Trans Liberation: Beyond Pink or Blue (Paperback)

by Leslie Feinberg (Author)
Key Phrases: trans people, trans liberation, trans movement, United States, Young Lords, Stonewall Rebellion (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Although readers familiar with Feinberg's earlier books will not find much new material here, this collection of hir (this transgendered author's pronoun of choice) speeches, presented with a few essays by other transgendered writers, serves as a good introduction to Feinberg's ideas about the complexities of gender expression and to hir vision for a future "beyond pink or blue." As someone who faces oppression, incomprehension, and violence every day on the basis of hir appearance and the refusal to adhere to a rigid gender designation (Feinberg was once denied emergency medical treatment for endocarditis by a doctor who dismissed hir angrily as "a very troubled person"), Feinberg is in an excellent position to refute the shallow assumptions of the medical establishment and the mainstream media, as well as the more extreme views of the political and religious right. Most compelling are hir arguments on the importance of a broad-based multi-issue coalition among gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people, an alliance that could easily extend to other progressive groups. "Everyone who is under the gun of reaction and economic violence," Feinberg contends, "is a potential ally." --Regina Marler --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
This collection of occasionally repetitious talks that Feinberg gave in the spring of 1997 is balanced by the inclusion of interviews with other "transgender warriors." Feinberg (Stone Butch Blues; Transgender Warriors) continues here her explication of prevalent gender "dogma"?of "what it means to be a 'real' woman or a 'real' man"?and assesses medical professionals' treatment of society's "Others." The latter category includes women like herself, and men in the process of evolving alternative gender identities and who thus present a "social contradiction": "I've lived parts of my life as a straight woman, as a butch dyke, as a man?both straight and faggot," says one. Capsule portraits include Latino "lesbian" Michael Hernandez, Stonewall veteran Sylvia Rivera and Craig Hickman, who invokes RuPaul's dictum that "gender is performance." Feinberg highlights outdated legal statutes prohibiting cross-dressing, and the social and economic consequences of their implementation. She also discusses "gender reassignment" surgery, which she says is standard practice in the U.S. for infants born with seemingly ambiguous genitalia, but which she sees as more of a service to worried parents than for the children. Above all, Feinberg seeks a reordering of society, with unity as the ultimate goal, and gives frequent examples of the commonalities that transcend race, social class, physical abilities and gender. The material here was meant to be delivered orally, giving the text an immediacy that makes the message all the more compelling, although readers familiar with Feinberg's earlier writings will find it somewhat repetitive.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Beacon Press (October 10, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807079510
• ISBN-13: 978-0807079515
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #216,332 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Opening eyes to different colors of oppression, November 30, 2002

By	Andrew J. Sydlik "writer and artist" (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Although a masculine heterosexual male, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and found it applicable to my own life. Feinberg's examination of the restrictive ideas of sexuality and gender are insightful, and have made me think a lot more about being more open in all areas of my life.
I also think it's important that Feinberg notes that while advocating individuality, s/he also supports unity and the right for everyone's expression-whether they be what is socially acceptable or the most radical, looked-down upon revolutionaries. I also like the fact that she saw this unity as necessary, because anti-transsexual/transgender attitudes are not "special" but related to ALL forms of oppression, including homophobia, racism, sexism, classism, and discrimination based on physical disabilities. Feinberg looks at the manifestations of all this oppression-from gang rape and beatings, to refusal of medical care and cutting of social support institutions-explores how these attitudes developed, and suggests how they can be combated. Overall, a very good read whether you know about transgenderists or transsexuals, are only vaguely familiar with them, or know nothing about them at all, for it is valuable in becoming aware of the myriad forms of oppressive norms, laws, and behaviors that we are daily subjected to.
I also think it's important that s/he recognizes that labels and circumstances do not define who you are, but actions. Feinberg makes a significant and not too frequently voiced claim that Democrats are no better than Republicans-they are basically Republicans in disguise.
Feinberg's writing style is not boring. Even those who do not care much for political or social reading might enjoy this. While many of the issues cover violence and emotionally rending accounts of discrimination, there is also humor in the text, and optimism. Feinberg also frequently uses literary devices such as metaphor, making the text less dry, with such colorful phrases as: "To me, gender is the poetry each of us makes out of the language we are taught."
The brief essays by other people are useful portraits of a diversity of people and the different hardships they endure.
My one complaint is that I wish there was more on what to actually do in order to actively combat these attitudes. While some attention is given to this subject, ideas far overshadow specific suggestions for how to fight discrimination in daily life. I think a more thorough exploration of the moral implications of such issues-and the possible consequences toward social attitudes-would have been a great addition.

17 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Shelf from a Master, December 1, 1999

By	Sarah Knight (suitland, md USA) - See all my reviews

I've read all of Les's books, this is the best so far. S/he goes beyond gender roles as they are currently constructed because those roles cripple us all in the long run.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in gender.

4.0 out of 5 stars A realistic look at gender, February 22, 2009

By	Carla Herren - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am just exploring this field and found this to be a very helpful resource to look at and beyond gender. Very well written.