REVIEW
By Dave Parker, PFLAG Transgender Network
There are a great many books about transgender people. A lot of
them are autobiographical, some are published by medical
professionals and others are case studies by therapists and/or
psychologists. A few are written by children in families with a
transgender parent. Only a couple present an honest compilation
Trans-Kin is an assembly of short treatises by all kinds of
significant others. They include family stories, discussion of
relationships by friends and statements of support from allies,
along with discussions by transgender people themselves about their relationships. The following quote provides the rationale for
“It’s your gender, it’s your life, it’s your decision alone — but no matter how you do it, other people are involved. Our
Copyright 2012 Eleanor A. Hubbard and Cameron T. Whitley Design
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A Guide for Family & Friends
of Transgender People
TM
of many points of view; Trans-Kin is one of them.
transitions can affect the lives of those around us and their reactions, or even the fear of their reactions, can affect our
transitions. Our lives.”
As you would expect from vignettes resulting from interviews with more than 50 different people with diverse experiences,
the stories include similarities and many differences in experience. Some reflect acceptance by significant others — including
parents and siblings. Some refer to rejection by one or more of their close relatives. Most exhibit a strong sense of family
involving their chosen, accepting friends and a stronger bond with their accepting natal families. Those of us in the
transgender community — transpeople and allies alike — will recognize many of the authors and most of the situations the
authors experienced. Even so, there is much to be gained by reading and sharing this latest publication.
“Church” by Jackie Frances © 2012
this highly-informative compendium:
