Trans Kids, Our Kids, to be released September 24 by Ig Publishing, features the voices of 50+ youth, parents, advocates, and doctors from across the country and provides a narrative look into the unprecedented challenges facing transgender young people.
NEW YORK – This fall, on September 24, 2024, Ig Publishing will release Trans Kids, Our Kids: Stories and Resources from the Frontlines of the Movement for Transgender Youth. The new book shares the stories of transgender youth and their families, exploring the choices they are making to survive this unprecedented time of hostility. The book also gives voice to medical providers who are providing care to transgender youth, as well as activists, community organizers, and faith leaders who are leading the resistance efforts.
Trans Kids, Our Kids takes a narrative approach to capturing how people all across the country are meeting the moment to support, protect, and live in solidarity with transgender youth and their families. It is based on interviews with more than 50 transgender youth, their parents, and the medical providers, advocates, and faith leaders who are leading the fight against the wave of discriminatory legislation that has flooded statehouses since 2022. Subjects hail from 19 different states.
The book was authored by staff members from the Campaign for Southern Equality, Alexis Stratton, Adam Polaski, and Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, with cover design by Liz Williams.
Alexis Stratton (they/them pronouns), one of the authors of the book, said today:
“There is so much political noise about transgender young people, which enables and even encourages the public to look past the very real, long-lasting harms that legislative attacks are causing for transgender youth and their families. Our mission with Trans Kids, Our Kids is to center, elevate, and amplify the voices of the people who are grappling with the fallout – the parents and family members, the doctors and attorneys, the advocates, and, above all, the young people themselves. Our book introduces extraordinary and diverse people who bring to the forefront not only the fear and pain that the trans community is experiencing but also the ways that we are finding joy and supporting each other through this crisis.”
Adam Polaski (he/him pronouns), Communications & Political Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality and one of the authors of the book, said:
“This book was a labor of love for the Campaign for Southern Equality staff, with team members contributing at every level and community members from all walks of life trusting us with their stories. We are honored to bring this book into the world as a tool to educate the public, illustrate the immense challenges that trans youth, families, and advocates are facing, and motivate all of us to get involved in the work to ensure that every young person, especially those most marginalized and targeted by cruel political forces, can live with dignity and respect.”
In the weeks ahead, we will be announcing the dates and locations of a book tour, where we’ll be joined by community partners to share stories from Trans Kids, Our Kids and ways to join the movement to support and protect trans youth. Events are currently scheduled for Asheville, NC; New York, NY; Louisville, KY; Boston, MA; Austin, TX; Richmond, VA; Nashville, TN; Charleston, SC; and more.
One primary focus of Trans Kids, Our Kids is the recent and relentless attack on trans young people’s access to gender-affirming care. Twenty-five states currently ban or restrict transgender youth from accessing hormone therapy; less than two years ago, zero states had such bans in effect. Bans have passed in all but one Southern state. Click here for a nationwide map of where bans have passed and where they are in effect or on hold pending litigation.
Much of the book draws on the frontline stories and lessons that the Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) staff have learned from the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project (STYEP), which has supported more than 1,000 families of transgender youth in navigating healthcare bans. Since the launch of the project in 2023, CSE has distributed more than $500,000 in direct emergency grants to families and community partners across fifteen states. All royalties from book sales will benefit this project.
