Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families

by Jazz Jennings, Jennings Jazz (Foreword), Jennings Jeanette (Foreword)

Groundbreaking in its depictions of joy and community, Authentic Selves celebrates trans and nonbinary people and their families in stunning photographs and their own words. Foreword by transgender activist Jazz Jennings and her mom and fellow activist, Jeanette Jennings.




So often trans and nonbinary people’s stories are told only through the lens of their struggles and challenges, including their political battles for legal rights, but trans and nonbinary people live rich and fulfilling lives full of joy and community too. Authentic Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families is a sweeping compilation of life stories and portraits of trans and nonbinary people, as well as their partners, parents, children, siblings, and chosen family members.

The compelling stories in Authentic Selves provide a glimpse into the real lives, both the challenges and the triumphs, of these remarkable people and their families—people like Senator Sarah McBride, disability justice advocate Parker Glick, drag entertainer TAYLOR ALXNDR, September 11th first responder Jozeppi Angelo Morelli, model Lana Patel, youth activist Elliott Bertrand, and so many others—all of whom are working to create a more just, diverse, and compassionate world.

Developed in collaboration with PFLAG National and Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund.

Genres: Nonfiction, Transgender, Gender, LGBT

399 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 2, 2023

About the author

Jazz Jennings (born October 6, 2000) is an American teenage trans woman, YouTube celebrity, spokesmodel and LGBTQ rights activist. She came to wide national attention in 2007 on "'I'm a Girl' – Understanding Transgender Children" an interview with Barbara Walters on ABC News' 20/20. Her parents noted that Jazz was clear on being female as soon as she could speak. Other national interviews and appearances followed.

She hosts a series of videos about her life, titled "I Am Jazz", on YouTube, making her one of the youngest ever trans women to speak out on issues publicly. Christine Connelly, a member of the board of Boston Alliance of GLBT Youth stated, "She was the first young person who picked up the national spotlight, went on TV and was able to articulate her perspective and point of view with such innocence."

Jazz co-wrote "I Am Jazz", a children's biographical picture book about her life. Jazz is also noteworthy because her family fully supports her, which is rare but becoming more common as LGBTQ acceptance increases. She has agreed to star in a 11-part reality show TLC TV series to air summer 2015 called "All That Jazz" about her life. CNN states the show will feature "the 14-year-old and her family dealing with typical teen drama through the lens of a transgender youth."

Reviews

[Sarah S. Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is both moving and charming. I am truly impressed by the collection's diversity in ethnicity, religion, and life experience. Each profile is in the subject's own words, and the paths to finding joyful gender expression are each unique and meaningful. Put this in the hand of anyone who is gender non-conforming or loves someone in the trans community. There are some tough moments, but this is a genuine expression of "It Gets Better."

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the variety of stories about Trans and non binary people and support people. It’s a celebration. Wondering if a 2nd volume could also contain memorial tributes to nonbinary persons.

[Stephanie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps one of the most vital and important nonfiction books available today in 2025.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. It taught me so much about accepting and loving everyone and respecting peoples choices. That even though you were born one way and you decide to live your authentic self they are still the same person. They are just being true to themselves. And there are a lot of people out there that are uneducated and not accepting or respecting others. That churches don’t practice what they stand for.

[Wynn Barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

a chance to get real stories

This is very good collection of the stories of a diverse group of people with different backgrounds and interests. A good place to start if you want to know more about LGBTQ people’s lives.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book to better understand

This book is such a help, particularly for cishet folks, to better understand what it means to be trans or nonbinary, in the words of those living these lives.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, amazing collection of families and individuals sharing their stories of authenticity, transformation, relationship, and hope.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A diverse collection that includes experiences and identities that will speak to many trans and non-binary readers/families, but that could have been arranged more coherently/less randomly.

The best part is definitely the mixture of ages, race/ethnic backgrounds, family structures, religious traditions, etc. among those featured in the book. Other books of this kind often had sparse representation beyond certain groups that were easily accessible to the editor. This depicts a broader swath of the community by far.

Less awesome, some of the essays felt like recruitment pitches for PFLAG and less authentic for that. It's a great organization, but it just popped up in odd places, and, yes, I know they had a stake in the book, but that doesn't mean the drop-ins were not awkward AF in some spots.

The framework also seemed to lean slightly toward religiosity in a positive way, even though that is not the lived experience of most LGBTQ people. It's a bias in the selection, IMHO, possibly arising from featuring so many people from the South (especially Georgia...WTF?). I'm trans and from Georgia and have seen the Williams Institute stats for where transgender people live in the US, but this still seems disproportionate and weird to me.

Overall, it is a great collection and reading about trans lives in the context of their families is informative, and I hope parents of transgender children and youth are able to find this book and have more understanding for their kids because of it.

[L.B. Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

My biggest take away from this book: I am grateful to read so many first-hand essays by transgender and nonbinary individuals.

Growing up, the only book I remember finding in my school library about the queer community was a historical account of mostly tragic retellings. This book may speak of hardships experienced, but it is centered in hope and the joy of knowing that all of the individuals telling these stories were alive and thriving at the time the essays were collected.

There’s a wide representation of experiences, from
a range of ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, races, and religious upbringings. Varying cases of acceptance or struggle early in life. Having followup essays by family members was a unique touch that was helpful to include in tandem with the POV essays of the trans and nonbinary individuals. It’s a reminder of how important allies are in our lives, and there were many lessons learned from situations where acceptance came later in life.

You can pick up and start reading this book from any section, in my opinion. Either linear, beginning to end, or flip open to an individual and read their story along with the stories of their family members. Each collection of shared experiences is a unique bubble. Highly worth the read!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so affirming and lovely. I am a queer nonbinary person and I very deeply appreciate the work and bravery that went into this book. Thank you with all my heart to the people who shared their stories. You have inspired me to keep on being visible and live my life as my authentic self.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended! This series of interviews/essays of trans and nonbinary people and their families was interesting and informative. I was moved by many of the stories and the different ways lives were affected, and how much acceptance and knowledge mattered to all of the people involved.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart warming collection of stories about trans people who have had the courage to come out. I couldn’t read all the stories. The book is very dense but you will be richer because of the ones you do read.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

interviews with many trans and nonbinary people and their families

One of the interview questions must have been about religion because most everyone spoke about religion and congregations and the effect on their lives. Many mentions of Unitarian Universalism.

[Ivy]

I appreciate this book for what it is and I think this is very needed right now. But, there’s a lot of outdated language (esp male/female) for a 2023 book.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the Unitarian Universal Association Common Read for 2025 . I am looking forward to our Discussion Group at my Fellowship.

[Chet Taranowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid book simply listing interviews done with Transman and Transwomen as well as their family members. All these people want to do is live their lives and be left alone.

[Laurie Barshay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot! Great for families.