Join us for a discussion of the book Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and their Families, a compilation of profiles based on interviews by Peggy Gillespie. It's a wonderful reflection of the diversity of trans experience, including people of all different ages and identities that come from all different geographic locations, cultural and religious backgrounds, and family constellations. People talk about the struggles that they have faced, but also the joy that they have found moving in the world as their authentic selves.
This book club will be an opportunity to learn from and discuss the first-person accounts in the book, as well as to reflect on our own experiences. This book club is open to people of all gender identities. The group will be facilitated by a cisgender person, using a discussion guide created by transgender people.
Please come having read most of the book (if you haven’t gotten through every interview, that’s okay!). We will delve deeper into the themes we discussed in the first session, share favorite stories from the book, explore the impacts these stories have had on us, look to the future, and share resources.
A light breakfast will be provided at both sessions. Books are available at the UUA Bookstore, Bookshop.org, and other online retailers.
Please note that while there is nothing graphic in this book, it does contain references to self harm, addiction, and suicidal feelings. If you have any questions about how in-depth the book goes into these topics, feel free to reach out to Theo at fcreligioused@gmail.com
This book in the 2024-25 UU Common Read, meaning Unitarian Universalist congregations across North America are reading and discussing this book. All materials used for this book club have been provided by the Unitarian Universalist Association and adapted for a fully secular discussion.