Trans Action

This blog is hosted by Trans Action, a student run club at Sarah Lawrence College. Trans Action focuses on providing a space for trans and allied students to meet, discuss and work together on a variety of projects focused on making Sarah Lawrence, and the wider world, a safer more welcoming space for trans folks. On this blog you can expect group updates, resource sharing and event promotion. Questions and submissions are welcome.

[slctransaction]

Ally Board! Tonight we came up with some guidelines to help you be a good ally, to the trans community and to other groups :) Here's a transcription (haha) of the board:

Stay Classy “It’s hard to make it about yourself but it’s easy when you make it about the people…” Barack Obama ¡Que te seas compresivx! Advocate Good listener Intervene safely and consensually Offers individualized support with consent Don’t diminish Check before you vent Don’t center yourself in someone else’s pain Be honest with how you feel Respect boundaries, don’t push to action Don’t talk over people Allow anger Trigger warnings Open to critique Buddy system Don’t derail Nurturing Respect the validity of pain Utilize your privilege to dismantle it Don’t Hate, Participate! Don’t demand education Sympathetic

[slctransaction]

Welcome back SLC! Celebrate the semester with TransAction Thursday at 7:30 in the LGBTQIA space (expect baked goods)

[queerbookclub]

diversify your queer reads: 2014 books featuring queer people of color

Earlier this year, author K Tempest Bradford challenged readers to try a year of books that aren’t written by straight, white, cis men. Some see challenges like this as limiting our reading choices - but in a culture where white, straight, cis narratives continue to dominate, intentionally diversifying the stories we read is an exercise in expansion.

As in the past two years, I put together this list of publications from 2014 with the help of resources like the Lambda Literary Foundation and Sistahs On The Shelf, as well as reviewers around tumblr, goodreads and elsewhere. It has grown thanks to the efforts of small presses like Kórima Press and biyuti publishing. These are all books that feature the voices of queer people of color and/or QPOC protagonists.

Annual disclaimer: There’s no way this list is exhaustive. These are also not personal recommendations, just every title I could find. If I was unsure about a book’s contents (that is, if I was unsure if the qpoc characters were prominent, or if I thought the book might be exploitative), I tried to give weight to who the author is (i.e. I was more likely to include books I know were written by people of color). Of course, I’ll happily add books to the list if you have any suggestions that fit the theme - only books about QPOC, and only works published in 2014. Here’s everything I found, arranged by genre: Fiction

Otros Valos by Jamie Berrout

The Rules by S. Renee Bess

Love Enough by Dionne Brand

Yabo by Alexis De Veaux

The Girl with the Treasure Chest by V.A. Fearon

For Today I am a Boy by Kim Fu

Souljah by John R. Gordon

Niya 2 by Fabiola Joseph

Rapture by Myesha D. Jenkins

Prairie Ostrich by Tamai Kobayashi

The Paths of Marriage by Mala Kuma

Part the Hawser Limn the Sea by Dan Lopez

Last Words of Montmartre by Qiu Miaojin

Moving Forward Sideways Like a Crab by Shani Mootoo

The Walk-In Closet by Abdi Nazemian

A Lesbian in God’s House by Phenomenon

She of the Mountains by Vivek Sharya

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror

Skin Deep Magic by Craig Laurence Gidney

The Beast of Callaire by Saruuh Kelsey

Love in the Gilded Age by Saruuh Kelsey

Sacred Fire by Tanai Walker

Desire at Dawn by Fiona Zedde

Romance

Desire: Gay Passionate Short Stories by Orville Lloyd Douglas

Let The Love Be by Sheree L. Greer

How Can An Angel Take My Heart, Part II: The Armanèe by Regina Knox

Pieces of Her by A.C. Mims

Les Tales: Tempted to Touch by Skyy, Nikki Rashan and Fiona Zedde

Surrender: Two Hearts & A Rainbow Series by Monique BT Thomas

Treasure by Rebekah Weatherspoon

Safe Haven by B.L. Wilson

When She Says Yes by Fiona Zedde

Poetry

Difficult Fruit by Lauren Alleyne

i just want freedom by b. binaohan

The New Testament by Jericho Brown

The Cha Cha Files: A Chapina Poética by Maya Chinchilla

Floating Brilliant Gone by Franny Choi

Make Love to Rage by Morgan Robyn Collado

Under My Skin by Orville Lloyd Douglas

Prime: Poetry & Conversation by Darrel Alejandro Holnes, Saeed Jones, Rickey Laurentiis, Phillip B. Williams and L. Lamar Wilson

The Possibilities of Mud by Joe Jiménez

Prelude to Bruise by Saeed Jones

Don’t Go Back To Sleep by Timothy Liu

Naming Ceremony by Chip Livingston

I Look For You In Other Truths by Ramon Loyola

Amorcito Maricón by Lorenzo Herrera y Lozano

Haiti Glass by Lenell Moise

This Way to the Sugar by Hieu Minh Nguyen

Everybody’s Bread by Claudia Rodriguez

Language Arts by Cedar Sigo

[insert] boy by danez smith

The Fateful Apple by Venus Thrash

Drama

Bird in the Hand by Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas

BOOTYCANDY by Robert O’Hara

A Boiz Life: A play in one act by E.J. Loveson

The Beast of Times by Adelina Anthony

Jotos del Barrio by Jesús Alonzo

Memoir/Bio

The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood by Richard Blanco

Fire Shut Up in my Bones by Charles M. Blow

Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

Memoirs of a GayShe by Garland G. Guidry

A Cup of Water Under My Bed by Daisy Hernandez

The Transsexual from Tobago by Dominique Jackson

Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round: Forty Years of Movement Building with Barbara Smith edited by Alethia Jones & Virginia Eubanks with Barbara Smith

Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More by Janet Mock

My Life is No Accident by Tenika Watson and Jennifer Daelyn 

Nonfiction/Queer Studies

Willful Subjects by Sara Ahmed

James Baldwin: The Last Interview and Other Conversations

Under Bright Lights: Gay Manila and the Global Scene by Bobby Benedicto

Gender on the Edge: Transgender, Gay, and Other Pacific Islanders edited by Niko Besnier & Kalissa Alexeyeff

decolonizing trans/gender 101 by b. binaohan

The Queer Caribbean Speaks Interviews with Writers, Artists, and Activists by Kofi Omoniyi Sylvanus Campbell

Firelight of a Different Colour: The Life and Times of Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing by Nigel Collett

Hold Tight Gently: Michael Callen, Essex Hemphill, and the Battlefield of AIDS by Martin Duberman

Underserved Women of Color, Voice, and Resistance Claiming a Seat at the Table edited by Sonja M. Brown Givens & Keisha Edwards Tassie

Black and Gay in the UK: An Anthology edited by John R. Gordon & Rikki Beadle-Blair

A View from the Bottom: Asian American Masculinity and Sexual Representation by Nguyen Tan Hoang

Black Queer Identity Matrix: Towards An Integrated Queer of Color Framework by Sheena C. Howard

Queer & Trans Artists of Color: Stories of Some of Our Lives by Nia King

Island Bodies: Transgressive Sexualities in the Caribbean Imagination by Rosamond S. King

Namibia’s Rainbow Project: Gay Rights in an African Nation by Robert Lorway

Queen for a Day: Transformistas, Beauty Queens, and the Performance of Femininity in Venezuela by Marcia Ochoa

Unbought and Unbossed: Transgressive Black Women, Sexuality, and Representation by Trimika Melancon

Queer Beirut by Sofian Merabet

In the Life and In the Spirit: Homoerotic Spirituality in African American Literature by Marlon Rachquel Moore

Sensational Flesh: Race, Power, and Masochism by Amber Jamilla Musser

Imperial Blues: Geographies of Race and Sex in Jazz Age New York by Fiona I. B. Ngô

Sexual Futures, Queer Gestures, and Other Latina Longings by Juana María Rodríguez

The Avowal of Difference: Queer Latino American Narratives by Ben. Sifuentes-Jauregui

Black Gay Genius: Answering Joseph Beam’s Call edited by Charles Stephens & Steven G. Fullwood

Queer Masculinities in Latin American Cinema: Male Bodies and Narrative Representations by Gustavo Subero

The Queerness of Native American Literature by Lisa Tatonetti

Delectable Negro: Human Consumption and Homoeroticism within US Slave Culture by Vincent Woodard

Young Adult

The Voices in Between by Charlene Challenger

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan & Maureen Johnson

The Sowing by Steven Dos Santos

Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis

Moon at Nine by Deborah Ellis

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan

Climbing the Date Palm by Shira Glassman

Always Leaving by Gene Grant

Pukawiss the Outcast by Jay Jordan Hawke

Guardian by Alex London

Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Children’s Lit

Tell Your Story, Tell A Dream Birthday Cake by Angela Bermudez & Flor Bermudez

Comics/Graphic Novels

Massive: Gay Erotic Manga and the Men Who Make It by Anne Ishii, Chip Kidd & Graham Kolbeins

100 Crushes by Elisha Lim

More and More of You by Takeshi Matsu

Cruising Diaries by Brontez Purnell & Janelle Hessig

Snackies by Nick Sumida

Fishermans Lodge by Gengoroh Tagame

[insurrectionnews]

USA:  LGBTQ Activists Block Road Outside Trans Detention Center  Full story here: http://www.notonemoredeportation.com/2015/05/28/lgbtqshutdown/

[projectqueer]

CeCe McDonald and Katie Burgess Discuss Prisoner Support

In a time where trans characters are more visible in pop culture than ever before, but Black trans women are still, without a doubt, being murdered in the streets, CeCe’s story is more relevant than ever.

[audrelordeproject]

Remember Trans Power! Fight for Trans Lives! Order this poster in honor of Trans Day of Remembrance. Proceeds go to the Audre Lorde Project, a community organizing center for and by queer and trans people of color. Purchase here. 

[returnthegayze]

for folks with class & education privilege: on the importance of supporting social movements with our pocketbooks as well as our words

[shawnhnichols-deactivated202412]

Trans | Seattle, Washington - 2015 

[bozstvo-deactivated20200629]

support masc presenting trans girls with a great force. cis girls get to be as a masc as they want and not have their identities questioned.. dont you dare limit the expression of trans girls

[projectqueer]

Gender Critical Feminism, the roots of Radical Feminism and Trans oppression

[slctransaction]

Gender Critical Feminism (GCF) is a euphemism for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminism (TERF). There is no ideological difference between the TERF and “Gender Critical Feminist” (GCF) movement; they…

[haveagaydayorg]

25 Things I Do To Make My Body Dysphoria Feel Smaller and Quieter

Everything’s gonna be super duper.

On the days like today when I’m struggling under dysphoria and anxiety and a whole range of things that are tied to those words by tight red strings, it’s hard to remember that I am a person who deserves to take care of their wonderful self. Here are some self-care regiments that work for me. They might work for you, too, or you might have your own. I recommend making a list you can tape to your mirror or the inside of your favorite book so you don’t forget in the worst moments. Here are 25 things that might get you started.

[neutrois]

And here are 10 more!

[singsdancesandprances]

I Think I Might Be Trans: 8 Important Notes On Questioning and 50+ Resources to Get You Started

So you think that the gender you were told to have your entire life is not, in fact, who you are. Now what? This is a huge moment in your life, and it can be hard to start navigating this world designed for cis people as someone who’s trans or questioning your a/gender identity. Here are some t

This is a pretty amazing article and resource ya’ll for all of us members of the trans community!

Hope this helps!

[trans-liberation]

General Resources:

looking for a bathroom?

Trans Student Equality Resources

Trans Housing Network

All Our Worlds (Queer Book Database)

Our #Tags:

art

articles

books

videos 

visibility

Questioning?

5 Common Insecurities The Don’t Mean Anything About Your Transgender Identity

8 Signs and Symptoms of Indirect Dysphoria (summary by Transgender Teen Survival Guide, article by Zinnia Jones)

Ask a Gender Therapist: Am I Transgender? (youtube video)

I think I might be transgender, now what do I do? (an article by AdvocatesForYouth.org)

Need help finding pronouns? / Here’s where to try them out

What Am I? (an article by Transgender Teen Survival Guide)

Coming Out

Coming Out (article by Trans Youth Family Allies)

Coming Out: The Plan (by Neutrois.me)

Coming Out Tips (by Transgender Teen Survival Guide)

Coming Out to Partners: Transgender and Nonbinary People (article by J. Lee Phelan)

Coming out stories:

On Coming Out as Genderqueer; or, My Life as a Bearded Lady (by Dustin L)

So Your Child is Non-binary: A Guide For Parents

Resources for Friends and Family

Understanding:

American Psychological Association: Answers to Your Questions About Transgender People, Gender Identity, And Gender Expression

So Your Child is Non-binary: A Guide For Parents

Everything You Need to Know About Nonbinary Identities (an article by Everyday Feminism)

in-depth interview with a nonbinary person about their identity (article from Zenger’s Newsmagazine)

Explaining Genderqueer to Those Who Are Not (an article by neutrois.me)

“forcing kids to stick to gender roles can actually be harmful to their health” (article by Tara Culp-Ressler)

Middle Sexes: Redefining He and She (an HBO documentary on gender variance available on Youtube)

Think Your Child Might be Transgender? (an article by GenderSpectrum.org)

What It Feels Like to be Transgender (article by Sophia Gubb)

8 Signs and Symptoms of Indirect Dysphoria (summary by Transgender Teen Survival Guide, article by Zinnia Jones)

Supporting:

A Support Guide for Parents, Families and Friends of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming people (by PFLAG.org)

There’s No Such Thing as a “Sex Change” (video from TheGuardian.com about how to talk about transgender people)

find support groups for parents of transgender children and trans youth (USA)

Trans*Forming Family (a blog by the mother of a genderqueer child)

Transgender Parenting (articles from Egale Canada)

TransYouth Family Allies

Singular They

Merriam and Webster: Ask The Editor

Oxford English Dictionary

Wikipedia: Singular They

The Economist: Singular They

Legal

WPATH Standards of Care, version 7 (pdf) (The World Professional Organization for Transgender Health)

Transgender Law Center (USA)

Change your Name for Free - Civil Indigent Status (USA) (Tumblr post)

Transgender Surgeons in the U.S. (USA)

DMAB Resources

Presentation:

Women’s Clothing Terminology

Tucking How-to Guide

The Breast Form Store

Mastectomy Bras with Built In Flap for Breast Forms

How to Contour and Highlight Using Makeup | How to Apply Eyeliner with a Spoon | How to Apply Foundation | How to Apply Blush | How to Apply Eyeshadow

Eva Voice Training App

Transition:

Find a gender therapist

AMAB Hormone Guide (uses “MTF” wording)

AMAB Surgery Guide (uses “MTF” wording)

DMAB master post

DFAB Resources

Presentation:

The FTM’s Complete Illustrated Guide to Looking Like a Hot Dude

Underworks Binders | GC2B Binders

Mr. Limpy Soft Packers | The Real EZP (the only STP that actually works)

Transition:

Find a gender therapist

AFAB Hormone Guide (uses FTM wording)

AFAB Surgery Guide (uses FTM wording)

FTMSexTalk.tumblr.com (everything to do with sex as it relates to gender and transition - FTM-focussed but they also answer a lot of questions from AFAB non-binary people)

Hudson’s FTM Guide (tons of information about binding, HRT, and masculinization)

Janitor Queer (a blog by a genderqueer person on low-dose testosterone)

Neutrois Nonsense (for information about nonbinary-specific transition)

YouTubers:

OutOfThisBinary (collab channel)

welkin gender

Micah R

thecharliecharmander

queerascat

queerbb

benderqueer

Qubit Cuties (collab channel)

[transcendboundaries]

Damn this is a comprehensive list.

[outforhealth]

Daaang. Awesome.

(Because said comprehensive list is so long we haven’t inspected all the links: let us know if a link is broken/ unhelpful/ rickrolls you.)

[ftmprince]

Insurances that cover hormones/gender reassignment surgery

Just a quick guide for all you guys and girls having trouble finding the right insurance. It’s incredibly difficult to find insurance that covers sex reassignment surgery, and even when then do, there’s a chance you’ll be denied. 

Make sure you guys are informed so you can make the right healthcare decisions!

Aetna: [x] [x] Amerigroup: [x] AHCCCS: Covers T/Estrogen only Blue Cross Anthem: [x] Blue Cross of Massachusetts: [x] Blue Cross Michigan: [x] Blue Cross North Carolina: [x]  Blue Cross North Dakota: [x] Blue Cross Rhode Island: [x] Blue Cross Tennessee: [x] Blue Cross Vermont: [x] Blue Shield CA: [x] Care First: [x] Cigna: [x] Emblem Health: [x] Excellus Blue Cross (NY): [x] Group Health Cooperative: [x] Harvard Pilgrim Health Care: [x] Health Net:[x] Health Partners: [x] HighMark: [x] Independence Blue Cross: [x] Medicare: [x] Obamacare: [x] United Healthcare: [x] Wellmark BCBS: [x] Wellpoint/Unicare: [x]

If you have any more, please add them to the list!

[quiltbaggot]

Kaiser Permanente!!!

[sogaysoalive-blog]

Maryland has come up trumps as 18th state to ban discrimination on transgender. Congrats! Let’s make this worldwide!

[youcancallmez0mbie]

Here’s something shitty and vague in case anyone needs help

[megafaunatic]

here is a noncomprehensive list of webcomics w sweet queer characters

NEATO

finished comics

tj & amal (nsfw, m/m)

princess-princess (kid-friendly, w/w)

works in progress

gunnerkrigg court (mostly kid-friendly, w/w, ? m/m ?)

demon street (kid-friendly, a girl/girl crush situation and an nb character aka my love)

prague race (nsfw, im actually not? sure? if any characters are actually explicitly queer but im still holdin out, the night is still young)

hotbloodcomic (nsfw, m/m)

cucumber quest (kid-friendly, a girl/girl crush situation and a trans woman character :’) )

questionable content (nsfw, lots of queer romo + trans woman character, plus lbrh hanners is probably ace)

o human star (nsfw, m/m, a trans girl character, robots!!!)

witchy (mostly kid-friendly, trans girl character)

omgcheckplease (not really kid-friendly but not nsfw either, m/m w various flavors of neat queer characters)

helvetica (same as check please- not kid-friendly but not nsfw and ???? MAYBE?? M/M???? POSSIBLY IM NOT„„ ACTUALLY SURE„, the night, as i said, is still young)

alterity (vaguely nsfw, main character seems to be afab but their gender is [loud truck passes, honking loudly])

anyway yeah that’s all i can think of off the top of my head but pls feel free 2 reblog this and add more

i hunger ever more greatly for queer webcomics