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Questioning Transphobia
Thursday, August 28th, 2008
It’s always a treat when I stumble upon a gem of a blog like Questioning Transphobia. Lisa, a trans woman in her thirties, began transitioning in her teens; her thoughtfully-written blog dispels the belief that being a trans person means that one should feel that their gender is “inferior and something to be ashamed of.” She tackles transphobia on all fronts: within feminist communities, GLB communities, and society at large.
One of my favorite pieces is Transphobic Words and Deeds, which beautifully outlines what transphobia is and what it isn’t, and delivers plain talk about privilege (something that we all have to some extent or another) in the context of trans persons.
This piece not only made me think, but it was also cause for reflection on my own cisgendered privilege and how we can go about dismantling transphobia in our daily lives. As a whole, I came to two immediate remedies: listening to trans people and educating ourselves.
Listening to the voices of trans people and reading their words are as simple as paging through a blog or a book; and there are many wonderful books that I have pulled directly from the Babeland shelves:
Transgender Warriors by Leslie Feinberg
This book has remained one of my favorites through the years. I often refer to this work as a “my first trans book,” as it touches upon trans history and the multitude of trans identities, complemented by lush photographic illustration.
Gender Outlaw by Kate Bornstein
Kate Bornstein combines autobiography with a thoughtful and often humorous deconstruction of what it means to be a man, woman, or “other” in US society. Her succinct cultural critique is handled in a warm, open manner that open minds without putting the reader on the defensive.
Sex Changes by Patrick Califia
Best known for his sizzling BDSM erotica, Califia is a heavy-hitter when it comes to politics and theory. Sex Changes is likely the first book on trans politics that I polished off while vigorously nodding my head in agreement. Never shy, Califia’s acid-tipped pen challenges past heavies (Krafft-Ebing, Harry Benjamin) and trans critics (Janice Raymond) while providing a superb historical and modern context for the trans experience. Not one to dumb down or sugar-coat his words, Califia delivers a brilliant tome that remains highly accessible and infinitely informative.
GenderQueer ed. Ricki Wilchins, Joan Nestle, Claire Howell
I’ve mentioned this anthology in the past, but it definitely deserves another blurb. Running the gamut of trans identities and experience, each essay is a delicious gem. Some pieces induce laughter, while others wrench tears; overall, it’s a cover-to-cover treasure that will open the mind to the multitude ways of being.
Whipping Girl by Julia Serano
As a smart friend of mine said “this book is going to change the way gender is taught in the classroom.” I couldn’t agree with her more. As a PhD researcher in the field of Evolutionary and Developmental Biology, Julia Serrano backs up theory with hard, indisputable fact. Whipping Girl is a dense book that spills over with revolutionary ideas and re-working of language. Possibly a lot to digest for a newcomer to these ideas, this is still a book that I hope will soon be standard reading for gender study the world over.
While this is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to educating ourselves, these texts are a splendid starting point. It’s time to abolish transphobia and replace it with knowledge, understanding, compassion, and love.
I walked into Babeland the other day and caught a flash of white as I walked by our displays. I looked over and found not one, not two, but FIVE new items, all dressed in a simple white. I wasn’t surprised to see that they were 
