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Gender Questioning- with Tons of Book References!

Still writing over here! When I started writing ZIRKUS, I wanted to have a character who was questioning their gender. I've had trans characters and characters who were questioning their sexuality, but not fully questioning their genders before. In order to do this, I needed to dig in, pull up my sleeves, and do my favorite thing--research!

I thought I’d share some of my favorite sources. I'm not going to post the scholarly articles because they're rather dry and, well, I was an ILL assistant for four years. So I know all about copyright violations. Sorry, not sorry.

Many people find themselves stepping back and questioning their assigned birth gender. Is this really right for me? Am I supposed to be in this body? Don't panic. Take a breath. First, your feelings are valid. They have worth--just like you. They deserve to be acknowledged. Don't push them away. Embrace your feelings at your own pace and try not to be overwhelmed by all of the information that's out there. There is a lot, trust me.



I’ve made a Goodreads list, which anyone can contribute to. It’s a list of books to help people who are questioning their gender identities and want to read about the journies of other people/characters. Currently, the list includes trans and genderqueer characters (other genders will be added when they are found).

If you’re looking for resources and safe places to find things like definitions on different genders or how to approach your loved ones with your new identity, well I have information on that, too!
Human Right's Campaign’s list of LGBTQ Resources

http://genderspectrum.org  Is a very accepting, easy to understand website that has good information on all spectrums of gender. Here is their article on gender questioning.

reachout.com is also a great source for articles. They have fact sheets on gender identity, debunking LGBTQ myths, and pronouns

Safe Zone Project doesn’t offer full online training anymore, but they still have information about sensitivity, terms, and how to approach people. Check to see if your school or university has Safe Zone ALLYs! I was a certified ALLY for four years in my previous job, which meant that people knew they could come to me to talk, ask LGBT+ related questions, get help, and know that I wouldn’t judge. My area was a designated safe space.



Let me finish by saying that I want to help people because, once upon a time, I was in a terrible, dark place in my life with no support system. Someone took the time, reached out, and worked with me. She believed in me. She didn't let me give up on myself during a period when I could have easily spiraled out of control. Because of her, I can handle life and its stresses better than ever before. Next time someone makes your day better, pass it on. It really does make a difference.
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