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friendofthefrogs's review
5.0
ITS SO GOOD THE EPILOGUE NEARLY MADE ME START BAWLING THIS BOOK WAS SO COMPASSIONATE AND THOUGHTFUL!!!
ylshelflove's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
"[π»]ππ ππππππ πππ πππππ ππππππ πππ
ππ ππ πππππ ππππππ ππ πππ ππππππππππππ
π ππ πππππππ.β
This book highlights the history of non-heteronormative gender expression and identity by sharing the stories of people from different times and cultures. Most of this info was new to me, and I really enjoyed learning about gender presentations across and outside of the gender binary.
Throughout the whole book, Heyam grapples with the balance between demonstrating that trans people have always existed, and being careful not to misconstrue or misrepresent how people from the past understood themselves. Historical artifacts like news articles, personal journals, or letters are certainly evidence of people living outside of gender norms, but there is often no way to know for sure whether or not they would have called themselves βtransgenderβ as we understand the term today.
And while Heyam argues that thatβs not a reason that these people should be excluded from trans history (βemotional connection to the past isnβt a zero-sum gameβ) they argue that part of honoring and respecting the dead is acknowledging the complexity of human identity, expression, and cultural contexts to give them a βhumanising historiographyβ
avidales's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
emlynbooks's review
5.0
Upon finishing this book I felt compelled to start it over again just to feel all of the feelings I experienced through it. This book is powerful required reading for all queer people. Iβve never felt so part of a community. Truly astonishing.
thepunkmystic's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.75
I read this book based on the recommendation of a blog I think highly of and I am so, so grateful to have read this book. I found the way it taught me how to be aware of how I approach history to be gentle but firm, with an awareness of how my background might cause harm. I read this immediately after reading "Reclaiming Two-Spirit" and the difference is staggering (in a favorable way towards Before We Were Trans).
We've always been here. We will be here. I'm so thankful, again, for this book.
As someone who is embracing their queer identity, the acknowledgements made me tear up, particularly the end.
We've always been here. We will be here. I'm so thankful, again, for this book.
As someone who is embracing their queer identity, the acknowledgements made me tear up, particularly the end.