One Month of Awareness Is Not Nearly Enough
Here are tools you can use as we close the door on Transgender Awareness Month
Yesterday was the last day of Transgender Awareness Month, which means that for the past 30 days, my Instagram feed was filled with colorful graphics crowing about trans joy and beauty and worth. Which I love to see.
But according to the Trans Legislation Tracker, this past year saw 590 anti-trans bills introduced in 49 states.1 And a recent report from the Human Rights Campaign reveals an “epidemic of violence” against transgender and nonconforming folks, with 33 people from that community having been killed since last year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance of November 20, 2022.
So instead of sharing my usual goofy story about the sex ed moments in my own life, I wanted to spotlight some of the books in the Guerrilla Sex Ed resource database that you can read to learn more about transness.
Because those introducing anti-trans bills and using scare tactics to spread misinformation about trans folks are actively erasing their humanity.
But learning what’s true can stop that erasure.
For Kids
When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff and Kaylani Juanita. When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. But once he came out as a trans boy, Aidan and his parents fixed the parts of his life that didn’t fit anymore, and he fell happily into being himself.
Then Mom and Dad announce that they’re having another baby, and Aidan wants to get everything right for his new sibling. But what does it mean to “get everything right”? And what happens if he messes up? With a little help, Aidan discovers that he already knows the most important thing about being a brother: how to love with his whole heart.
When Aidan Became a Brother is a heartfelt story that will resonate with transgender children and reassure any child concerned about becoming an older sibling as it celebrates the many transitions a family can experience.
For Teens
Trans+: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You by Kathryn Gonzales, MBA, and Karen Rayne, Ph.D. This book is an all-inclusive, uncensored guide for teens who are transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, or gender-fluid. TRANS+ answers all your questions, easy and hard, about gender and covers mental health, physical health and reproduction, transitioning, relationships, sex, and life as a trans or nonbinary individual. It’s full of essential information you need — and want — to know and includes real-life stories from teens.
For Adults
Trans Bodies, Trans Selves edited by Laura Erickson-Schroth. This is a 649-page resource guide by and for the trans, gender-expansive, and non-binary community and their families. It includes information on health, legal issues, cultural and social questions, relationships, history, activism, and much more.
You can find more resources over at Guerrilla Sex Ed.
My Favorite New Sex Ed Resources
In addition to what you’ll find on Guerrilla Sex Ed, I’ve recently come across a few new resources you can add to your toolkit.
On NPR’s Fresh Air, educator Aidan Key explains why U.S. schools are seeing an increase in transgender students and shares how educators can respond to anti-LGBTQ curriculum measures. This episode is from June, but a fellow Sex Education Alliance member recently shared it during a call and, my god, Key is phenomenal.
Also courtesy of my SEA community, here’s a guide to messaging in support of trans youth.
Finally, I recently read Schuyler Bailar’s He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters, and I think it’s a must-read. In this book, Bailar clearly and compassionately addresses fundamental topics, from why pronouns are important to how gender-affirming healthcare can be lifesaving. With a relatable narrative rooted in facts, science, and history, he helps restore common sense and humanity to a discussion that continues to be divisively coopted and deceptively politicized.
Hot Take
My Mood at This Very Moment
Sure, only 85 were passed, but 85 is 85 too many, and 380 other bills remain active. Here’s another handy tracker from the ACLU you can also use to see all those bills at a glance.