Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families [B1116]

2023 PB with some pink highlighting throughout. Developed in collaboration with PFLAG National and Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund. Groundbreaking in its depictions of joy and community, Authentic Selves celebrates trans and nonbinary people and their families in stunning photographs and their own words. Foreword by transgender activist Jazz Jennings and her mom and fellow activist, Jeanette Jennings. So often trans and nonbinary people's stories are told only through the lens of their struggles and challenges, including their political battles for legal rights, but trans and nonbinary people live rich and fulfilling lives full of joy and community too. Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families is a sweeping compilation of life stories and portraits of trans and nonbinary people, as well as their partners, parents, children, siblings, and chosen family members. The compelling stories in Authentic Selves provide a glimpse into the real lives, both the challenges and the triumphs, of these remarkable people and their families--people like Senator Sarah McBride, disability justice advocate Parker Glick, drag entertainer Taylor Alxnder, September 11th first responder Joey Morelli, model Lana Patel, youth activist Elliott Bertrand, and so many others--all of whom are working to create a more just, diverse, and compassionate world.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Highly recommended! This series of interviews/essays of trans and nonbinary people and their families was interesting and informative. I was moved by many of the stories and the different ways lives were affected, and how much acceptance and knowledge mattered to all of the people involved."; "I am grateful to read so many first-hand essays by transgender and nonbinary individuals. There's a wide representation of experiences, from

a range of ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, races, and religious upbringings. Varying cases of acceptance or struggle early in life. Having followup essays by family members was a unique touch that was helpful to include in tandem with the POV essays of the trans and nonbinary individuals. It's a reminder of how important allies are in our lives, and there were many lessons learned from situations where acceptance came later in life. You can pick up and start reading this book from any section, in my opinion. Either linear, beginning to end, or flip open to an individual and read their story along with the stories of their family members. Each collection of shared experiences is a unique bubble. Highly worth the read!"