Trans Kids, Our Kids: Stories and Resources from the Frontlines of the Movement for Transgender Youth

by Alexis Stratton, Adam Polaski, Jasmine Beach-Ferrara

Over the past few years, we have witnessed a growing wave of anti-LGBTQ+ bills and policies across the United States. According to the ACLU, in 2023 alone, 507 anti-LGBTQ bills were proposed in 47 states; among these, 84 have been passed into law.

The targets of many of these legislative attacks have been the most vulnerable among us—transgender and LGBTQ+ youth. From “Don’t Say Gay” laws to healthcare restrictions, anti-LGBTQ+ policies are impacting trans and queer youth in almost every sphere of their lives, including the medical care they can access, the sports teams they can play on, what they are allowed to talk about in the classroom, and the books they are allowed to check out from the library. The results of this discrimination are often deadly, with over half of transgender and non-binary youth seriously contemplating suicide, and many others falling victim to violent hate crimes inspired by this hostile climate.

Trans Kids, Our Stories and Resources from the Frontlines of the Movement for Transgender Youth shares the stories of transgender youth and their families, exploring the choices they are making to survive in today's environment. The book also gives voice to the medical providers who are providing care to transgender youth, as well as the activists, teachers and faith leaders who are leading the resistance efforts.

By contextualizing and sharing these stories, as well as offering resources and next steps, Trans Kids aims to both narrativize the pain and fear experienced by everyday Americans in this cultural moment, as well as highlighting the courage, hope, and resilience of transgender and LGBTQ+ youth, their families, and the people who support them.

Genres: LGBT, Nonfiction, Queer

260 pages, Paperback

Published September 24, 2024

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an approachable text on the modern fight for trans rights, specifically for trans young people. From gender affirming care bans, to book bans and legislation around discussing LGBTQ+ topics in schools, to creating affirming community, this book covers a wide swath of topics largely through interviews with trans kids, their parents, and other adults fighting for their rights. It was simultaneously heartbreaking to read about all the anti-trans legislation, and uplifting to read about affirming parents and communities speaking out and fighting back.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was recommended this book through the Campaign for Southern Equality. At times it got a little dry when discussing the actual law aspect of things, but all the information in this book is great. I encourage everyone to read it if you consider yourself an ally. If you don't consider yourself an ally, read it anyway. You might learn a thing or two.

I highlighted so many quotes in this book, but one that really resonated with me is, "Don't you remember when you were sixteen or seventeen? All you want to do is feel like you belong. All you want to do is feel like you can participate and feel like you're in the right spot and that people like you. That's precisely the need, and that's precisely what these kids are increasingly told they cannot have."

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

So incredibly important to read -- and also so deeply unsettling. Hearing about current anti-trans legislation through the perspective and experience of trans kids, their parents, trans adults/Campaign for Southern Equality staff, and the lawyers fighting said legislation makes this book unique and so essential today... although it took me forever to finish because I kept freaking out at every personal story, deeply terrifying statistics of hateful legislation, and abhorrent rhetoric spewed by those with immense power in this country.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read with lots of stories, resources, data and reporting about trans youth, where we’ve been and where we still need to go. Out 9/24.

4.25 bc it’s nonfiction (not the biggest fan), but so very important.

CW: transphobia, bullying, suicide

[Noell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful collage of stories from across the country about the lived experiences of trans youth and the various providers, community organizations, and faith communities working to support and affirm them. I have worked as a youth minister and a pediatric psych nurse and now I work as a nurse at a clinic providing gender affirming healthcare— I can see so much of the community I have served in my various lines of work reflected in these stories. These stories are important and moving and open the door for more love, more action, more storytelling, and more opportunities to nurture queer joy. I’m so glad this books exists and am grateful too for the resources shared at the end.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illuminating case studies of how anti-trans laws impact youth in the US, primarily in the South, with a few blind-spots in the reporting.

Big picture, this is a great read to get a handle on the state of anti-trans laws impacting access to gender affirming care and related issues for youth. It is faraway better than American Teenagers (Lang) at covering the issue broadly and reaching out to people doing important, effective work to both spotlight that and record it for posterity.

The writing is very engaging. Based on the cover, I worried it was going to be dry/academic, but it reads for general nonfiction readers with limit background in the topic (not zero background, don't be dumb). It is actually difficult to put down.

The content covers a fast-moving topic, so the book won't be evergreen. It's important to read now. In a year or two, it's mostly going to historical and no one will be able to estimate the value. I mean, I can't. Good luck.

Okay, so the section on Montana. I had real problems with this, because I left MT as a refugee from the anti-trans laws passed there in 2023. It was as bad as ANY other state mentioned at that time. The authors chose to portray the state in an entirely rose-colored way. I feel sincere outrage on that account. Ten minutes of research would have taught them a lot here.

Overall, it's a great in-this-moment book to read in 2024/25, but will be of limited use outside these years to general readers. Reads fast, reads well. Probably should have learned more about Western states.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gerry Coyne was my first openly gay friend ... in the late 1960s, he was this young Evangelical couple's dear brother .. and such fun ... ! Decorator To The Stars ! .. Gerry came with us to my family home once when we had errands. I had some trepidation as my dad was an old style Swedish Baptist Pentecostal preacher, and Gerry loved his own flamboyance ... I stayed back to say goodbye and my dad looked concerned .. I thought .. uh oh .. as he had never even approved of me .. His statement stays with me still: "It must be very hard to be himself in this world." This book is about children and their families whose already difficult lives this USA is striving to make cruel and impossible. We left conservative Christianity but never Christ .. who by His actions affirmed my dad's recognition .. and added a Commandment .. Love others as you have been loved by God ... Who, by the way, loves everyone, and is not willing that any should perish. The struggle in these stories is real .. facing people who have made God in their own narrow image .. breaking the first Commandment, thus voiding the second. I think of my dad .. who was fierce, righteous, spent 12 years teaching the Book of Hebrews to his overflow Sunday School class .. and am so grateful to have his heart DNA reflected in my theology. An important book .. practical lists in the back section of organizations etc ... Is available at Thriftbooks by mail ...

[Ashlee Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and presented great information. Already with everything happening in the world, this book is outdated which is honestly very sad and disheartening. It ended on a hopeful note--which given the current climate of the US--is not nearly as hopeful now. At times, this book read like a strongly worded college essay and it did get repetitive, but ultimately that just helped hammer in some key points. Regardless of the slightly outdated information now, I think this book provides a crucial perspective and an even more crucial history in the fight for rights for transgender youth and I would recommend people read it to better understand the sheer magnitude of discrimination and hatred that we are up against.

[Julia Prater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really important work; very well written. Highly recommend to all who care about and seek to understand what trans kids and their families are going through in this ugly and dangerous time of evil, hateful and discriminatory action being taken by legislators and elected officials across this country.