Sociologists for Trans Justice
2021

Compiled by:
Megan Nanney, S4TJ Chair

Contact Information:
Should you want to contribute to Sociologists for Trans Justice or have any questions, please contact sociologistsfortransjustice@gmail.com.

About S4TJ

Founded in 2016, Sociologists for Trans Justice (S4TJ) is committed to advancing public understanding of trans, non-binary, and intersex issues – in particular, to enter sociological insights into the national conversation about the status of trans, non-binary, and intersex communities. For more information, as well as to see our list of topical experts, visit our website at www.s4tj.com

About the Reader:

In society today, we are presented with a paradox of sorts: on one hand, there have been significant social and political advances regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. Yet, on the other hand, with increasing visibility and progress, there is also a simultaneous and almost inevitable increase in the backlash targeting the most vulnerable segments of the LGBTQ population–trans and non-binary people, and particularly trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive youth. Within the first five months of 2021, more than 250 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the country, making this year what the Human Rights Campaign has called “the worst year for anti-LGBTQ legislation in recent history.” These pieces of legislation, identical almost word-for-word in a coordinated attack, present inflammatory and false information to incite panic particularly around trans girls’ participation in sports and trans youth’s access to public restrooms and life-saving medical care. Yet, as previous scholarship and experience has shown, banning trans presence does not erase our existence. Rather, it creates unsafe environments wherein our most marginalized community members are at heightened risk for mental health issues, physical violence, bullying, suicide and murder.

As an organization dedicated to advocating for trans justice within the discipline of sociology, we have an immediate responsibility to extend the reach of our expertise on sex, gender, trans people’s experiences and outcomes, public policy, and related topics to advance national conversations about trans, non-binary, and intersex communities. One such strategy S4TJ practices is to provides a list of essential readings to contextualize, examine, and center trans lives including the #TransJusticeSyllabus and the #BlackTransLivesMatter Reader. Building off of these prior efforts, the materials listed in the #ProtectTransYouth Reader serve as a starting point of scholarship that we recommend people to read, engage with, and learn from to contextualize and address the state of emergency the trans community is experiencing. Let us be clear: trans communities–and trans youth in particular– will surely endure increased psychological and physical violence if existing transphobic public policies are upheld and new ones are passed. The time to act is now in order to protect our trans youth.

How to Use this Reader:

The readings, videos, and resources listed below are listed alphabetically by theme and link to the source (or free PDF if available online). This Reader should be understood as an always partial list of readings–it is meant to serve as a starting point. As such, we also encourage further engagement with trans scholarship including use of the #TransJusticeSyllabus as well as the #BlackTransLivesMatter Reader, as both are essential to understand and work towards trans justice.

Click here to download a PDF of the Reader.

Trans Youth Reader