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: "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,
