International Day of Transgender Visibility (TDoV)

International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV) is celebrated annually on March 31st to commemorate transgender lived experiences and bring awareness of discrimination faced by transgender folks.

Days such as TDoV are crucial in opening the discussion around trans* rights, since many people still face discrimination and may not fully be comfortable in the way they express their gender outwardly. From collective and individual victories, hardships, and social change, TDoV is an important date to recognize what has come, as well as what there is to look forward to in terms of gender equity.

To celebrate and uplift the voices of our trans authors and highlight their lived experiences, today and every day, please enjoy this curated list of resources that would be a fantastic addition to any course syllabus, including programs on education, health, gender and women’s studies, political science, sociology, law and more:

Trans Youth Stories: An Intergenerational Dialogue after the "Trans Tipping Point"

This textbook edited by Dr. Lindsay Herriot and Kate Fry, is one of the only resources to find the first-hand accounts of Canadian trans youth. Through letters, visual mediums, poetry, and creative writing Canadian transgender youth between ages 10 and 18 offer a window into their experiences. Each child’s work is paired with a scholar to form a dialogue that bridges the youth experience with current scholarship to explore themes of bodies, families, mental health, education, acceptance, and culture.

Queerly Canadian, Second Edition: An Introductory Reader in Sexuality Studies

The second edition of this essential text, edited by Rayter and Laine Halpern Zisman, covers historical and contemporary scholarly perspectives on the role sexuality plays in the formation of our nation, our national narratives, myths, and identities. There are several excellent chapters from trans contributors, but we recommend the chapter 16: “Gender Struggles: Reflections on Trans Liberation, Trade Unionism, and the Limits of Solidarity” by Trish Salah as a must-read.

Sex Change, Social Change: Reflections on Identity, Institutions, and Imperialism

This Women’s Press classic by Viviane Namaste focuses on contemporary trans politics in Canadian and Québécois contexts, shown through different case studies relating to the law, human rights, health care, and sex work. Viviane has directed all royalties from the sale of this book go to PASAN (Prisoners' HIV/AIDS Support Action Network), in particular the emergency fund that provides modest amounts of money to prisoners upon their release. These funds enable people to secure housing, go to a job interview, and/or replace their identity documents.

TransNarratives: Scholarly and Creative Works on Transgender Experience

This interdisciplinary collection, edited by Kristi Carter and James Brunton, highlights contributions from transgender writers and academics. The works collected aim to actively deconstruct binaries in all forms, including the divisions that can sometimes separate academic and creative production. Grounded in first-person accounts and own-voices creative works, this volume is an incredible resource for anyone looking to dive into queer studies.

Trans Activism in Canada: A Reader

Edited by Dan Irving and Rupert Raj, Trans Activism in Canada brings together activists and allies to examine the various strategies and forms of resistance needed to transform oppression into opportunity for change. Creating a dialogue between scholars and community members, this reader draws attention to ways to bring institutional reform through narrative themes ranging from poverty and isolation to health care and best practices.

We are honored to carry titles that support institutional reform and social change, as well as accurately represent transgender experiences in Canada. To inquire about how to incorporate more transgender scholarship into your course, email one of our publisher representatives to find the right textbook or browse other works that cover trans scholarship here.