Transgender Day of Visibility: 7 books raising awareness

Transgender Day of Visibility takes place every March 31. It’s a time to celebrate trans and non-binary people, and to raise awareness of the discrimination faced by the community worldwide. There are a great selection of books to understand more.

Books for International Transgender Day of Visibility

Here are some great books according to Pink News and transgender American professor Susan Stryker for the day of visibility.

• The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice, by Shon Faye. In her powerful work, Shon Faye redefines the concept of the ‘transgender issue,’ shedding light on the true experiences of trans individuals navigating a society marked by transphobia.
• The Hidden Case of Ewan Forbes, by Zoë Playdon. In “The Hidden Case of Ewan Forbes,” Zoë Playdon delves into law, medicine, psychology, and biology to uncover a stunning secret history, revealing records for the first time that were deemed so destabilising they had been hidden from public view for years.
• Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity, by C Riley Snorton. In “Black on Both Sides,” C. Riley Snorton explores the numerous intersections of black and transgender identities from the mid-nineteenth century to the current era, marked by legislation and violence against both black and trans communities.
• Transgender Marxism, edited by Jules Joanne Gleeson and Elle O’Rourke, with a foreword by Jordy Rosenberg. “Transgender Marxism” stands as a pioneering compilation, merging transgender studies with Marxist theory in a bold and innovative alliance.

Watch the interview: What is the importance of Gender Euphoria? – with author Laura Kate Dale

• Gender Euphoria: Stories of Joy from Trans, Non-binary and Intersex Writers, by Laura Kate Dale. In this pioneering collection, nineteen trans, non-binary, agender, gender-fluid, and intersex authors share their personal journeys and the joy of embracing their gender identities.
• Histories of the Transgender Child by Julian Gill-Peterson. Drawing on extensive archival material from hospitals and clinics, alongside remarkable personal correspondence from children to doctors and a breadth of scientific and medical publications, this book delves into the early twentieth century—a period before the term ‘transgender’ was coined, yet when transgender experiences were undeniably present in the lives of both children and their parents.
• Trap Door: Trans Cultural Production and the Politics of Visibility edited by Reina Gossett, Eric A Stanley and Johanna Burton. “Trap Door” initiates a dialogue that not only permeates trans culture but also has implications for anyone interested in the ethical considerations of visual culture.

Listen to our episode on gender euphoria, where I speak with author Laura Kate Dale on her collection of the same name.

This article was updated on March 31, 2024, with more details about the books and our interviews.

This article contains affiliate links via Bookshop.org in which we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you, in order to support local bookshops. We have not been commissioned to review books and services.