Transgender Biographies

Debbie Browne - An American Girl

Full title: "An American Girl" by Debbie Browne.

"A transgender family story. Alice Jenkins is 9 years old and she has written a book. This book. She wanted to tell her story to all her classmates about her dad. About her unconditional love and support. You see Alice discovered something different about her dad. He wants to be a girl. Her mum didn’t like that idea, or her brothers."

"Things start to go wrong in the family and Alice struggles to cope. She confides in Chelsea her doll when she is upset. The relationship with her dad becomes closer as she learns about life and why her dad is the way he is. She loves him even more but she fears for the future of her family. How will they ever be happy again?"

Original title: "Yōkoso, kabā.-Chan kitchin e" KABA.ちゃん発!オ・カ・マ・セ・エアライン (From KABA-chan! Oh Ka Ma Se Airline) by Kaba-chan KABA.ちゃん.

The book focuses on the journey towards happiness pursued by Kaba-chan, born in 1969, in Yanagawa, Fukuoka, a Japanese transgender woman, and choreographer. According to Wikipedia, after studying dance in the USA, she became known in Japan as a member of the musical group Dos with Taeco Nishikawa and Asami Yoshino.

Being a celebrity in Japan, Kaba-chan was open with her sexuality. While she was already known for her flamboyant character in Dos, she came out as a gay man publicly on television on a 2002 episode of the Japanese variety show Dancing Sanma Palace.

Full title: "My Next Husband Will Be Normal: A St. John Adventure" by Rae Ellen Lee.

"In My Next Husband Will Be Normal, Lee and her husband ditch their sailboat and fly to the U.S. Virgin Islands with a down payment for a mom-and-pop business on St. John. The plan: when they aren’t sewing canvas bags at their little shop, The Canvas Factory, they’ll be beach potatoes.

But there are risks to living in paradise one cannot anticipate, especially on an island where residents bask in the mantra: You can do anything you want, as long as the rest of us know about it."

"For soon after unpacking their flip-flops, the husband - a former Republican state legislator with a silver crew-cut and solid traditional values - realizes he is really a she. Convinced the world needs more humor, Lee rations the angst in favor of the picturesque and absurd.

Adding heat to the story is a cast of colorful cats, customers, and Caribbean personalities. Toss in a few sex toys, some steel pan music, a pinch of voodoo - and stir."

Full title: "Gender Variation: A True Testimony" by Robbie Dee Ewens.

"This booklet sends a clear message to people who judge against people that are gender different, Truly there is a lack of knowledge by many on this subject which has lead to many, especially in the Christian church, to judge such people. Robbie Dee takes the reader through the process if addressing our traditional beliefs and presenting some of the facts medically and through the scriptures.

She shows how many of us have not really thought this through enough to see that people such as transgender people should be fully accepted in society and in the church. Her testimony is out in full in her book "At Last! Free to be Me" published in 2015 which has caused quite a stir where she lives, Oklahoma, the heart of the Bible belt.

Original title: "Als Transfrau leben jenseits der Norm" (Living Beyond the Norm as a Trans Woman) by Nancy Zecca.

This reading illustrates how local authorities, in our so-called Quere-friendly state, deal with trans men and trans women. At the moment, the predominant impression is that the society that we who are trans is becoming more and more accepting from time to time. But acceptance is not what we are all demanding: "No, we are talking about everyday inclusion!" There would still be a long way to go.

All beginnings are difficult, as an ALG II recipient to encounter many obstacles. But as a trans woman without surgery or hormone therapy, it is particularly difficult to make herself heard by the job center! Because there is no fairness there.

Full title: "Alyce Unchained" by Alyce May Anders.

"Alyce Unchained is part fiction and part memoir dealing with Gender Identity and the difficulties of growing up Intersex. It consists of a novella, a short memoir focusing on her childhood, a collection of short stories, as well as several essays on the subject. The fictional stories are character driven, most of which are based on Alyce's life experiences."

"About the Author: Alyce Anders studied creative writing and photojournalism at the City University of New York, and currently writes about issues that affect the Transgender and Intersex communities."

Original title: "The Girl from Casablanca: The True Story of the First Sex Change" is the English language edition of "La fille de Casablanca" by Juliette Jourdan.

"In 1956, in Casablanca, while Morocco struggles for its independence, Jenny, a young trans woman, solicits Dr. Georges Burou, a renowned, if somewhat enigmatic gynecologist, for a 'sex change'...

The Girl from Casablanca tells the true story of the first entirely successful sex reassignment surgery, at a time when the word 'trans' didn't even exist. It also tells a tale of daring and courage against all odds. True to himself, Dr. Burou went ahead with the first gender surgery to help a desperate and endearing young trans woman while risking ruining his career. Without knowing it, he would set the standard, to this day, for MtF surgery."

"Olá Mundo Cruel!" is the Portuguese language edition of "Hello, Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks & Other Outlaws: 101 Alternatives to Teen Suicide" by Kate Bornstein.

"Celebrated transsexual trailblazer Kate Bornstein has, with more humor and spunk than any other, ushered us into a world of limitless possibility through a daring re-envisionment of the gender system as we know it. Here, Bornstein bravely and wittily shares personal and unorthodox methods of survival in an often cruel world. A one-of-a-kind guide to staying alive outside the box, Hello, Cruel World is a much-needed unconventional approach to life for those who want to stay on the edge, but alive.

Hello, Cruel World features a catalog of 101 alternatives to suicide that range from the playful (moisturize!), to the irreverent (shatter some family values), to the highly controversial. Designed to encourage readers to give themselves permission to unleash their hearts' harmless desires, the book has only one directive: "Don't be mean." It is this guiding principle that brings its reader on a self-validating journey, which forges wholly new paths toward a resounding decision to choose life. Tenderly intimate and unapologetically edgy, Kate Bornstein is the radical role model, the affectionate best friend, and the guiding mentor all in one.

Full title: "MY WAY (+) YOUR WAY (=) OUR WAY (∑∞): TransWoman's Self Discovery" by GinaDoll Garrett.

"The world is a better place when heterosexuals, bisexuals, gay, lesbian, transgender, intersexual and the diversity of our Traveloid World of personalities, learn to tolerate each other's idiosyncrasies and enjoy the freedom of expression.

As adults, we conclude that this is a Traveloid World, a special dreamland type of reality to learn as much as we can about our body, mind and soul and acknowledge the human aspects and connection to pleasure, joy and lifestyle diversity. We are lucky to be Americans, exercising our rights to freedom of speech, self-determination and discovery of the making of who we are as unique adults."

Original title: "Trans en France: Histoire des personnes trans en France et ailleurs d'autrefois à nos jours" (Trans in France: History of trans people in France and elsewhere from the past to the present day) by Jenny Latreille.

This book is intended for anyone who is interested in the history of trans people, particularly in France but not only, and in the issues (medical, legal, psychological, philosophical, sociological, artistic and others) that have always accompanied and surround people who choose, claim, undergo or refuse a sex and/or gender reassignment.

Trans people themselves will, of course, be able to find information there, in particular of a historical or epistemological nature, which they would not necessarily find elsewhere. It's always good to know where you're from. The work includes a copious bibliography and a filmography, and an index.

"The Queens of Sarmiento Park" is the UK edition of "Las malas" (The Bad Girls) published in Argentina in 2019 by Camila Sosa Villada.

From the Argentine author Camila Sosa Villada, a book of love and affection: when we finish the last page, we want the whole world to read it too! When she arrived in the city of Córdoba to study at the university, Argentine author Camila Sosa Villada decided to go to Parque Sarmiento during the night. She was scared to death, thinking that the brutal verdict she had heard from her father could come to fruition at any moment: "One day they will knock on this door to warn me that they found you dead, thrown into a ditch." For him, this was the only possible destination for a boy who dressed as a woman.

Full title: "Finding myself: Discovering my gender identity" by Karen Lyra.

"“Finding Myself” is an inner journey I decided I must start some years ago and writing this book has become a crucial part of it, a definitive milestone in my life. I realized I am transgender not very long ago and became aware that I have lived all my life not suppressing a “part of me”, as I once thought, but suppressing my true self.

Given the stage of the life I am going through, with its circumstances, challenges and blessings, maybe it is going to take more time until I can achieve the changes I want but it is not fair to keep my true self in the dark for longer. If I haven’t come out in real life yet and it may take a while until I can take that step, I know I can put my words out there to share all I have been through since the very first moment of my life that I thought I wanted to be a girl.

Full title: "Wiebke werden IV: Teil IV eines Tagebuchs, geschrieben von jemandem, der genetisch männlich ist, und sich in der Welt ungezwungen als Teilzeitfrau bewegt (Jun. 2021 - Dez. 2021)" (Becoming Wiebke IV: Part IV of a diary written by someone who was born genetically male but roams the world freely as a part-time woman) by Wiebke ter Lichten.

"This is the fourth part of my diary and I strongly recommend reading the earlier parts first. I had ended my third book stating that I wouldn't publish any further parts, unless there'd be major progress to report. At the time I didn't expect that to happen, but it did! I am in transition for a year now and of course I've kept on writing my diary. Now I have reached a point where I think publishing makes sense again. The speed of my progression has increased and my social transition may well be half way through."

Full title: "A Tale of Two Lives: A funny thing happened on the way to the Palace" by Helen Dale.

"Having grown up as a RAF Brat and keen scout, dreaming of being a pilot in the RAF, she concealed a secret for decades before accepting, in 1998, that she needed to transition. Losing one job as a consequence, she joined Greater Manchester Probation in 1999. As the first openly trans employee nationally she provided awareness training for probation and prison staff and others and became the de facto lead on trans issues.

She persuaded the then Lesbian and Gay staff association to extend its membership criteria to include trans and spent several years as chair. She also helped to found a:gender — the UK pan-Civil Service trans support network and was made an honorary life member when she retired in 2015.

Full title: "Becoming Amber: A Transwoman's Memoir" by Amber Malenab.

"Becoming Amber: A Transwoman's Memoir is the inspiring true story of one Filipina transwoman's journey from a troubled childhood to self-discovery and acceptance. Hambert was born into a conservative Filipino family and struggled to accept her true gender identity for many years. Through her struggles, Amber discovers her true identity and learns to embrace her authentic self.

Through her memoir, Amber shares her inspiring story of resilience, courage, and transformation. She recounts her life growing up in the Philippines, her journey to the United States, and her life-changing experience coming out as a transwoman. Amber's story is one of hope and courage, as she shows readers how it is possible to be true to yourself and find acceptance and peace in the world. Becoming Amber: A Transwoman's Memoir is an uplifting and inspiring story of one woman's journey to becoming her true self."

Original title: "Borrokalari transgeneroak: Historia eginez, Joana Arc-ekotik Dennis Rodman-enganaino" is the Basque language edition of "Transgender Warriors: Making History from Joan of Arc to Dennis Rodman" by Leslie Feinberg.

"This groundbreaking book - far ahead of its time when first published in 1996 and still galvanizing today - interweaves history, memoir, and gender studies to show that transgender people, far from being a modern phenomenon, have always existed and have exerted their influence throughout history.

Leslie Feinberg - hirself a lifelong transgender revolutionary - reveals the origin of the check-one-box-only gender system and shows how zie found empowerment in the lives of transgender warriors around the world, from the Two Spirits of the Americas to the many genders of India, from the trans shamans of East Asia to the gender-bending Queen Nzinga of Angola, from Joan of Arc to Marsha P. Johnson and beyond."

Full title: "Inside Out: Portraits of Cross-gender Children" is the English language edition of "Genderkinderen: geboren in het verkeerde lichaam" by Sarah Wong and Ellen de Visser.

"Through Sarah Wong's beautiful, moving photographs and Ellen Visser's poignant writing, this book provides the first insight into what it really feels like to be born in the wrong body, both for cross-gender children and their families."

"Despite the unimaginable problem they have been faced with since a very young age, we see fun, confident, strong children, committed families and proud parents and grandparents who deal with the situation very openheartedly. Some are symbolically mounted atop a powerful horse while others shyly touch the breasts of a mannequin."

Full title: "Transition Denied: Confronting the Crisis in Trans Healthcare" by Jane Fae.

"Trans people in the UK currently face widespread prejudice and discrimination, from how they are described in the media to the lack of healthcare support they receive. This institutional bias is illustrated by the tragic case of Synestra de Courcy, who died following neglect and rejection from the NHS, leading her to sex work to fund her transition and dangerous self-medication."

"Charting Syn's life from childhood through to her untimely death aged just 23, Jane Fae exposes the gross institutional and societal discrimination trans people experience on a daily basis and its impact on the lives of trans people young and old. Promoting honest discussion and bringing these hidden issues into the light of day, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in trans rights, and NHS accountability."

Full title: "The Life of Ally: A: Trans Woman Story" by Allyson Lliara.

"A transwoman goes through troubles trying to figure out who she is and the struggles with coming out with family, friends, and finding herself in the process.

"Eau douce" is the French language edition of "Freshwater" by Akwaeke Emezi.

I liked Gina Maya's review a lot, so let me quote her: "Transgender narrative this may be, but it's far removed from Western, U.S.-based definitions in spite of its primary location in the U.S. The story follows the young life of Ada, a Nigerian child who travels to America to study, but her whole life involves psychical interaction with the indigenous spirits who vie for control of her. Is Ada Ogbanje too?

By the end, she appears to embrace this self-conception as an offspring of the Universal Creator Ala, visualized as cosmic python – the source of the spring from which all freshwater comes from its mouth. Yet Ada for almost the novel's entirety is also the human, engaged in an uneasy relationship with otherworldly spirits who inhabit her mind, visualized in turn as a room of marble, perhaps not unlike the Kaaba of Mecca. The most powerful, possessive, and controlling of the spirits is Asughara, occasionally presented as Ada's pernicious alpha. At times, Asughara blocks out Ada from consciousness, either to protect or punish Ada."

Full title: "I am Me He/She: A Personal Story of Being Transgendered" by AMR AMR.

"What is it like to be Transgendered? What is Gender Dysphoria? This book is a must-read for friends and family who know someone who is Transgendered and A must-read for people who think they are Transgendered. For students of gender studies your education cannot be complete without reading this book.

The Author does an amazing job of sharing the experience in a way that is so easy to read and understand. The writing style is easy to follow and the book is an easy read that will change your ideas on the subject. Give the book one weekend of your life and it will change your perspective on the subject."

Original title: "Tranny: Confissões da Anarquista Mais Infame e Vendida do Punk Rock" (Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Selling Anarchist) is the Portuguese language edition of "Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout" by Laura Jane Grace.

Since its inception in 1997, Against Me! Not only has it been one of the most influential punk bands in the world, but also one of the most controversial. Throughout their career towards success, they have been conquering new fans while raising blisters among the old guard who supported them from the beginning. They got into trouble with the law, changed drums repeatedly, and faced a furious horde of punks who called them "sell-out" and sabotaged their concerts.

But, beyond all this, something much more important disturbed Tom Gabel, the founder of the group; A secret that for thirty years he only revealed in the pages of his diary and hinted at in some of the lyrics of his songs. After a difficult childhood and delinquent adolescence marked by drug use, Gabel continued to struggle to find her own identity, until in May 2012 she revealed it to everyone in an interview for Rolling Stone: Gabel declared to be transgender, and since that day she lives as a woman under the name of Laura Jane Grace.

Full title: "Gigi Gorgeous: Biography Of A Sensational YouTuber and Her Life As an LGBTQ Advocate" by Muse Publishing.

"In this gripping biography, you'll follow Gigi Gorgeous on her journey from a small-town Canadian boy to a glamorous and influential social media icon. You'll witness the challenges she faced as she navigated the complexities of gender identity, and the inspiring resilience she showed in overcoming them."

"From her early days experimenting with makeup and fashion, to her groundbreaking decision to undergo gender confirmation surgery, Gigi's story is one of courage, determination, and self-discovery. But Gigi's impact extends far beyond her personal journey. As a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, she has used her platform to raise awareness and promote acceptance for all people, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation."

Full title: "From Darkness to Diva" by Skye High.

"Beyond the stereotypical expectation of glitter and sequins, comes a personal and inspirational journey of overcoming fear, rejection and insecurity. This story isn't solely about a drag-queen, but rather, it's a journey of real-life experiences which many of us have faced throughout life, written by a gay man who happens to be a drag-queen. It's a story that is relevant in today's society, regardless of one's own sexuality.

This book was written to bring inspiration and hope to anyone who may need positive affirmation to love the life they live, or for anyone who needs to understand first-hand what it can be like to fight, a sometimes losing battle, for self acceptance. Whoever the reader is, it shows that it is possible t overcome extreme adversity and survive those horrendous experiences which seem determined to destroy us.

Full title: "Inside Out" by Jody Frances Vaclav.

"This book tells of a journey of hardship, courage, humor, and the strength to have "mercy and forgiveness" on my path from Joe to Jody and the pitfalls of Gender Dysphoria and sex reassignment."

"Since the age of 4, I was harboring a secret too great to share with anyone. I was living in a mismatched body and mind and was struggling to understand "why" my male genitalia did not match the inner female gender I felt myself to be.

When I made the bold commitment to become Jody, a transgender woman, I didn't realize the repercussions of my life-changing decision, the separation and the loss of all the people I loved. The female voice in my head and feelings in my male body were relentless, constantly challenging me to continue my quest to discover my real identity.

Full title: "Life in Lashes: The Story of a Drag Superstar" by Kita Mean.

"Hailing from a sleepy eastern suburb of Auckland, Nick Nash grew up feeling like he stood out for all the wrong reasons. It wasn't until he experimented with the art of drag that he found freedom in his fierce and confident alter-ego, Kita Mean.

From wild nights partying like there was no tomorrow, to scrounging together delightfully camp costumes on a shoestring budget, buying an iconic cabaret bar with bestie Anita Wigl'it, and competing on the global stage alongside Kiwi and Aussie drag legends in the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under, Kita shares behind-the-scenes goss and important life lessons - many learned the hard way - about fighting your demons and being proud of your most authentic self. Bursting with outrageous style and cheek, Life in Lashes is a memoir of a lost boy who found salvation as a drag queen, learned to love herself, and went on to share her fabulousness with the world."

Full title: "Who She Wants to Be: An Uncommon Memoir" by Tara Taylor.

"Growing up transgender in the 60s and 70s, when there weren’t many resources for gender dysphoric people, “Who She Wants to Be: an uncommon memoir,” recounts Tara’s life beginning with her childhood and trying to navigate what was expected of boys, but relating to and preferring the company of girls; dressing in her mom’s clothes and putting on her makeup (thinking she wouldn’t notice); confusion of who she was and trying to “cure” herself by destroying her girl’s clothes.

At 23, she began taking her mother’s estrogen pills then, on her own, found a doctor who would prescribe her hormones. She went in and out of transition until her mother urged her to get off the fence and come to terms with her transgender identity. The world opened for Tara once she became who she really was, gaining new friends and allies, and finding a generous gentleman who paid for her surgery."

Full title: "Being Human: A Biography of overcoming limitations" by Alice Claudia Oehninger.

"An intimate, empathic exploration of the life of Alice Oehninger. For fourteen years, she grows up in traditional Tanzania and Zimbabwe of the 1980ies. She is white. And transgender. She looks like a boy, and is expected to act the part. At twenty, she returns to her native Switzerland and finds herself a stranger there, too.

She navigates culture shock, love and rejection, earns a living, discovers the powerful wish to be a parent. In the role of a man, she marries and finds contentment in Germany, until crisis destroys her fragile world. Where others break, Alice rises. She is driven by enabling other people to be their best possible selves. She becomes a learning coach for youths and young adults, a mentor and a counsellor. And ultimately, it is this drive that has led to this book, that it may touch and enrich as many lives as possible."

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Debbie Browne - An American Girl

Kaba-chan - Kabā.-Chan-hatsu! O ka ma se earain

Rae Ellen Lee - My Next Husband Will Be Normal

Robbie Dee Ewens - Gender Variation: A True Testimony

Nancy Zecca - Als Transfrau leben jenseits der Norm

Alyce May Anders - Alyce Unchained

Juliette Jourdan - The Girl from Casablanca

Kate Bornstein - Olá Mundo Cruel!

GinaDoll Garrett - My Way, Your Way, Our Way

Jenny Latreille - Trans en France

Camila Sosa Villada - The Queens of Sarmiento Park

Karen Lyra - Finding myself: Discovering my gender identity

Wiebke ter Lichten - Wiebke werden IV

Helen Dale - A Tale of Two Lives

Amber Malenab - Becoming Amber: A Transwoman's Memoir

Leslie Feinberg - Borrokalari transgeneroak

Sarah Wong & Ellen de Visser - Inside Out

Jane Fae - Transition Denied

Allyson Lliara - The Life of Ally: A: Trans Woman Story

Akwaeke Emezi - Eau douce

AMR AMR - I am Me He/She

Laura Jane Grace - Tranny: Confissões da Anarquista Mais...

Muse Publishing - Gigi Gorgeous

Skye High - From Darkness to Diva

Jody Frances Vaclav - Inside Out

Kita Mean - Life in Lashes: The Story of a Drag Superstar

Tara Taylor - Who She Wants to Be: An Uncommon Memoir

Alice Claudia Oehninger - Being Human

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