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Authentic Selves

Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families
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( 78 ratings, 17 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Authentic Selves offers a vibrant portrayal of trans and nonbinary individuals and their families through powerful photographs and personal narratives. Moving beyond tales of struggle, it illuminates their rich lives filled with joy, community, and resilience. Featuring stories from these remarkable people and their loved ones, the book reveals the triumphs and challenges experienced while striving for a more inclusive and compassionate world.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers interested in LGBTQ+ stories, social justice, and diverse family experiences. This book serves as an important resource for those seeking to better understand and celebrate trans and nonbinary lives.

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"In Collaboration with PFLAG National, The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, Family Diversity Projects. Based on an exhibit originated by Jack Pierson; with Peggy Gillespie and Gigi Kaeser for Family Diversity Projects"--Title page.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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 mum 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. However, trans and nonbinary people live rich and fulfilling lives full of joy and community as well. Authentic Selves: 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, 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.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781558968967

Publisher: Skinner House Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 June 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Skinner House Books

Illustration: Photographs throughout

Contributors:

  • Edited by Peggy Gillespie
  • Foreword by Jeanette Jennings
  • Foreword by Jazz Jennings

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 177.0mm

Height: 254.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Peggy Gillespie, MA, CSW, is the cofounder and director of Family Diversity Projects, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping eliminate prejudice, stereotyping, bullying, and harassment of people who are discriminated against due to sexual orientation, gender identity, race, national origin, religion, and disabilities of all kinds. The organization tells the stories of real people presented in award-winning traveling photo and text exhibits. These exhibits tour communities nationwide in schools, universities, houses of worship, libraries, workplaces, museums, and other institutions. Gillespie is the editor of all of the exhibits and books, including Love Makes a Family: Portraits of LGBT People and their Families, among others. She is also an actress and performed recently in the award-winning show A 24-Decade History of Popular Music starring Taylor Mac.

Jazz Jennings is the star of the award-winning TLC documentary series I Am Jazz. She is a twenty-one-year-old LGBTQ rights activist, author, and a student at Harvard University. Jazz wasn't allowed to use the girls' restroom in her elementary school for five years and was prohibited from playing girls' soccer in her state for more than 2 years. After a long battle, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) created a policy to include all transgender athletes who want to play soccer. In 2021, The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC opened an exhibit called Girlhood . . . It's Complicated, which included Jazz's life story, making her the first transgender girl to be featured as an historical figure.

Jeanette Jennings is married to her soulmate Greg and a proud mom of four adult children. Jeanette spreads her message of unconditional love and acceptance through media and speaking engagements all over the United States and is the Co-founder and President of the Transkids Purple Rainbow Foundation, which helps to support transgender youth.

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