By Toni Duval
This month, we’re reading books that were inspired by true stories by transgendered authors.
The true story of Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, two transgender women of colour who helped to kickstart the Stonewall Riots, is captured in the engaging picture book “Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution!” by Joy Ellison and Teshika Silver. The authors that contributed to “Growing Up Trans” are young people ages 11-18 that shared their experiences as part of a series of workshops led by mentors in their community in Victoria, BC. At 16 years old, Corey Maison used the graphic novel “Identity” to tell her story of transitioning and gender dysmorphia to help other kids with related conditions feel understood.
Whether the author is sharing their own experiences or telling a story of trailblazers in the transgender community, we hope these are the stories you need, have been looking for or didn’t know were out there.
1) Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution! by Joy Ellison, illustrated by Teshika Silver (Picture Book)
Sylvia and Marsha are closer than sisters. They are kind and brave and not afraid to speak their truth, even when it makes other people angry.
This illustrated book introduces children to the story of Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, the two transgender women of colour who helped kickstart the Stonewall Riots and dedicated their lives to fighting for LGBTQ+ equality. It introduces children to issues surrounding gender identity and diversity, accompanied by a reading guide and teaching materials to further the conversation.
2) Growing Up Trans: In Our Own Words edited by Dr. Lindsay Herriot and Kate Fry (Middle Grade)
What does it mean to be young and transgender today?
Growing Up Trans shares stories, essays, art and poetry created by trans youth aged 11 to 18. In their own words, the works illustrate the trans experience through childhood, family and daily life, school, their bodies and mental health. Together the collection is a story of the challenges, big and small, of being a young trans person. At the same time, it’s a toolkit for all young people, transgender or not, about what understanding, acceptance and support for the trans community looks like. In addition to the contributed works, there are questions and tips from experts in the field of transgender studies to challenge the reader on how to be a trans ally.
Growing Up Trans came out of a series of workshops held in Victoria, British Columbia, to bring together trans youth from across the country with mentors in the community.
3) Identity: A Story of Transitioning by Corey Maison, Illustrated by Ahmara Smith with Zuiker Anthony (Young Adult)
What do you do when you are born as one gender, but feel yourself to be another? Gender dysphoria affects thousands of people worldwide, but has been ignored or ridiculed in our culture. With this graphic novel, Corey Maison boldly shares her story of transitioning, so that other kids with gender dysphoria and related conditions will no longer feel so isolated, hopeless, or lost.
Corey Maison was born a girl, trapped in a boy’s body. Growing up, Corey was more interested in dolls than trucks; in dresses than jeans. Everything about Corey was female . . . except her physicality.
Known as gender dysphoria, this condition is devastating if not acknowledged. But society is slow to be sympathetic to the idea that a person’s gender is not entirely based on physiology, but instead is fluid, and a combination of emotional and psychological self-awareness along with, or sometimes more importantly, physical characteristics.
IDENTITY tells the complex and moving tale of a young person who knows that their true gender is not the one they were assigned at birth. With unconditional love and support from her mother, Corey successfully starts the transition process with hopes of being comfortable in her own skin, being accepted by others, and raising awareness of young people who wish to transition. At 16-years-old, Corey has become a voice for other trans teens, battling bullies and helping others who are on their own individual journeys of identity.
