Dear Cisgender People

I didn't know anything about the author before reading this book, and then googling his name. His experience as a transgender person is what interested me in reading this book. I wanted to learn. And, yes I did! But not only about the journey and and hurdles of the transgender community. Mr. Jones casts his umbrella wide in this memoir/manifesto/manual on life. He discusses racism, intersectionality, and went on several tangents that felt a bit like off subject tangents. Some lines are blurred throughout the book. Mr. Jones isn't always speaking to cisgender allies. Sometimes he is speaking to the transgender community. But, as this is his box to speak from, he can take the conversation where he wants and for the most part, I was interested to follow along. I did feel that the book could have used some editing. Some parts didn't flow well or were repetitive or out of order. Despite that, I only made it to page 38 before ordering a copy of this book for a friend. That tells you how insightful this book was.

I can not say this loudly, often, or long enough (all of these are links to sources in the blogged version of the review): PAY.

ATTENTION.

TO.

WHAT.

THEY SAY THEY WILL DO.

You can start here, with this book made up of trans peoples' words. It's addressed at all cis people, a group I am very much part of. I needed to hear these trans voices. These voices are not heard in any systemic way even in the QUILTBAG community. Trans people can and should speak up...and all too often, risk the direst imaginable consequences for doing so. I think the best way to learn is to ask, and if the silence imposed on trans people in F2F reality is blocking that avenue, then we can read! This book marries asking with reading because Author Kenny Ethan Jones has spoken to his fellow trans folk and used their own words to address us cis people, regardless of our sexual identities, about the nature of being trans.

The ball is in our court, cis folk. We possess the information, now we need to listen to what trans people want us to know. There is no more fig-leaf for our ignorance. Now it is a choice to remain ignorant. I think almost everyone who reads this blog, being readers themselves, will take this chance to lift the veil of unknowing and see what the most Othered people in the QUILTBAG rainbow of identities want to get in the way of support and acceptance.

I hope this compact, unchallenging read will make its way into your reading this #PrideMonth. There are so many ways to offer the gift of acknowledgment. The price is, honestly, negligble to the giver; the gift is precious to the receiver, as the stories told here will show you. Please do the whole angry, shouting world this favor:

Sit and listen to what your Othered siblings would appreciate you offering to them.