According to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Transgender Awareness Week is a week in which transgender individuals, organizations, and their allies help their communities better understand the trans community and shed light on the issues they face. Transgender Awareness Week takes place annually on November 13th-19th leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on November 20th. TDOR is observed to honor the lives of transgender people who have lost their lives to acts of anti-trans violence.
The path toward full acceptance continues by celebrating those who have made positive changes for the LGBTQIA community, sharing stories and experiences of those in the community, and honoring those who have been lost. In observance of Transgender Awareness Week, we have compiled a small list of resources to help our readers educate themselves about the trans community from the Oxford College Library book collections.
- Transgender History: The Roots of Today’s Revolution by Susan Stryker covers American transgender history from the mid-20th century to the present day. This book takes a chronological approach to discussing transgender history and is a good start for anyone wanting to educate themselves on the roots of the transgender community in the United States.
- Becoming a Woman: A Biography of Christine Jorgensen by Richard F. Docter describes the life and experiences of Christine Jorgensen, an actress, singer, recording artist, and transgender activist. This book chronicles the path Jorgensen took to become the woman she always knew herself to be. The book describes Christine’s determination and resilience as well as the ability she had to solve problems and advocate openly for sexual minorities.
- Others of My Kind: Transatlantic Transgender Histories by Alex Bakker, Rainer Herrn, Annette F. Timm, and Michael Thomas Taylor describes the profound connection between a group of transgender people from Europe and North America as they created community and shaped history and sexual studies. By maintaining contact with each other through letters and pictures of themselves, they created a bond through validation and trust that empowered them to educate the world about who they were.
- Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender by Kit Heyam is a radically inclusive collection of moments in history in which gender binaries were challenged. From ancient times to the present day, the narratives of people who defied understanding of gender are blended with commentary on how gender is largely perceived in society today. This history of trans identities is radically inclusive and seeks to shed light on experiences that may have been overlooked.
- Tar Hollow Trans: Essays by Sara Jane Grover is a series of essays that captures Grover’s journey back to the community that raised her in Southeast Ohio to reconcile the cultural identity she grew up surrounded by with her personal experience as a trans person. She explores her identity through the lens of Appalachian traditions and customs to create a unique and deeply personal memoir.
- Gender Euphoria: Stories of Joy from Trans, Non-Binary and Intersex Writers by Laura Kate Dale is an anthology that connects the stories of nineteen transgender individuals who experienced gender euphoria: the intense feeling of joy experienced when someone’s gender identity is aligned with their gender experience. This collection shares the experiences of trans joy and delight brought by fully embracing the full embodiment of one’s identity. Readers can hope to share these stories as a source of light in a world that too often focuses on the discomfort experienced by transgender people.
All of these books listed are available in Oxford College Library’s collection for you to check out today! For more information on LGBT resources and events on Emory University Campuses, please visit the website for LGBT Life and for more information on being an ally to the Trans people in your life, visit this guide created by Advocates for Trans Equality.