An educator on various sexuality, relationship, and personal authenticity topics, Lee Harrington had been craving a book that he could hand to folks who came to him about their gender journeys. So many people said “am I okay,” “am I doing this right,” or “am I alone.” They were far from alone, and there are so many gender journeys out there. And so much to know about.
He wished there was an accessible book on the topic… and so he wrote it. That book is Traversing Gender: Understanding Transgender Journeys.
Half-way through the book, he read decolonizing trans/gender 101 by b. binaohan, and his vision changed on the issue. A tough read, it asked people to examine the place of oppression in the current gender dialogue, and the book shifted, for the better! Leading to dialogues with friends, allies, students, and online acquaintances, Lee plodded through the book’s expansion, leading to the work as it appears – an accessible, beautifully illustrated (through the work of Andi Fogt), well-rounded approach to the wide variety of gender journeys out there, and the challenges and joys transgender, gender nonconforming, and gender variant people have.
In the current age of gender identity and transgender awareness, many questions are coming to light for everyone. Whether brought about by media and cultural attention or their own personal journey, there are people who feel lost or confused. Information out there can be fragmented or biased. Meanwhile, trans people need a chance to dialogue with each other, and finally be heard by the world at large.
In Traversing Gender: Understanding Transgender Realities, author Lee Harrington helps make the intimate discussions of gender available for everyone to understand. Topics include:
- Understanding the terms “trans” and “transgender”
- Differences (and crossovers) between sex, gender, and orientation
- The wide array and types of trans experiences
- Social networking and emotional support systems for trans people
- Navigating medical care, from the common cold to gender-specific procedures
- What “transitioning” looks like, from a variety of different approaches
- How legal systems interplay with gender and trans issues
- Extra challenges based on gender, race, class, age and disability
- Skills and information on being a successful trans ally
Bringing these personal matters into the light of day, this reader-friendly resource is written for students, professionals, friends, and family members, as well as members of the transgender community itself. It is here for you and those in your life, helping create an opportunity for overcoming the challenges trans people face through awareness and action, making the world a better place one life at a time.
As the book could only hold so many resources, that led to this website!
So, what’s next?
The next project for 2017 is a comic book, great for all ages, featuring select images from the book along with all new art from Andi Fogt, with concepts designed by Lee Harrington.
Interested in wholesaling the book? Getting a large number of copies for your school or activist group? Telling us about another idea you have? Contact us!