November 13 to 19 marks Transgender Awareness Week. GLAAD is observing the week by highlighting trans people and their contributions to the literary world and beyond. There are few ways better than to learn from and celebrate the diversity of trans identity and experience than reading directly from trans authors themselves who have published books this year. This cadre of influential culture shapers and change makers are shedding new light on the personal narratives from within the transgender community. Check out the authors and books below to read and explore more.
Tre’vell Anderson, (they/them)
We See Each Other
Tre’vell Anderson is an award-winning nonbinary journalist, noted podcast host, and authoress doing world-changing work around society and culture.
They are known for their work in advocating for underrepresented voices in media and entertainment, particularly focusing on issues related to entertainment, the LGBTQ+ community, race, and social justice. Tre’vell has contributed to various media outlets, including working at the Los Angeles Times, and has been recognized for their impactful writing and commentary.
From NPR, “They’re the co-host of the podcast FANTI, and they’ve covered entertainment for Essence, Time and Out, among many other outlets. They’ve profiled queer icons like Lil Nas X, Billy Porter and Janelle Monae.”
Their list of accomplishments include being named to Out magazine’s 2023 list of the 100 most impactful LGBTQ+ people, The Root’s 2020 list of the 100 most influential African Americans, and they received the Lisa Ben Award for Achievement in Features Coverage from NLGJA: The LGBTQ+ Journalists Assn.
The South Carolina native has released their new book We See Each Other. ‘A Black, trans journey through TV and film.’ It is a powerful and deeply personal exploration of identity, intersectionality, and the quest for belonging through the lens of TV and film criticism. Drawing from their own experiences as a Black nonbinary person, Tre’vell delves into the nuances of their own experiences, offering an examination of systemic discrimination and the interplay between identity and society. Through a blend of experiences, anecdotes, interviews, and cultural analysis, the book underscores the importance of recognizing and celebrating diverse stories, making a compelling case for the media’s ability to activate empathy–within ourselves and with each other.
When talking about how their own journey inspired the book, Tre’vell told Ebony, “My journey to nonbinary and trans bad bitchery coincided with my coverage of diversity in Hollywood with a focus on Black and queer films over the last decade. It actually felt very appropriate that I could engage in and wrestle with the discourse around the paradox of visibility for trans people, especially Black trans people, from an embodied place and not just a theoretical one. And it was enlivening in some ways because I was, in effect, writing myself and others into a long history that was already ours, but I, at least, had not yet claimed.”
The book is out now and is available here.
Schuyler Bailar, (he/him)
He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters
Schuyler Bailar is a Korean American transgender man known as a motivational speaker, advocate, educator, activist and author. He preaches radical body acceptance, transgender inclusion, self love, and tackles a multitude of important issues facing our time. The Virginia native was a competitive swimmer from an early age, and gained prominence as the first ever transgender man to compete in NCAA Division 1 sports, for Harvard University’s men’s swimming team.
Schuyler’s story has been featured in various prominent outlets, ranging from 60 Minutes to The Ellen Show. His dedication to advocacy has garnered him honors such as being named LGBTQ Nation’s Instagram Advocate for 2020 and receiving the Harvard Director’s Award. He continues his academic endeavors through research at the Evolutionary Psychology Lab and the Valera Clinical Psychology Lab at Harvard.
His new USA Today best selling book, He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters has quickly become an important resource on trans inclusion. In He/She/They, Schuyler directly confronts several key issues, including the nature of being transgender, the importance of respecting pronouns, and the evolving concepts related to gender.
This book is made to be a great resource for cisgender people and aspiring allies who want to better understand us, without placing the educational labor on their trans peers. Schuyler tells the Washington Post “If someone tells you they’re trans, don’t immediately make them your resource… don’t go to them and say: “Teach me about these things… That’s not their job. There are a lot of resources out there, my book being one of them.”
The book also provides important messages of support and hope for the trans community. Schuyler reiterates his optimism for transgender people in his book, telling the Post: “I have such a deep faith in my trans siblings… Their ability to love themselves, find community and stand incredibly grounded is so powerful. I strongly believe we have the power to find love in ourselves, create community and cultivate a sense of peace within ourselves.”
The book is out now and can be purchased here.
Katie Barnes, (they/them)
Fair Play
Katie Barnes is an award-winning journalist who covers the intersections of race and gender as a featured writer for ESPN. Katie is a renowned sports writer, having written profiles of women’s sports superstars, including Maya Moore, A’ja Wilson, and Amanda Nunes. They also received much deserved recognition for their continuous coverage of legislative and policy matters that impact transgender and intersex athletes. In recent years as transgender athlete inclusion has received increased and intensified interest, Katie has been an important voice sharing honest and objective reporting on the topic through reporting that focuses on the people at the center.
One of their earliest memories is playing basketball at the family’s rural Indiana home. Katie continued to play as they grew up and even coached basketball in college. Sports, and women’s sports in particular, have been a key part of their life.
Katie is a three-time GLAAD Media Award nominee and a 2022 finalist for the Dan Jenkins Medal, a prestigious award honoring outstanding sports journalism. They were named the 2017 Journalist of the Year by NLGJA — The Association of LGBTQ Journalists.
Katie’s reputation as a foremost expert widens as they publish their new book Fair Play. It examines the evolution of women’s sports as both a recreational and political arena where the quest for equality wrestles with notions about gender, inclusion, and fairness.
Katie said to the Georgetown Voice “I really wanted this book to help reframe a conversation that I think has jumped the shark a little bit… [they hope to] encourage people to have the courage to approach this conversation with empathy and compassion and nuance, and to be willing to have a more complete conversation about what sports are for, who sports are for, and perhaps how to be willing to be more creative about what sports could look like for all ages.”
Katie notes that discourse concerning transgender and intersex athletes is now becoming a common occurrence in many communities. They seek to deconstruct the discourse from all perspectives of objectivity and posit rational solutions to ensure Fair Play and equal opportunity for all athletes.
Katie told NBC News “I really hope that folks leave the book with an open mind around the kind of conversation we can have, as it pertains to gender and sports at all levels and what that may look like for our future.”
The book is out now and is available here.
Munroe Bergdorf, (she/her)
Transitional
Munroe Bergdorf is an internationally renowned British activist, model, writer, broadcaster and DJ. She is known for her advocacy for racial equality and LGBTQ issues. She gained widespread recognition for speaking out against discrimination in the fashion and beauty industry along with promoting transgender and racial inclusivity. Bergdorf has been an outspoken voice against bigotry and has used her platform to raise awareness about issues related to gender identity and racial justice. She has also worked with various organizations to promote diversity and acceptance, making her an influential figure in the fight for social change and equality.
Her work includes being appointed as British Vogue Contributing Editor in 2022 and a UN Women Changemaker since 2019. Munroe is a proud ambassador for gender variant and transgender youth charity Mermaids based in the UK. She is a founding consultant of L’Oreal Paris’ UK Diversity and Inclusion Board. Along with being a host of the critically acclaimed podcast ‘The Way We Are’ for Spotify, and fronts MTV hit show Queerpiphany.
Awards and accolades for Munroe include – Glamour ‘Beauty Gamechanger’ 2022, TIME Magazine Next Generation Leaders 2020, Glamour ‘Gamechanger’ 2020, Attitude ‘Hero of the Year’, Gay Times Honours 2021, Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Brighton and much more.
Munroe’s new book Transitional is a powerful memoir that delves into her personal journey as a British transgender woman of mixed race. Bergdorf shares her experiences of self-discovery, coming out, and navigating the complexities of gender and her biracial identity. She provides a compelling account of the challenges she faced to finding acceptance and empowerment.
Munroe postulates that all people endure transition, not just trans people. She argues that transitioning is a process that unveils our truth. We are all in a battle to transform into our most authentic self, in contrary to social expectations. It stands as one of the most elemental facets of human existence, irrespective of our individual identities.
In her book Transitional, Munroe combines her own insights with theories from leading experts and activists to underscore the profound role that transitioning plays in the human journey.
Munroe tells Cosmopolitan “I wrote the book because we often hear about trans people but not from trans people. We’re in this time where the community has found ourselves at the center of a culture war, but I want people to know that trans people are not hypothetical… We, as a small community that has become extremely visible, have found ourselves in an extremely precarious situation, but we are actual people with lives and when we are exposed to exponential levels of harm and intolerance and injustice, it costs lives.”
The book is out now and is available here.
Elliot Page, (he/him)
Pageboy
The Canadian actor, author, transgender advocate, and international queer icon publicly came out as transgender in 2020 and has become a prominent figure in the LGBTQ community. His announcement marked a significant moment for transgender visibility in the entertainment industry, particularly for transgender men. He has used his platform to advocate for LGBTQ rights, mental health, and youth access to healthcare, making a positive impact through his art and advocacy.
Elliot is celebrated for his versatile and compelling work in Hollywood. He gained widespread recognition for his breakthrough role as Juno MacGuff in the 2007 film “Juno,” which earned him an Academy Award nomination. He has also appeared in a variety of other films, including “Hard Candy,” “Inception,” “Whip It,” and the “X-Men” series, where he portrayed the character Kitty Pryde. While he was winning awards for his character portrayals, he was batting himself internally with a sense of consternation surrounding his societally imposed femininity.
Since transitioning, Elliot has continued his acting career with a commitment to projects that highlight LGBTQ+ issues, contributing to increased representation and awareness within the entertainment world. Some of his latest work includes the role of Viktor Hargreeves in “The Umbrella Academy” whose transition on screen mirrors Elliot’s real-life transition.
Elliot has released a new ‘coming of age’ memoir Pageboy. It conveys his private and heartfelt struggles and triumphs of self-discovery.
Elliot shares of coming out as trans four years before the public announcement, and facing years-long challenges and personal debates over how to come out publicly and reshape his career. On what gave him the courage to come out of the closet, Page tells The View hosts: “That comes from all the incredible people [insta link] that have created the space and … have offered that representation and opportunity to even be here right now.”
He shares the ‘liberating decision’ to come out as transgender. He tells us how because of the pandemic, he finally had time to sit and think about his identity and be true to himself. Elliot said on Good Morning America, “This is what I needed to do to live fully. And I’m now feeling that joy everyday. What it has allowed me to do is truly feel alive for the first time.”
The book is out now and is available here.
Learn more: NPR
Geena Rocero, (she/her)
Horse Barbie
Geena Rocero is a model, writer, film producer, transgender advocate, and public speaker, born and raised in Manila, Philippines. The former pageant queen turned world renowned fashion icon and activist was recently named one of Glamour’s 2023 Women of the Year.
In addition to her modeling career, Rocero is very accomplished as an influential figure and storyteller. The founder of Gender Proud, a media company that shares anecdotes on what it means to be transgender, she has been a vocal advocate for transgender and LGBTQ+ equality and has worked to raise awareness about the challenges and discrimination faced by transgender people, particularly in the modeling and fashion industry. She has received recognition and awards for her advocacy work, including a 2016 GLAAD Media Award.
Geena rose to prominence for her 2014 TED Talk Why I Must Come Out, where she publicly came out as a transgender woman. Her talk has since been viewed five million times, and translated into thirty-two languages. While she mentions in the TED Talk, she could have continued life being perceived as a cis woman, she wanted the world to know she was trans to provide a role model for trans youth, and accelerate acceptance for trans people. She told the crowd “I am here today telling my story, in hopes that one day we no longer have to have a Trans Day of Remembrance.
Geena recently released her debut memoir Horse Barbie. It explores the complexities of her identity as a transgender woman and the journey to self-acceptance. The story gives us a glimpse into her upbringing as a young Fillipina trans girl, who transforms into a “Horse Barbie” as a way to escape societal norms and normative gender expectations. The name of the book is a play on the fact that as a teen, bullies would insult her by comparing her looks to a horse. Geena’s journey of finding solace in beauty and pageantry reflects more universal desires for authenticity and the challenges many people, especially those who are trans, face in embracing their true selves. The story highlights the importance of creating spaces where LGBTQ people can explore and express their identities without judgment or prejudice.
She told Interview Magazine that she wants her book to deliver a powerful message to trans youth. “But [anti-trans politicians are] so afraid of the beauty, the lived experience, and the perspective of trans people that they’re doing this. And that’s my message to young trans: the reason why they’re trying to take this away [from you] is because you are powerful.”
The book is out now and is available here.
Amy Schneider, (she/her)
In the Form of a Question
In eighth grade, Amy was voted “Most likely to appear on Jeopardy!” by her classmates. Now decades later, she is an internationally known Jeopardy! Champion, holding the second-longest win streak in the show’s history (only behind Kevin Jennings). The American software engineer from Oakland turned author and advocate had an impressive showing on the show, accumulating a forty-game winning streak, becoming the most successful woman ever to compete on Jeopardy!. Amy is also the first openly transgender contestant to qualify for the Tournament of Champions.
Amy credits her success in the show to her perpetual curiosity and broadmindedness, telling NPR “You just sort of have to live the kind of life that exposes you to a lot of different information.”
In her debut memoir In the Form of a Question, Schneider showcases her multitude of unique interests that shape who she is. She explores some of the influential topics that have intrigued Amy throughout her life—books and music, Tarot and astrology, popular culture and computers, sex and relationships. She wants to convey her idiosyncratic nature to the world, and personalize her life to those who have become familiar with her from Jeopardy! And her witty social media commentary. This is why she delves into many details, including the embarrassing ones. With this vulnerability she hopes to share that people can be successful, regardless of their unique traits that contemporary society may not fully understand.
She told Them.us “I wanted to show that the “nice lady on TV” has also had all these different parts of my life, and that they’re not incompatible with being on Jeopardy! and being successful and fitting into society as needed.” She also discussed her passion for Tarot and why she thinks so many trans people are into it “it would be that trans people are very interested in self-knowledge, and that’s what tarot is good at: helping you toward self-knowledge.”
The book is out now and is available here.
Raquel Willis, (she/her)
The Risk It Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation
Raquel Willis is an award-winning activist, author, and media strategist dedicated to Black transgender liberation. Raquel is an intellectual thought leader on the intersections of race, gender and sexuality. The Georgia native credits her loving, supportive and affirming family for her success, and how the passing of her late father was the catalyst for her transition and career.
As a Black trans woman, who advocates for LGBTQ acceptance and racial justice. She uses her platform to fundraise for Black-led LGBTQ+ initiatives and has previously served on advisory boards for Borealis Philanthropy’s Fund for Trans Generations and the Roddenberry Foundation. Raquel has also worked in restorative justice and abolitionist activism, she worked on behalf of the Solutions Not Punishments Collaborative to end transmisogynoiristic policing of transgender women of color and mass incarceration.
Raquel focuses on uplifting and celebrating experiences of trans joy, viewing it as essential to our well being and countering hostility directed at the community. She told CBS News “[Trans joy] is about us communing together, and understanding that there’s something beautiful about being able to know your truth and fully stand in it.”
Raquel is the creator of multiple award winning projects. She published the GLAAD Media Award-winning “Trans Obituaries Project,” and in 2022, produced and hosted “The Trans Youth Town Hall” with Logo which was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award and won Gold distinction in the Shorty Awards.
Her groundbreaking work continues as she publishes her debut memoir, The Risk It Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation. The book shares her journey challenging the contemporary masculine identity that was pushed onto her as a child, and breaking out of it to become her true self. In it she shares the stories from trans figures that influenced her courage of self discovery and expression, from Marsha P. Johnson to Sylvia Rivera to Leelah Alcorn, among others. Raquel challenges the entirety of gender hegemony, explaining that people should be born into a world that allows their unique flairs to unfold.
She also discusses bridging the gap between the Obama and Trump eras, exploring the potential for personal transformation following a tragedy, and illustrating how challenging moments can compel us to embrace essential risks and strive toward collective liberation.
The book is out now and available here.