Synopses & Reviews
Pat Califia needs no introduction for lesbian and gay readers. His writings on sexuality, pornography, censorship, S/M and other controversial topics have earned him the reputation of a fearless defender of the rights of gays and lesbians and a fearless intellectual adversary. Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgenderism is Califias meticulously researched analysis of the contemporary history of transsexuality. Based on in-depth interviews with gender transgressors who "opened their lives, minds, hearts, and bedrooms to the gaze of strangers," this book combines a well thought-out chronology with Pat Califias hallmark candor and insight.
Writing about both male-to-female and female-to-male transsexuals, Califia examines the lives of early transgender pioneers like Christine Jorgenson, Jan Morris, Renee Richards and Mark Rees, contemporary transgender activists like Leslie Feinberg and Kate Bornstein, and partners of transgendered people like Minnie Bruce Pratt.
Califia scrutinizes feminist resistance to transsexuals, the Christian Rights backlash, and the appropriation of the berdache and other differently-gendered people by gay historians. Finally, Sex Changes explores the future of gender.
Synopsis
Patrick Califia is one of the most outspoken and intelligent commentators on sexual politics writing today. Writing about both male-to-female and female-to-male transsexuals, he examines the lives of early transgender pioneers like Christine Jorgensen, Jan Morris, Renee Richards and Mark Rees; and contemporary transgender activists like Leslie Feinberg and Kate Bornstein. This edition features an updated introduction by the author and includes a bibliography, list of resources, and index.
Synopsis
Writing about both male-to-female and female-to-male transsexuals, Califia examines the lives of early transgender pioneers like Christine Jorgenson and Mark Rees, partners of transgendered people, and contemporary transgender activists. This updated edition is a meticulously researched history by one of America's most provocative thinkers.
Synopsis
Patrick Califia's meticulously researched history of transsexuality combines well thought-out chronology with Califia's hallmark candor and insight. Writing about both male-to-female and female-to-male transsexuals, Califia examines the lives of transgender pioneers like Christine Jorgensen, Jan Morris, Renée Richards, and Mark Rees; partners of transgendered people like Minnie Bruce Pratt; and contemporary transgender activists like Leslie Feinberg and Kate Bornstein.
Includes new writing by the author reflecting changes in the transsexual community in the five years since publication of the first edition, as well as his own decision to transition to a female-to-male transsexual identity.
About the Author
PATRICK CALIFIAformerly Pat Califiais the author of Speaking Sex to Power, Public Sex, and Sensuous Magic. He lives in San Francisco.