Cisgender authors can write great trans characters, but trans authors live the experiences of their characters every day and their voices need to be the loudest on trans issues, argues teen writer John Hansen. So here’s a list of the best trans YA and middle grade books by trans and non-binary authors
Despite the huge growth of LGBTQ+ fiction over the last few years, YA and middle grade books with trans main characters remain sorely lacking. Even more noteworthy, the most visible of those books, such as Lisa Williamson’s The Art of Being Normal, are written by cisgender authors. This isn’t a new phenomenon – throughout history, “cis people’s narratives of trans people have been told, consumed, and prioritized above our actual experiences,” says Vee Signorelli, founder of GayYA.org. That’s not to say that cisgender authors can’t write great trans characters. But “prioritizing books by trans authors ensures that our stories about our own lives and experiences are finally heard,” Signorelli says.
In a nutshell: trans voices need to be the loudest on trans issues. Trans authors live the experiences of their characters every day.
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