March 31 marks Transgender Day of Visibility, a day dedicated to celebrating transgender folks and raising awareness of the discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide. Today we share five books that help demonstrate some of the intolerance and bigotry trans folks face day to day, while also creating ample room for trans joy and excellence. These books, from BC publishers, are just a few of the great books featuring trans voices and characters that should find a home on your bookshelf. Enjoy!
The Fifth by MP Boisvert (Caitlin Press/Dagger Editions)
A contemporary novel about polyamory, full of eclectic and refreshing characters navigating love, life, and desire among their chosen family, The Fifth also features a transgender woman involved in a polyamorous relationship with three others. Infused with Quebecois culture, The Fifth offers a refreshing take on sexuality and desire, and the surprising ways those dynamics can change with the tiniest push. As the publisher writes, this is a novel that is “honest, delightfully unconventional, breaks down barriers and challenges norms in our society.”
it was never going to be ok by jaye simpson (Nightwood Editions)
Two-Spirit Oji-Cree writer jaye simpson’s debut book it was never going to be okay is a cutting excavation of “the intimacies of understanding intergenerational trauma, Indigeneity and queerness, while addressing urban Indigenous diaspora and breaking down the limitations of sexual understanding as a trans woman.”
A raw portrayal of trans-Indigiqueer lived experience, simpson mixes poetry and prose to underscore the intricacies of Indigenous livelihood and dismantles the notion that healing is inherently bound to a linear progression.
Our Work is Everywhere by Syan Rose (Arsenal Pulp Press)
Queer illustrator Syan Rose’s visually staggering work of graphic non-fiction shines a light on the tireless labour trans folk have been doing for years. Our Work is Everywhere uplifts trans organizers, healers, artists, and healers and allows them to draw focus to important issues such as Black femme mental health, Pacific Islander authorship, and disability and health care practice in their own words. Coupled with Rose’s lively illustrations, these leaders’ voices present an earnest and layered glimpse at the realities facing trans folks as they look to carve out space for themselves and their kin.
Cissy: Three Gender Plays by Dave Deveau (Talonbooks)
A collection of three plays by acclaimed playwright Dave Deveau, Cissy brings multiple perspectives to light. Confronting conflicting gender ideals, reflecting upon the affect a murder has on a community, and following a young person as they assert their gender identity, respectively, the three plays in Cissy focus on the lives of young LGBTQ+ people. Written with care and nuance, the plays in Cissy remind us of the importance of supporting trans and queer youth, as they grapple with the trials of growing up, while also learning to embrace their true selves.
How to Fail as a Popstar by Vivek Shraya (Arsenal Pulp Press)
Multi-talented artist Vivek Shraya’s latest book adds another medium to her extensive portfolio. How to Fail as a Popstar is Shraya’s debut theatrical work, an insightful and humorous chronicle of her attempts to reach pop superstardom. Featuring photos from the 2020 Toronto staging, How to Fail as a Popstar is an earnest portrayal of what it takes to push through disappointment, on one’s way to find their true voice.