Trans Books To Read This Pride

Happy Pride Month! 

Under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, the “T” stands for transgender. Although the term “transgender” is often used to refer to people who transition from one gender to another, it includes the full spectrum of gender-expansive identities, including people who are nonbinary, genderqueer, genderfluid, and more. 

This blog highlights five nonfiction books that center the transgender experience. For those who prefer to pick up fiction books, there’s a bonus recommendation at the end just for you.

#1: For Young Trans People (and Beyond!) Who Want To Know More About Themselves

For those in need of a crash-course on health-related trans topics, Trans+: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You is a great place to start. The book was written as “a guide for teens who identify as transgender, nonbinary, gender non-conforming, gender fluid, or are questioning their gender identity or how they express themselves, and for their cis-allies and advocates.” 

Per the publisher’s website, Trans+ is recommended for 9th to 12th graders, though many reviewers describe how helpful it is to learn more about trans health regardless of age. For example, the book overviews topics like the differences between medical, legal, and social transitioning, as well as includes personal stories from trans teens themselves. Think of this book as a mix between trans-specific Chicken Soup For The Teenage Soul and a health and wellness resource for young trans people. 

#2: For People Who Want To Support The Trans People In Their Lives, But Aren’t Sure How

Maybe you’re a cisgender person who has a trans person in your life you want to support (such as a friend, coworker, or child) but you’re just not sure how to do that “correctly.” Maybe you’re a trans person who’s tired of trying to explain your own identity to other people. Or maybe you’re an ally who wants to make sure they’re prepared to support trans people more broadly. If any of these sound like you, check out How to They/Them: A Visual Guide to Nonbinary Pronouns and the World of Gender Fluidity. 

Written by Stuart Getty, a genderqueer designer and filmmaker, and illustrated by Brooke Thyng, How to They/Them is a graphic novel that serves as an introductory guidebook to understanding expansive gender identities, using pronouns beyond she/her and he/him, and correcting myths about trans people. Because of its graphic novel format, it’s a great way to learn more about trans people in an accessible way. 

As one review states, 

“This book explains the exact reasons as to why/what/how you can support your non-binary and trans friends. How you can be a better ally. How you can be a better friend. A better parent. It gives you history, facts, truths, and answers to questions you may be asking. This is a wonderful and powerful resource for those looking to learn and grow and support their non-binary friends, family members, coworkers, students, or just unlearn gender roles…that we have been forced to believe as a society.”

#3: For Those Interested In Trans History and Transformation

While the first two books mentioned are more general resource guides, the third tells more of a story. How We Make Each Other: Trans Life at the Edge of the University is a story about how trans people make and (trans)form life in higher education. The author, Perry Zurn, interviewed over 100 trans faculty, students, and staff to tell a story about transformational change at the university level. 

The book centers on five colleges in Massachusetts that were at the forefront of trans-inclusive higher education policies, Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts. Through the book, Zurn draws on these interviews and additional archival research to discuss trans history, trans resistance, and trans hope. 

As far as who the intended audience is for How We Make Each Other, one reviewer said “This book is for anyone who is ready to listen and excavate the spaces that have been left unexamined.”

#4: For Trans People Navigating Menopause 

As we continue to research more about menopause, we uncover just how much there is still to learn about this life transition. Menopause is commonly characterized as a time of uncertainty, change, and stress by those who experience it. These feelings are magnified for trans people, who have to rely on menopause resources that are oftentimes written only with cisgender women in mind. 

A book published earlier this year brings a distinctly trans perspective to experiencing menopause. Genderqueer Menopause: Navigating Menopause for Trans, Gender-Nonconforming, Genderfluid, and Other Queer-Bodied Folx  by Lasara Firefox Allen is a guide on finding gender-affirming care during menopause and for menopause symptoms. Readers have found the book to be especially helpful when it comes to dealing with menopause-related gender dysphoria and supporting trans family members and friends experiencing menopause. 

#5: For Advanced Readers Who Enjoy Critical Theory 

The final nonfiction recommendation for this list is Dysphoria Mundi: A Diary of Planetary Transition by Paul Preciado. Preciado is an established critical theorist in gender and sexuality studies, whose other books include Testo Junkie and Can the Monster Speak? 

Dysphoria Mundi, Preciado’s most recent book, is a critical interrogation into the conditions that produce dysphoria itself. The book is described as “a mutant text assembled from essays, philosophy, poetry, and autofiction that captures a moment of profound change and possibility.” As a high-level theoretical text, this is not recommended for those just starting to learn about trans theory. However, this book is written much more accessibly than Preciado’s other works, and is written with a refrain towards hope for the future. 

#6 (Bonus!): For Fiction Lovers 

One standout fiction book centered on the trans experience is Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters. Peters, a trans woman herself, tells the story of how “The lives of three women—transgender and cisgender—collide after an unexpected pregnancy forces them to confront their deepest desires.” Readers follow Reese, Ames, and Katrina as they navigate domestic life and romance in a messy, complicated, and uniquely queer way. 

We don’t want to give away too much of the story, but Detransition, Baby was awarded the 2022 PEN/Hemingway Award for best debut fiction book by an American author and has received numerous additional accolades. It’s a great read for people who prefer fiction and want to diversify their TBR pile. 

Additional Reading Resources

There are countless LGBTQ+ books to check out beyond what’s just listed here. A great resource is the Internet Archives’ LGBTQ Open Library collection, where you can explore more than a thousand LGBTQ+ books. On the Sex and Psychology website, Justin’s bookcase also has a great collection of recommendations for you to check out. 

If you have a sex question of your own, record a voicemail at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology to have it answered on the blog or the podcast. 

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