A random collection of over 1994 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: "Terapia. A Outra Face do Amor. Relatos de Uma Paciente Transexual" (Therapy. The Other Face of Love. Reports of a Transgender Patient) by Laura Rodrigues Rocha.
The book Terapia. A Outra Face do Amor. Relatos de Uma Paciente Transexual by Laura Rodrigues Rocha is an unusual and thought-provoking work that sits at the intersection of autobiography, testimony, and personal discovery. On the surface, it tells the intimate story of a transgender woman, presenting her reflections, struggles, and healing process through the metaphor of therapy and the broader theme of love. Yet behind its pages lies a structure that mirrors the author’s approach to another long and patient project she carried out over nearly a decade: the creation of a series of self-taught music manuals.
Laura’s book does not rely on traditional scholarly references, academic frameworks, or the guiding voice of a teacher. Instead, it is written with the same philosophy that guided her manuals on musical instruments, which she conceived as complete works born of personal experience and self-study. In those manuals, dedicated to guitar, bass, and music theory, she laid out methods that connected one book to the other, forming a cohesive system built entirely on her own discoveries and organized around chord notation. What emerges is not only a technical guide but also a map of the author’s personal learning journey. In the same way, Terapia. A Outra Face do Amor can be understood as an extension of this methodology: an exploration of identity and self-acceptance that is written not from the perspective of authority but from the vulnerability of a learner sharing her progress with others who may face the same obstacles.
2022,
Brazil,
Laura Rodrigues Rocha,
Portuguese,
Original title: "Toda vida importa: uma análise antropológica, sociológica e jurídica sobre os trabalhadores transexuais" (Every life matters: an anthropological, sociological, and legal analysis of transgender workers) by Daniela Miranda Duarte.
Daniela Miranda Duarte’s book Toda vida importa: uma análise antropológica, sociológica e jurídica sobre os trabalhadores transexuais emerges as a necessary and urgent contribution to contemporary Brazilian society. The author begins by carefully introducing conceptual aspects, guiding the reader into a subject that is often surrounded by prejudice, misunderstanding, or silence. She lays the groundwork with clarity, ensuring that even those unfamiliar with the struggles of transgender people can engage with the discussion in a meaningful way. By doing so, she removes barriers of distance and indifference, replacing them with knowledge and empathy.
2020,
Brazil,
Daniela Miranda Duarte,
Portuguese,
Original title: "TRANSLUCIDA" (Translucent) by Sebastião Reis Junior.
The book Translúcida by Sebastião Reis Junior emerges as a singular work that blends photography, literature, and social critique to confront the realities of transgender prisoners in Brazil. Composed of thirty-eight photographs of incarcerated transgender women taken by Reis Junior, a minister of the Superior Court of Justice, the book is accompanied by thirty-five texts and two illustrations, all aiming to provoke reflection on human rights, incarceration, and the right to self-identity.
The photographs were captured at the Pinheiros II Detention Center in São Paulo, providing a rare and intimate glimpse into lives often hidden behind prison walls. Reis Junior approaches his subjects with sensitivity and respect, requesting permission to photograph each inmate, ensuring that the images convey dignity rather than exploitation. The book is not intended merely as a photo collection, nor does it confine itself to a discussion of prison conditions. Instead, it uses visual and literary art to spark broader conversations about transgender existence, societal prejudice, and the human experience of those marginalized by both the legal system and social norms. According to the minister, the work seeks to dismantle the silences that surround transgender lives and to illuminate the truths that prejudice and misinformation often obscure. The contributions in Translúcida come from people with diverse backgrounds, including legal professionals, military personnel, doctors, and artists, each expressing their reflections on human rights through the medium of their choice.
2023,
Portuguese,
Sebastião Reis Junior,
Original title: "Quando Eu Tinha 35" (When I was 35) by Jon O'Brien.
Quando Eu Tinha 35, or When I Was 35, by Jon O'Brien, is a raw and piercing exploration of a life that reflects the stark realities faced by travestis in Brazil, a population whose average life expectancy tragically hovers around thirty-five years, a figure dramatically lower than the national average of seventy-five. The narrative immerses readers in the life of a travesti who confronts her existence with unflinching honesty, alternating between profound despair and a persistent drive to carve out a life that feels meaningful and worth living.
The story is meticulously structured to trace the protagonist's losses and victories throughout her journey, illustrating both the intimate struggles of identity and the broader societal indifference toward the shortened lifespans of trans and travesti individuals. The curation by Eller Cristine Müller, a travesti poet and writer, and Christopher João, a trans man and activist for LGBTQIA+ rights, amplifies the book's critical lens on social neglect and systemic discrimination, making it not only a personal account but also a pointed social critique.
2021,
Brazil,
Jon O'Brien,
Portuguese,
Original title: "Transradioativa: Você me conhece porque tem medo ou tem medo porque me conhece?" (Transradioactive: Do you know me because you're afraid, or are you afraid because you know me?) by Valéria Barcellos.
“Transradioativa: Você me conhece porque tem medo ou tem medo porque me conhece?” by Valéria Barcellos is a powerful and deeply personal work that transcends conventional autobiographical writing. In this book, Valéria, a black trans woman, singer, actress, DJ, performer, writer, and visual artist, shares her lived experiences with unflinching honesty and artistry.
Her life story is inseparable from the broader struggles of trans and Black communities in Brazil, and her work embodies transnegritude and transfeminism with an intensity that challenges readers to confront their own assumptions and fears. Valéria’s recognition as a Mulher Cidadã, the highest honor awarded to women in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, underscores her role as a trailblazer not only in the arts but in social advocacy, making her story one of resistance, resilience, and radical affirmation of identity.
2020,
Portuguese,
Valéria Barcellos,
Original title: "In...confidências mineiras e outras histórias" (Minas Gerais inconfidences and other stories) by Ruddy Pinho.
When we turn to the literature of trans authorship in Brazil, the name Ruddy Pinho inevitably surfaces as one of its earliest and most vibrant voices. Known widely as “A Maravilhosa,” Ruddy was not only a celebrated hairdresser to Brazil’s elite but also a writer who brought her personal history, humor, and resilience into the literary scene. Her book In...confidências mineiras e outras histórias (Minas Gerais Inconfidences and Other Stories), a collection of short stories awarded by the National Library, stands as one of her most important contributions to Brazilian letters, blending sharp social observation with the intimate details of her lived experience.
Born in Sabinópolis, Minas Gerais, and raised in Belo Horizonte, Ruddy Pinho began her working life at just 16, cutting hair in the bohemian quarters of the city. By the 1960s, she had moved to Rio de Janeiro, where her talent, charisma, and bold style quickly made her one of the most sought-after hairdressers in the country. She transformed the look of countless stars, including Marília Pêra, Odete Lara, and Susana Vieira. Her invention of the “lioness cut,” immortalized by singer Simone Bittencourt, became a cultural phenomenon of the 1980s.
Yet Pinho was never confined to one role. She was also an actress, appearing in Neville de Almeida’s Navalha na Carne and later in Leandra Leal’s celebrated documentary Divinas Divas. Her ability to move seamlessly between salon, stage, and screen reflected the same fluidity that characterized her life story.
1999,
Brazil,
Portuguese,
Ruddy Pinho,
Original title: "A Transformação Crossdressing" (The Crossdressing Transformation) by Sabrina Loren.
“The Crossdressing Transformation" is an invitation to delve into the fascinating universe of crossdressing through the personal and inspiring story of Sabrina Loren.
With an engaging and sincere narrative, Sabrina shares her experiences, challenges and achievements as a crossdresser, revealing the ups and downs of this journey of self-discovery and acceptance.
Throughout the book, she presents a complete overview of crossdressing, from the motivations that lead people to get involved in this practice to the emotional and social complexities that surround it.
Based on her experiences, Sabrina offers practical tips on fashion, makeup, hair and body language, as well as valuable advice on how to deal with public outings, relationships and the search for "passing".
2024,
Crossdressing,
Portuguese,
Sabrina Loren,
Original title: "O caso Bruna: Gênero, transexualidades e opinião pública" (The case of Bruna: Gender, transsexualities and public opinion) by Ubirajara de None Caputo.
"Transvestites and transsexual women demonstrate for the right to use women's restrooms open to the public in a shopping mall in São Paulo. The act has repercussions on a news site of great circulation, provoking the reaction of hundreds of readers. Ubirajara Caputo analyzed the opinions of this group of people, most of whom were against the right of use motivated by religious and social conceptions or by attributing to the plaintiffs a dubious character and distorted aspects of health and body.
2022,
Brazil,
Portuguese,
Ubirajara de None Caputo,
Original title: "Cartas pra Pepita" (Letters to Pepita) by Mulher Pepita.
"The program "Cartas pra Pepita", a public success on IGTV and YouTube, completes one year on the air and to celebrate brings the best letters in the debut book of Selo Monocó! Hosted by LGBT activist, singer and songwriter Mulher Pepita, one of the first transsexual funk singers in Brazil, the program brings the author's sometimes affectionate, sometimes acidic advice and tips about relationships and questions about love and sex from readers-viewers, who send their letters to the program and are read on the air, without shame!"
Mulher Pepita, also known as Pepita, is a Brazilian singer, composer, and dancer. Born Priscila Nogueira on January 25, 1983, in Rio de Janeiro, she gained prominence as one of the first trans women in the Brazilian funk music scene. Her work is closely associated with LGBT activism1.
Pepita began her journey as a funk dancer in Rio de Janeiro’s nightclubs. During this time, she received a song titled “Tô à Procura de um Homem” from a friend. Inspired by the music, she transitioned into a music career and performed her first show in São Paulo.
2019,
Brazil,
Mulher Pepita,
Portuguese,
Original title: "Liberdade Ainda Que Profana" (Freedom Even If Profane) by Ruddy Pinho.
When we turn to the literature of trans authorship in Brazil, we inevitably arrive at Ruddy Pinho, who in 1980 debuted on the literary scene with the poetic biographical work Eu, Ruddy. In that period Ruddy did not yet recognize herself as a woman, nor did she bring this issue explicitly to her writing, which only occurred after the publication of her second autobiography, Liberdade ainda que profana (1998), in which she celebrates her 35-year career as a hairdresser, and she identifies as a woman.
Ruddy Pinho, also known as “A Maravilhosa”, was a celebrated transgender hairdresser from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was known for her work with famous clients, including Susana Vieira and Marilia Pêra. Ruddy Pinho made a significant contribution to the hairdressing industry, including creating the “lioness cut” that marked the career of singer Simone Bittencourt and was widely copied in the 1980s.
1998,
Brazil,
Portuguese,
Ruddy Pinho,
Original title: "Crianças Trans: Infâncias possíveis" (Trans Children: Possible Childhoods) by Sofia Favero.
"Trans kids, do you exist? The question is, in my view, rhetorical. Sofia pursues her childhood with unparalleled refinement and wit in this publication. Language, as always, is placed in a captious way when we refer to what was not posited, at first, as "natural" from the cisgender gaze.
The author undertakes a fantastic work, using a self-history that is intertwined with contemporary virtual culture and scientific literature, to tell us about something central to studies on childhood, or to be more direct, about how the social devices of affirmation of certain identities work, to the detriment of others, hierarchical as "normal", "good", "beautiful"."
2021,
Brazil,
Portuguese,
Sofia Favero,
Original title: "Elas me contaram: Histórias de Travestis e Transexuais" (They told me: Stories of Transvestites and Transsexuals) by Melquiades Galindo.
"A photographer and writer, and his saga to get to know the stories of transvestites and transsexual women with the intention of gathering material to make a novel that tells their lives. What he didn't imagine is that he would be faced with dramatic situations to the point of making his mission almost impossible."
2018,
Melquiades Galindo,
Portuguese,
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.
2024,
Brazil,
Giulia Martins,
Portuguese,
Original title: "Autobiografias trans: Escritas em movimento" (Trans Autobiographies: Writing on the Move) by Leocádia Chaves and Carolina Edições.
"In this book, Leocádia Chaves presents in an unprecedented way the cartography of the autobiographical writing of transgender people in Brazil between 1982 and 2019, recognizing it as the result of organization and resistance in the contemporary literary field.
The approach of the texts opens up as a space for listening, whether for radical narrators, as they lay bare the transphobic mechanisms of oppression in our society, or for the insurgency of producers of narratives of self-identification and self-valorization, essential for the formation of a community of sharing, of affections."
2021,
Carolina Edições,
Leocádia Chaves,
Portuguese,
Original title: "O sabor do cio" (The taste of heat) by Ruddy Pinho.
"O sabor do cio" is the second poetry book by Ruddy (Ruddy Pinho). In that period the author did not yet recognize herself as a woman, nor did she bring this issue explicitly to her writing, which will only occur after the publication of her autobiography, Liberdade ainda que profana (1998).
Ruddy Pinho, also known as “A Maravilhosa”, was a celebrated transgender hairdresser from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was known for her work with famous clients, including Susana Vieira and Marilia Pêra. Ruddy Pinho made a significant contribution to the hairdressing industry, including creating the “lioness cut” that marked the career of singer Simone Bittencourt and was widely copied in the 1980s.
1981,
Brazil,
Portuguese,
Ruddy Pinho,
Original title: "Três décadas e meia" (Three and a half decades) by Daniela de Carvalho.
"Thirty years is too long to wait for love. That's plenty of time to mature. But is it enough time to live everything you want? Everything you are entitled to? Is it enough time when your own time isn't worth a lifetime? Through phrases, chronicles, and poetry, the author presents an intimate and almost confessional account, which is at the same time the story of one and thousands of women.
They, when in front of the mirror, reflect an inverted truth, opposite to what conservative eyes want to see. The harshness of the words does not come close to reaching the crudeness of reality. Even so, it carries the subtlety that exists in the obvious, opening space for an indispensable reflection. Trans women exist, they are objects of prejudice. Trans women resist, they need respect, dignity, affection and, above all, they need to stop dying as if life itself were not a right."
2021,
Brazil,
Daniela de Carvalho,
Portuguese,
Original title: "Eu Sou Assim" (That's the way I am) by Sophie Elizabeth Dias Martins.
""Eu sou Assim" tells the bibliographic story of Sophie Elizabeth, a heterosexual transsexual woman studying psychology, born and raised in Brazil in the city of Campo Grande Mato Grosso Do Sul. The story is based on some parts of her life as a child, teenager, and adult, the prejudice she faces daily, emotional and psychological barriers, degenerative disorders, family and social experience, exchange to Los Angeles (USA), religion, dreams, good times and bad. Appearance.
Because of the arrogance of not understanding, do you have to define your social environment? The character, and individuality of their ways of understanding the world are hopes of realizing that each person may have a difficulty related to the diversity of people. The book aims to understand that everyone has a different sexual orientation and the same as all human beings, everyone has the objective of respecting human beings and understanding bonds."
2023,
Brazil,
Portuguese,
Sophie Elizabeth Dias Martins,
Original title: "Transcartografia: Atrizes e Atores Trans na Cena Teatral" (Transcartography: Trans Actresses and Actors in the Paperback Theatre) by Jerônimo Vieira de Lima Silva.
The work "Transcartography: Trans Actresses and Actors in the Theatrical Scene" starts with a focus on the LGBTTQ+ movement in Brazil and Portugal to analyze the theatrical scenario in both countries.
Official statistics and data on transphobia are presented, as well as a mapping of transsexual actors and actresses inserted in the political and social contexts of these countries. The aspects of theatricality and performativity that are inserted in the construction of genders are also listed, especially with regard to the transsexual.
2020,
Brazil,
Jerônimo Vieira de Lima Silva,
Portugal,
Portuguese,
Original title: "Quando eu passo batom me embriago" (When I put on lipstick I get drunk) by Ruddy Pinho.
"Quando eu passo batom me embriago" is the third book by Ruddy (Ruddy Pinho). In that period the author did not yet recognize herself as a woman, nor did she bring this issue explicitly to her writing, which will only occur after the publication of her autobiography, Liberdade ainda que profana (1998).
Ruddy Pinho, also known as “A Maravilhosa”, was a celebrated transgender hairdresser from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was known for her work with famous clients, including Susana Vieira and Marilia Pêra. Ruddy Pinho made a significant contribution to the hairdressing industry, including creating the “lioness cut” that marked the career of singer Simone Bittencourt and was widely copied in the 1980s.
1983,
Brazil,
Portuguese,
Ruddy Pinho,
Original title: "Bonecas na noite: Histórias cotidianas de travestis e transexuais" (Dolls in the Night:: Everyday Stories of Transvestites and Transsexuals) by Rafael B. Ferrareze.
This book tells the stories of some transvestites and transsexuals living in the city of Ponta Grossa in the State of Paraná. They report their nocturnal experiences and how life led them to work at night in Ponta Grossa as sex professionals.
These stories lead us to reflect on topics such as prejudice, social exclusion, violence, and pleasure, among others. It's simply a fascinating book. This study began first with theoretical discussions about gender, identity, culture, and community development among others, followed by the preparation of this work.
2017,
Brazil,
Portuguese,
Rafael B. Ferrareze,
