Welcome to the second week of reading Trans Liberation: Beyond Pink or Blue by Leslie Feinberg!
If you’re just getting started, here’s a link to the thread for Chapter 1: https://hexbear.net/post/5178006?scrollToComments=false
We’re only doing one chapter per week and the discussion threads will be left open, so latecomers are still very much welcome to join if interested.
Also, as I mentioned last week. This isn’t just a book for trans people! Cis comrades would get a lot out of this reading/discussion as well, so don’t feel intimidated if you’re not trans and/or new to these topics.
As with last week’s thread, here is a list of resources taken from the previous reading group session:
pdf download
epub download - Huge shout out to comrade @EugeneDebs for putting this together. I realized I didn’t credit them in either post but here it is. I appreciate your efforts. ❤️
chapter 1 audiobook - Huge shout out to comrade @futomes for recording these. No words can truly express my appreciation for this. Thank you so much. ❤️
chapter 2 audiobook
chapter 3 audiobook
chapter 4 audiobook
chapter 5 audiobook
chapter 6 audiobook
chapter 7 audiobook
chapter 8 audiobook
Also here’s another PDF download link and the whole book on ProleWiki.
In this thread we’ll be discussing Chapter 2: Allow Me to Introduce Myself.
CWs: Discussion of transphobia.
This chapter covers a speech Feinberg gave at the 9th annual Texas “T” Party in Richardson, TX, as well as a (very heartwarming imo) “Portrait” section where Linda and Cynthia Phillips (seen in the thumbnail) discuss their relationship and life experience.
I’ll ping whoever has been participating so far, but please let me know if you’d like to be added (or removed).
Feel free to let me know if you have any feedback also. Thanks!
Great chapter! Les has such an amazing literary style that sears the heart with revolutionary fervor and solidarity. What I found especially important and profound is hir insistance on different marginalized groups fighting for each other’s rights, strengthening them all.
A bit personally, introspection on gender over time has had me reconcile that I see myself as a “less masculine male.” That doesn’t mean I see myself as “more feminine,” but as someone cis, I still feel trapped by the rigid contours of pink and blue. I’m happy with who I am, I would not be myself if I pushed myself to be more masculine, breaking down the barriers of pink and blue allows me to be, well, me.
Linda and Cynthia were great examples of why reading other perspectives is so wonderful. I agree with others who have pointed out the essentialist nature of how gender is viewed by them, which is an unfortunate and sad product of their time, but I find it wonderful to see how they both managed to carve out their own happiness and organize safe spaces for others. I find it especially encouraging to see gender further explored and understood as time goes on.
Great chapter!