Trans Kids, Our Kids, authored by team members from the Campaign for Southern Equality and released by Ig Publishing, provides a narrative look into the unprecedented challenges facing transgender young people. The release will be followed by a 15-city book tour.
Today, September 24, marks the release of Trans Kids, Our Kids: Stories and Resources from the Frontlines of the Movement for Transgender Youth, a new book that shares the stories of transgender youth and their families, exploring the choices they are making to survive this unprecedented time of hostility. The book, co-written by team members at the Campaign for Southern Equality (Alexis Stratton, Adam Polaski, and Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, with cover design by Liz Williams), 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.
Following the release tonight at Citizen Vinyl in Asheville, NC – at an event presented by Malaprop’s Bookstore – the co-authors and team will embark on a 15-city book tour, including stops at independent bookstores in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Austin, Nashville, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Louisville, Richmond, Charleston, and more. The full list of book tour stops is available here.
Alexis Stratton (they/them pronouns), one of the authors of the book, said:
“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.”
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-six states currently ban or restrict transgender youth from accessing hormone therapy; less than two years ago, zero states had such bans in effect. Much of the book draws on the frontline stories and lessons that the Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) staff have learned from the Trans Youth Emergency Project, 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 $600,000 in direct emergency grants to families and community partners across twenty-six states. All royalties from book sales will benefit this project.
Praise for Trans Kids, Our Kids
“Sometimes it feels like everyone in the world stands in opposition to trans kids—the government, the media, and even our own families and neighbors. But Trans Kids, Our Kids is proof that there are more everyday people who love and support trans youth than there are those who want them back into the closet and out of public life. This book is a valuable tool for those of us working to live in a world where trans kids are free to experience the joys and turbulence of youth without the added challenge of fighting for their right to exist. It is a necessary anthology; it is a snapshot of both the fortitude of our movement and the critical work that lies ahead.”
– Calvin Kasulke, Several People Are Typing
“Many of us have read the headlines about anti-LGBTQ+ laws passing, but it can be hard to see through the barrage of legislation and political attacks to understand what’s really at stake. With narratives that are devastating, infuriating, and hopeful, Trans Kids, Our Kids cuts through the noise to share intimate stories about young people, their families, and transgender adults who have been unfairly thrust into a cruel firestorm. Whether you think you already know what trans youth and their families have been going through or you have not yet thought about it at all, this book will open your eyes and inspire you to action.
– Jessi Hempel, The Family Outing
“When the laws of your own state treat you as less than equal and block you from your hopes, dreams, and full potential, you have to push back and speak out – and that’s exactly what so many young people, their parents, and community leaders dare to do in Trans Kids, Our Kids. I know firsthand the power – and the pain – of fighting for people you love, and I am in awe of the families and advocates featured in this book who are doing everything they can to support their children, build supportive spaces, and empower young people to live with authenticity and dignity.”
– Jim Obergefell, Co-author of Love Wins, plaintiff in the Supreme Court marriage equality decision Obergefell v. Hodges, and activist
“So often, the stories of individual transgender people are missing from the laws targeting them. Trans Kids, Our Kids is an important book that tells the stories of those most affected—the kids and families themselves. The use of personal narratives interwoven with the details of the laws targeting them highlights their struggles and resilience in the face of one of the biggest attacks on trans people in modern history. This book will hold an essential place in the library of anyone wishing to understand these issues further.”
– Erin Reed, Journalist
