their own body.
2014,
Gusti Bayu,
Hartoyo,
Indonesian,
Prodita Sabarini,
Tanti Noor Said,
Titiana Adinda,
Original title: "Anak kehidupan - kisah sejati perjalanan hidup ratu waria tingkat dunia Chenny Han: anak manusia yang terlahir sebagai lelaki menjalani kehidupan sebagaimana perempuan" (Child of life - The true story of the life journey of world-class drag queen Chenny Han: a human child who was born as a man lives life like a woman) by Isye Soentoro.
The book is a biography of Chenny Han, b. 1963, an Indonesian pre-operative transsexual woman. Chenny Han is a successful bridal and beauty entrepreneur. “I know how it feels to be different. Yet, by focusing on our talents and by continuously improving our skills and never stop learning, we can gain people’s trust and appreciation as the key to successful business."
She also added: “I started my business from only eight wedding dresses for rent. To attract more customers, I gave free make-up to customers who rented their wedding dresses from me. Start from small as great things always start small.” She built her beauty business for 20 years and she is now a well-known bridal designer, make-up artist and author. She owns a bridal Chenny House and three beauty schools in Jakarta, Semarang, and Surabaya.
1996,
Chenny Han,
Indonesian,
Isye Soentoro,
Original title: "Wo(W)man: Tuhan Tidak Membuat Rencana yang Tak Sempurna" (Wo(W)man: God Doesn't Make Imperfect Plans) by Merlyn Sopjan.
In her third book, Merlyn Sopjan again invites readers to dialogue about life and existence, which is full of injustice due to sharp divisions. Merlyn tries to make sense of life by thinking beyond the barriers that are still very dominant in our society. It's not easy and without challenges, but Merlyn consistently keeps doing it. And, everything is illustrated through straight words, without further ado.
"Merlyn herself underwent an inner struggle for quite a long time before her family’s acceptance. She began to feel “different” as a child, but she could never define herself because public discourses about gender dysphoria and transwomen were not yet widely held at the time. With the lapse of time, she realized her female mind, but she had been physically born as a male. Merlyn kept this awareness to herself."
2016,
Indonesian,
Merlyn Sopjan,
Original title: "Perempuan Tanpa V" (Women Without V) by Merlyn Sopjan.
Merlyn Sofyan tells a story about herself after the success of her first book, "Jangan Lihat Kelaminku!: Suara hati seorang waria" (Don't Look at My Genitals!: The Voice of a Transgender), published in 2005.
This 2006 Indonesian Transgender Beauty Queen confirms that her existence is not that of a second-class human being, she longs to be called a woman, not a transvestite.
"Merlyn herself underwent an inner struggle for quite a long time before her family’s acceptance. She began to feel “different” as a child, but she could never define herself because public discourses about gender dysphoria and transwomen were not yet widely held at the time. With the lapse of time, she realized her female mind, but she had been physically born as a male. Merlyn kept this awareness to herself."
2006,
Indonesian,
Merlyn Sopjan,
Original title: "Jangan Lihat Kelaminku!: Suara hati seorang waria" (Don't Look at My Genitals!: The voice of a transhender) by Merlyn Sopjan.
"Merlyn herself underwent an inner struggle for quite a long time before her family’s acceptance. She began to feel “different” as a child, but she could never define herself because public discourses about gender dysphoria and transwomen were not yet widely held at the time. With the lapse of time, she realized her female mind, but she had been physically born as a male. Merlyn kept this awareness to herself.
When Merlyn was 21, her father asked Merlyn about her gender identity. She braced herself for an honest confession and was prepared to bear its possible consequence, such as being disowned by the family. Unexpectedly, her father accepted Merlyn’s identity, even offering her a sex-change surgery if so desired. Merlyn declined it for the reason that she already felt happy with whatever condition she was in. Merlyn’s mother had died at the time."
2005,
Indonesian,
Merlyn Sopjan,
Original title: "Aku Perempuan: Jalan Berliku Seorang Dorce" (I'm a Woman: The Winding Path of Dorce) by Dorce Gamalama and FX Rudy Gunawan.
The book is a biography of Dorce Gamalama, a legend of the Indonesian transgender community, prominent transgender entertainer, singer, talk show host, comedienne, and celebrity, that passed away on 16 February 2022.
According to the University of Melbourne's website: "Dorce was born in Solok, West Sumatra, in 1963. She began her career as a member of an all-trans-women dance group known as The Fantastic Dolls, eventually leading to her first national television appearance in 1989, for the 27th-anniversary celebrations of state television station TVRI.
She came to wider public prominence with further television appearances and the release of the films Dorce Sok Akrab (Dorce Up Close) in 1989 and Dorce Ketemu Jodoh (Dorce Meets Her Match) in 1990. She was a prolific recording artist, too, at one point recording nine albums over a period of just five months.
2005,
Dorce Gamalama,
FX Rudy Gunawan,
Indonesian,
