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.
Full title: "Transvestites and Transsexuals: Toward a Theory of Cross-Gender Behavior" by Richard F. Docter.
"In 'Transvestites and Transsexuals: Toward a Theory of Cross-Gender Behavior' [1988], author and psychologist Richard F. Docter does a review of the literature on transvestism and transsexualism, explores the putative developmental process which sometimes leads a 'transvestite' to become a 'transsexual', shows his research results at length, and finally proposes a theory for the development of cross-gender identity in these individuals.
The research findings presented in this book were the result of surveying crossdressers who were part of crossdressing social organizations. Since this was published in a time where crossdressing in males was met with severe social sanctions, the research doesn't apply as accurately to the current cultural context. Regardless, this is still worth reading for someone who has already read Anne Lawrence's book Men Trapped in Men's Bodies: Narratives of Autogynephilic Transsexualism and Magnus Hirschfeld's book Transvestites: The Erotic Drive to Cross-Dress and wants to learn more.
1988,
English,
Richard F. Docter,
Full title: "From Man to Woman: The Transgender Journey of Virginia Prince" by Richard F. Docter.
This book "tells the life story, including the sexual and gender development, of a transgender pioneer who was the founder/editor of Transvestia Magazine and who helped to organize support groups for cross dressers throughout the world since 1960.
She invented the term "transgender" and has lived full-time as a woman since the age of 55 without transsexual surgery, which she opposes."
In the 100th issue of Transvestia, Virginia Prince included her biographical article: "l also recall buying my first pair of heels. As Charles I went downtown to Broadway which was definitely not the highest class district. I remember going into this little shop which was down a small flight of stairs below the street. I explained to the man that my aunt had been bedridden for sometime and was just now able to get around but that she wanted a new pair of shoes and had sent me to get some for her. Of course it just so happened that her feet and mine were the same size - fortunate coincidence.
2004,
English,
Richard F. Docter,
Virginia Prince,
Full title: "Becoming a Woman: A Biography of Christine Jorgensen" by Richard F. Docter.
"Discover Christine Jorgensen’s remarkable, inspirational journey to become the woman she always knew she should have been. Becoming a Woman: A Biography of Christine Jorgensen provides fascinating insights about the woman who opened doors - and minds - on behalf of sexual minorities.
This book chronicles Christine’s drive, ability to solve problems, immense determination, and just plain luck as she transformed herself into her true gender - and reveals facets of her personality previously undisclosed by other biographies of her life."
The book covers the story of Christine Jorgensen (1926-1989), an American singer, actress, celebrity, and the most iconic figure of the transgender movement in the USA, if not in the whole world, famous for being the first world-famous person to have surgery sexual reassignment conducted in Denmark in the 1950s, inducted into Chicago's Legacy Walk celebrating LGBT history in 2012, honored in San Francisco's Rainbow Walk in 2014, and included in the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor at Stonewall National Monument in New York City in 2019.
2007,
Christine Jorgensen,
English,
Richard F. Docter,
