Gender Euphoria: Stories Of Joy From Trans, Non-binary And Intersex Writers, edited by Laura Kate Dale.

SYNOPSIS

GENDER EUPHORIA: a powerful feeling of happiness experienced as a result of moving away from one’s birth-assigned gender.

So often the stories shared by trans people about their transition centre on gender dysphoria: a feeling of deep discomfort with their birth-assigned gender, and a powerful catalyst for coming out or transitioning. But for many non-cisgender people, it’s gender euphoria that pushes forward their transition: the joy the first time a parent calls them by their new chosen name, the first time they have the confidence to cut their hair short, the first time they truly embrace themself.

In this groundbreaking anthology, nineteen trans, non-binary, agender, gender-fluid and intersex writers share their experiences of gender euphoria: an agender dominatrix being called Daddy, an Arab trans man getting his first tattoos, a trans woman embracing her inner fighter.
What they have in common are their feelings of elation, pride, confidence, freedom and ecstasy as a direct result of coming out as non-cisgender, and how coming to terms with their gender brought unimaginable joy into their lives.

Review

A book that is full of unique stories that show us how gender euphoria has been experienced by each and every one of them. Usually, gender issues seem to be known for causing heartache, and bullying. These show us the opposite of that, we experience their raw emotions and their real experiences. Gender dysphoria is what I have heard about and am experiencing in my family at the moment. To read these intimate stories about gender euphoria it is so joyful to feel like a part of the happiness they felt at that time. Every separate story is a little gem waiting to be discovered.

I usually find non-fiction a hard read but with this book, I found it so refreshing and heartwarming to read. The experiences are wide-ranging they cover everything from pronouns to parenting and everything in between. The pure emotion running through these stories is crystal clear and made me feel overjoyed for them all.

I know myself as a cis woman can never fully understand how anyone with gender issues feels, but I am educating myself to do my best in the coming months/years and I do think this book will become an important part of it. I even think everyone should read it….a step in the right direction maybe?

Thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours and Unbound for my gifted copy of Gender Euphoria.