"Everyone in this book wanted and wants to live life to its fullest. They want to be happy. They want friends. They want to feel successful. They want to feel loved. And to do that they have to live their truth as trans and nonbinary people."
Unfortunately right now America has lots of people working overtime to deny us (I am most definitely gender fluid and a drag performer) this most basic right. They are trying to push through laws penalizing people who don't accept the gender we were labeled at birth. They are striving to erase our existence by book banning. In this tumultuous period in time Katherine Locke's Gender Rebels is very much needed.
"This is a book full of people who have experienced pain and discrimination in hopes that one day someone like them won't have to experience any pain and discrimination."
The thirty individuals profiled make up a diverse and fascinating cast. They were born across an over 2,000 year time span bookended by Callon of Epidaurus (250 BCE) and Jazz Jennings (2000) in a variety of continents. They made their mark in diverse endeavors. They include:
*Chevaliar D'eon (1728-1810) lived as a man, spying and fighting in wars. Returning to France at forty-nine she declared herself to be a woman and lived and dressed as one the rest of her life.
*Dr. James Barry (1789-1865) was birth named Margaret Anne. He assumed a male gender identity to be able to attend medical school. As a doctor in the British Army, he saw the connection between poor sanitation and illness. No one discovered his secret until his death.
*Coccinelle (1931-2006) was the first French trans woman to publicly get gender affirmation surgery.
*Ben Barres (1945-2007) discovered the role of glial cells and became the first transgender scientist to get elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
*and so many courageous trail blazers.
There are also explanations of terms such as two-spirit, drag queen, and gender dysphoria.
Gender Rebels is a great acquisition for high school and public libraries.
On a purrrsonal note, I couldn't go back to sleep after Tobago woke me up like I usually do because of too much excitement. First of all there's so much to look forward to today. Yesterday was fine. I got my stuff a buddy snowperson a day early and advertised that event on campus. Bailey gave me a ride home, stopping at Orono Public Library to pick up my inter library loans. I actually had two blissful 😊 hours to read outside near my flowers 💐. My Valentines Day project is really picking up momentum. (More on that another day). Today there are two special events. In the afternoon there's cookies and compliments. Bailey has promised sugar free cookies 🍪 😋 so I don't have to just say no. Tonight will be a dinner at the commuter lounge catered by Olive Garden. It will be the first time in 15 years I'll have Olive Garden food. Eugene doesn't much care for it so we never go. Who could ask for more?
A great big shout out goes out to all who will be participating in today's events and my Valentines Project.
Have a wonderful weekend!!!
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
No comments:
Post a Comment