Transgender Awareness Week

LGBTQIA Services Committee , Los Angeles Public Library,
banner that reads, "Transgender Awareness Week"

The Human Rights Campaign estimates that there are more than two million transgender individuals in the United States, with a 2023 survey indicating that the number of Americans who report knowing a transgender person doubles every seven years. Though the exact date is unclear, Transgender Awareness Week began gaining traction in the early 2000s to call attention to the lives of our transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender non-binary family and friends.

Each year between November 13 and 19, organizations and individuals around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help foster a better understanding of transgender people and the issues members of the community face and to provide those outside the community an opportunity to learn about a resilient group of people that have been marginalized for far too long. Transgender people and their allies take action to bring attention to their community by educating the public, sharing stories and experiences, and advancing advocacy around issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence that affect the transgender population.

This week of awareness culminates in Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, a day meant to honor the memory of individuals whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence the previous year. Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender woman, to memorialize the murder of another transgender woman, Rita Hestor, in Allston, Massachusetts. Transgender Awareness Week was born as a direct result of Transgender Day of Remembrance, and the need to do more than merely memorialize those who have died tragically.

Transgender Awareness Week is a means to celebrate the lives of a thriving, vibrant community and, since its inception, has grown to become recognized by more than 185 cities and more than 20 nations across the globe.

Find a curated list of non-fiction titles representing the trans experience and learn more about the transgender community's history, struggles, and triumphs.

Author and licensed marriage family therapist Alo Johnson presents his book, sharing insights into its themes of identity, self-discovery, and the transgender experience while discussing the personal journey that inspired his writing and the importance of representation in literature.

Recommended Reading


Book cover for Transition : the story of how I became a man
Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man
Bono, Chaz

Book cover for Conundrum
Conundrum
Morris, Jan, 1926-

Book cover for Emergence : a transsexual autobiography
Emergence : a transsexual autobiography
Martino, Mario.

Book cover for She's not there : a life in two genders
She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders
Boylan, Jennifer Finney

Book cover for Stuck in the middle with you : a memoir of parenting in three genders
Stuck in the Middle With You: A Memoir of Parenting in Three Genders
Boylan, Jennifer Finney

Book cover for Peninsula of lies : a true story of a mysterious birth and taboo love
Peninsula of Lies: A True Story of a Mysterious Birth and Taboo Love
Ball, Edward

Book cover for Becoming a woman : a biography of Christine Jorgensen
Becoming a Woman: A Biography of Christine Jorgensen
Docter, Richard F.

Book cover for Just add hormones : an insider's guide to the transsexual experience
Just Add Hormones: An Insider's Guide to the Transsexual Experience
Kailey, Matt

Book cover for Both sides now : one man's journey through womanhood
Both Sides Now: One Man's Journey Through Womanhood
Khosla, Dhillon

Book cover for What becomes you
What Becomes You
Link, Aaron Raz

Book cover for Crossing : a memoir
Crossing: A Memoir
McCloskey, Deirdre N.

Book cover for None so pretty : the sexing of Rebecca Pine : the story of a changing life
None So Pretty: The Sexing of Rebecca Pine
McKay, Reg

Book cover for Frankly Kellie : becoming a woman in a man's world
Frankly Kellie: Becoming a Woman in a Man's World
Maloney, Kellie

Book cover for The secrets of my life
The Secrets of My Life
Jenner, Caitlyn

Book cover for Redefining realness : my path to womanhood, identity, love & so much more
Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More
Mock, Janet

Book cover for Becoming Nicole : the transformation of an American family
Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family
Nutt, Amy Ellis

Book cover for Queerly beloved : a love story across gender
Queerly Beloved: A Love Story Across Gender
Anderson-Minshall, Diane

Book cover for Finding the real me : true tales of sex and gender diversity
Finding the Real Me: True Tales of Sex and Gender Diversity

Book cover for At the broken places : a mother and trans son pick up the pieces
At the Broken Places: A Mother and Trans Son Pick up the Pieces
Collins, Mary

Book cover for He's always been my son : a mother's story about raising her transgender son
He's Always Been My Son: A Mother's Story About Raising Her Transgender Son
Barkin, Janna

Book cover for Doll parts : a memoir
Doll Parts: A Memoir
Lepore, Amanda

Book cover for Through the door of life : a Jewish journey between genders
Through the Door of Life: A Jewish Journey Between Genders
Ladin, Joy

Book cover for Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality
Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality
Sarah McBride

Book cover for Darling days
Darling Days
Wright, iO Tillett

Book cover for A year without a name
A Year Without a Name
Dunham, Cyrus Grace

Book cover of Unbound : transgender men and the remaking of identity
Unbound: Transgender Men and the Remaking of Identity
Stein, Arlene

Book cover for Sorted : growing up, coming out, and finding my place : a transgender memoir
Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place
Bird, Jackson

Book cover for Love lives here : a story of thriving in a transgender family
Love Lives Here: A Story of Thriving in a Transgender Family
Jetté Knox, Amanda

Book cover of To my trans sisters
To My Trans Sisters

Book cover for Sissy : A Coming-of-Gender Story
Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story
Tobia, Jacob

Book cover for She, he, they, me : for the sisters, misters, and binary resisters
She, He, They, Me: For the Sisters, Misters, and Binary Resisters
Ryle, Robyn

Book cover for Gender : your guide : a gender-friendly primer on what to know, what to say, and what to do in the n
Gender: Your Guide
Airton, Lee

Book cover for Trans like me : conversations for all of us
Trans Like Me: Conversations For All of Us
Lester, C. N.

Book cover for Becoming a man : the story of a transition
Becoming a Man: The Story of a Transition
P. Carl

Book cover for On Christopher Street : transgender stories
On Christopher Street: Transgender Stories
Seliger, Mark

Book cover for Real queer America : LGBT stories from red states
Real Queer America: LGBT Stories From Red States
Allen, Samantha

Book cover for This body I wore : a memoir
This Body I Wore: A Memoir
Goetsch, Diana

Book cover for Queer Threads: Crafting Identity and Community
Queer Threads: Crafting Identity and Community
Chaich, John

Book cover for Queerly centered : LGBTQA writing center directors navigate the workplace
Queerly Centered: LGBTQA Writing Center Directors Navigate the Workplace
Webster, Travis

Book cover of Great LGBTQ+ speeches : empowering voices that inspire + empower
Great LGBTQ+ Speeches: Empowering Voices That Inspire + Empower

Book cover of Am I trans enough? : how to overcome your doubts and find your authentic self
Am I Trans Enough?: How to Overcome Your Doubts and Find Your Authentic Self
Johnston, Alo


 

 

 

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