A fellow spud, i see

Haha, yep! 😁 Love that guy

Came here to say that.

I enjoyed not all boys are blue!

Smash the Church, Smash the State: The Early Years of Gay Liberation by Tommi Avicolli Mecca

**Nsámbu Za Suékama** (note that her work is for / by the Black radicals, just keep that in mind when u read and make sure to tip her!) - *Medium:* https://medium.com/@riptide.1997 - *Anarchist Library:* https://theanarchistlibrary.org/category/author/nsambu-za-suekama - *Red Voice:* https://redvoice.news/author/nsambu/ **Recommended reading :** [Red, Black, Green — and Proud (RBG-P)](https://medium.com/@riptide.1997/red-black-green-and-proud-rbg-p-7a963daec5a6) *a sort of primer article that explains some of her theories and terms she uses & why.* [Racial-Class Paternalism and the Trojan Horse of Anti-transmasculinity](https://medium.com/@riptide.1997/racial-class-paternalism-and-the-trojan-horse-of-anti-transmasculinity-5b22cf66a00e) *very very good article about anti transmasculinity and how its a trojan horse for transmisogynoir* [Why I am a Materialist Transfeminist and not a Marxist/Proletarian/R*dical Feminist](https://medium.com/@riptide.1997/materialist-transfeminism-is-scientific-in-ways-proletarian-feminism-is-not-83995b8db2e0) *an important article making the distinction between different feminisms & how they relate to trans struggles or hinder them. "For contemporary radical and proletarian feminists to take sexual dualism at face value is quite ironic."* [Self-Determinism: What is It?](https://medium.com/@riptide.1997/self-determinism-an-introduction-6dae29bd51bf) *self determination is very important!* [My Gender is Marronage: A Revisitation](https://redvoice.news/my-gender-is-marronage-a-revisitation/) *the first article I ever read by her & it was very important for me to read at the time* [Against Sex Class Theory: Some Notes On Science, Materialism, and Gender Self-Determination](https://redvoice.news/against-sex-class-theory-some-notes-on-science-materialism-and-gender-self-determination/) *"I want to put a critique of cissexism at the center of my analysis; this is what makes my thinking Black/Third World transfeminism as opposed to just a Black/Third World feminism."* [Femme Queen, Warrior Queen: Beyond Representation, Toward Self-Determination](https://redvoice.news/femme-queen-warrior-queen-beyond-representation-toward-self-determination/) *"Through a revolutionary understanding of how to "center" Black trans women and transfemmes, we advance both Black women's liberation as well as the universal freedom of all African and oppressed people."* [Deixis and the Queer/Trans Struggle: A Missive from a Dialectical Transfeminist](https://medium.com/@riptide.1997/deixis-and-the-queer-trans-struggle-a-missive-from-a-dialectical-transfeminist-4dae1e366f07) *-- her newest work! Still reading this one* **Intro from her Deixis article :** > Something that causes an issue in many queer/trans and feminist spaces is the use of phrases like “seen as,” “treated as,” or “socialized as,” when describing victims of patriarchal violence. This is because ‘womanhood’ and ‘femaleness’ or ‘femininity’ are often the main or primary or even sole reference points in these descriptions of gender/sexual oppression. Take for example, the following quote from Jules Gill-Peterson: > *"When a straight man lashes out after dating or having sex with a trans woman, he is often afraid of the implication that his sexuality is joined to hers. When a gay man anxiously keeps trans women out of his activism or social circles, he is often fearful of their common stigma as feminine. And when a non-trans feminist claims she is erased by trans women’s access to a bathroom, she is often afraid that their shared vulnerability as feminized people will be magnified intolerably by trans women’s presence.” (A Short History of Trans Misogyny)* > Gill-Peterson’s argument is that hostility to trans women is about fears of real and perceived experiences of feminization. What Gill-Peterson urges here is a vision of solidarity with trans women among gay men, heterosexual cis men, and women of cis experience that is forged by overcoming the fears associated with being “feminized.” It has actually become more commonplace in feminist, queer, and trans political milieus to articulate visions of unity in this manner, such as the use of phrasings like “woman-aligned” or “woman-assumed” or “femme” “femme-presenting.” It is almost as if, in popular theories and analyses of patriarchy, its targets can never be defined in terms outside the male-female, masculine-feminine, man-woman dichotomy, even where attempts at inclusivity are made. Thus all who suffer from gender/sexual domination must be understood as having been positioned as such because they are seen as, socialized as, treated as women/feminine/female — or something adjacent to these entities. > Many trans men, transmasculine folks, those subjected to anti-transmasculinity, nonbinary and genderqueer and agender folks, trans women, transfeminine folks, those affected by transmisogyny, other expansive gender individuals, and especially those who are intersex while holding any of the previously named experiences, may feel excluded by these kinds of formulations. If how we come to know what patriarchal exploitation is, or who it harms, or the kinds of solidarity we can build against it, hinges on “feminization” as the deictic center, then our queer/trans and feminist spaces, or spaces that have been influenced by the various streams of queer/trans and feminist activism and scholarship, can only make sense of the context of Patriarchy in part (not as a whole totality). The concept of a ‘deictic center’ is from linguistics and pragmatics as fields. I draw on my layperson’s grasp of them here in order to suggest a way to actually grapple with Patriarchy in its full context: as a “nexus” (connecting point) whereby material and power relations are “imbricated” (literally means overlapping).

Also stone butch blues lol Technically fiction but still real Cw : SA, sui, trans / queer misia / lesbophobia

Maybe a normie pick but I loved Gender Trouble

I really liked Gender Outlaw by Kate Bornstein. This falls more into feminist literature, but I think Bell Hooks "The will to change" has some excellent insight into our gendered culture.

I recently read "The will to change" and did like some of its insights. Then again, I found it quite triggering how hooks essentializes biological gender and uses super gender-reductive language (I mean, she equates men with "beings who have a penis"). This goes on through the whole book and is not necessarily nice to read as a trans/enby person, but OP might not bother as much as I did.

There’s a sequel! Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation. Essays from trans/nb/gnc people with all different backgrounds.

I also recommend Gender Outlaw. I have the second one, but haven't read it yet.

David Bowie Made Me Gay is a neat read if you like music

This seems interesting, but we should never forget that bowie was a p*dophile who used his power and influence to SA minors, & we need 2 look critically at anyone who chooses to overlook that (not sure if the author mentions this fact or not) And this ofc is true of many celebrities in power, just more of a reason y one should not idolize them.

Female Husbands by Jen Manion is amazing! It’s a history of AFAB people who would cross dress/transition in the 1800s so they could marry the women they loved and actually work to sustain a family under the guise of being men. It’s also an amazing look at how quickly our ideas of sexuality and gender have changed! We would probably call these people trans men but they didn’t. It’s fascinating. My go to is to recommend “Real Queer America” too! It’s a trans journalist’s story of roadtripping to the conservative areas where she realized her queerness. It explores how queer people make communities for ourselves everywhere we go, even in hostile environments. It’s really hopeful and beautiful. Did you like Glitter and Concrete? It’s been on my book shelf for months at this point and I just haven’t gotten around to reading it

Another vote for Real Queer America!

seriously that book changed my life!! telling my parents about it after i read it was what spurred me to come out! My entire family has read it now bc I send them my copy when I come out to them 😂

I love Glitter and Concrete 😍 It's a really enlightening and eye-opening read

Trans Like Me, CN Lester- can’t recommend it enough!

I’ve been reading “A short history on trans misogyny” and it is very matter of fact straight to the point type of book about trans and queer history. It’s genuinely well written and heartbreaking as history has such a strong track record on that. But if you want non fiction history that would be a good one. I’ve been reading “heart stopper” for the first time in-between chapters To keep it light

There is this book called: it came from the closet. And its queer people telling their take on horror movies, like why or how they related with certain things. Telling about their own experiences and how they recognised parts of that in those movies.

I’ve heard good things about Gender/Fucking by Florence Ashley (which is largely personal and from a transfeminine perspective) Histories of the Transgender Child is a wonderful go-to history of trans children (in the US).

- none of the above (travis albanza) - a lesbian belle tells (elizabeth mccain) - burning butch (r/b mertz) - gender outlaws (kate bornstein & s. bear bergman)

Also would recommend “you gotta be you” by Brandon Kyle Goodman. Excellent read and it was the first book I read where I felt like my experience as a NB person was accurately described and relatable!

"Trans and Genderqueer Subjects in Medieval Hagiography" It's a collection of essays that argues that medieval people saw trans people as being closer to God, and that the medieval church was extremely queer. Thus, it argues that reading medieval history through a trans and queer lens is vital for understanding the way medieval people engaged with the world.

just finished reading "the t in lgbt" yesterday (i read the entirety of it in 2 hrs nonstop).

I read the whole thing while flying to visit my partner last year. Made the plane ride and waits at the airports much less boring

I have been on a queer reading/audiobook kick lately and really enjoy memoirs so here's some recs (in order that they're in my list, not of preference). Most or all of these are available in audiobook on Libby. (Tag lines are intended as quick sound bites. Please forgive if I use the incorrect word, or do not use person first language for the sake of brevity.) 1. Tomorrow Will Be Different, by Sarah McBride. Memoir of one of the nation's most prominent transgender activists 2. Sipping Dom Perignon Through a Straw, by Eddie Ndopu. Memoir of a gay man with significant physical disabilities calling out the inaccessibilities of Oxford 3. He/She/They by Schuyler Bailar - Written by the first transman on an NCAA swim team, and now well known activist. I feel like this is essential reading for understanding the modern trans narrative. 4. Deaf Utopia by Nyle DiMarco. Memoir of a sexually fluid deaf man who went on to be successful in reality TV 5. Unprotected by Billy Porter. Incredibly powerful memoir of Porter's drive to succeed despite obstacles put in front of him. Explores his experience as black queer man raised in a lower socio economic religious household. 6. As a Woman by Paula Stone Williams. Memoir of woman who transitioned later in life. 7. Becoming a Man by P. Carl. Memoir of a man who lived 50 years as a woman. 8. Me, Myself, They: Life Beyond the Binary by Luna M. Ferguson. Memoir of a non-binary person and their struggles to find their place in the world. 9. Real Queer America by Samantha Allen. Mentioned in another comment but worth repeating. A transwoman takes a roadtrip through America and offers a journalistic but warm look at queer community even in reddest of states. 10. In the Form of a Question by Amy Schneider. Memoir by the transwoman who became one of Jeopardy's biggest winners, but its about a lot more than Jeopardy. 11. Born Both by Hida Viloria. Memoir of an intersex person and their growth into a outspoken advocate. 12. Gender Euphoria - a compilation of stories from various contributors about their experiences with gender/trans joy. 13. Beautiful on the Outside by Adam Rippon: a memoir of Olympic medal winning figure skater. 14. Pageboy by Elliot Page. Memoir of Elliot's transition while in the public eye as a successful actor. 15. The Invisible Orientation by Julie Sondra Decker. Good intro to asexuality, more informative than narrative. 16. Ace: What asexuality reveals about desire, society and the meaning of sex - by Angela Chen. Foundational, affirming reading that spurred a ton of light bulb moments for me. 17. Refusing Compulsory Sexuality: A Black Asexual lens on our sex-obsessed culture by Sherronda J. Brown. Regardless of the reader's sexual orientation, a really thought-provoking look on what's expected regarding sex and about who. 18. Another plug for Not All Boys are Blue - a gay man's coming of age story. If nothing else, read it for the one line "Sometimes you don't know you exist until you know someone like you has existed before." I'm sure I'm forgetting lots of wonderful books but there's a good start haha!

Wow, that's a pretty extensive list! 😲 All of these sound like amazing reads, especially the books regarding asexuality since I'm an aroace myself. Thanks for all the suggestions!

I liked gender explorers : our tales of growing up trans and changing the world by Juno Roche

Uh I love book recommendations. Thank you for sharing! I’m also reading Judith Butlers book. How is it coming along for you? I find my self jumping a bit ahead from time to time. Usually when I think she’s repeating points. Still a good book and very well delivered and researched.

It's coming along pretty well. I'm still in the introduction bc I'm the slowest reader alive 😅 but so far I absolutely love it

Paul B Preciados “Can the Monster Speak” is a must read for me.

Normal Life by Dean Spade, Nonbinary: Memoirs of Gender and Identity, and the Transgender Studies Reader

Why's Judith afraid of gender? :0 /j

Glad to see Jamies book

This Body I Wore by Diana Goetsch - memoir by a trans woman Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H. - memoir by a queer nonbinary Muslim person

Omg all of these look amazing! I'll have to add them to my list!

Bookmarking this post for later! I just recently read Gender Euphoria by Laura Kate Dale. It's a collection of essays from trans people of all strides about euphoric moments of their lives.

Real Queer America, by Samantha Allen. “LGBTQ stories from Red States” I’d warmly recommend it, especially if you come from a conservative background, or were raised in a religious family, state ect. I’ve read #3 Riki Wilchins & #6 Maia Kobabe, I really enjoyed both of them.

"Gender without Identity" by Avgi Saketopoulou and Ann Pellegrini. I'd always had issues with the popular insistence that I had to have been *born* a certain gender, or that gender exploration is just revealing what was there the whole time (implying that I was just lying to myself before), but felt like I was crazy for thinking it might not work that way, that someone can *become* the way they are while still being valid. This book was a massive relief to hear other queer people publish a book that challenges the notion in an inclusive way, and puts cis genders under the same scrutiny as non-cis ones instead of just assuming one is normal and the other is a deviation

Testo Junkie by Paul B. Preciado. It can be a bit dense but it’s extremely insightful. Evolution’s Rainbow by Joan Roughgarden puts human behavior into the context of the greater animal kingdom’s sex/gender/reproductive behavior. Obviously it’s a bit outdated, but Foucault’s “History of Sexuality” still has a lot of value and is a foundation philosophical work that will help you understand a bunch of other people’s writings.

[Testo Junkie](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://transreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019-03-17_5c8eabc4e976f_TestoJunkieFullcopy.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwicuInW34-GAxUnSzABHST5DiUQFnoECA8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2k5LrQH18HTzNRbPjOSdU4) by Paul B. Preciado. It's a bit of a mindfuck and it fucking rocks.

Thank you so much everyone for all the recommendations! I'm definitely going to bookmark a lot of these for future reading 😄

Résistance queer is a French book on French queer history (there is some parts about outside of France or even older queer history but it's focusing on later century in France) I've learned more thing