GENDER IDENTITIES AND SEXUAL EXPRESSIONS

by Jeremy Quist

In a society that is increasingly aware of LGBTQIA+ issues, asexuality remains a sexual orientation that is often misunderstood. Some even deny its existence. But more and more people are finding each other and learning that they can relate to the asexual experience, perhaps in ways they never expected. Asexuality means a person doesn’t experience sexual attraction. But it encompasses much more than that. The asexual spectrum includes diversity in the details of how a person does or doesn’t experience sexuality. There is also diversity in the degree to which a person wants a relationship. Yes, some asexuals still want to experience a romantic relationship. Everyone wants to experience community and to have other people who understand their experience and perspective. So asexuals (or “aces”) have created a vibrant community with its own lingo, symbols, and events. This book seeks to dispel the myths and misunderstandings about asexuality. Asexuality is not a dysfunction or condition. It is a sexual orientation that is as valid as any other, and it deserves a place among other sexual and gender minorities across the LGBTQIA+ community. For those finding that they are part of the asexuality spectrum, community and acceptance is more possible than ever.

by Lara Manetta

Most of us don’t fit into neat little boxes. While some people consider themselves 100 percent straight or 100 percent gay, others find that their attractions lie somewhere in between. Individuals who are bisexual or pansexual may find that they are met with a number of inaccurate stereotypes and a lack of depictions of people like them in the media, in textbooks about sexuality, and in discussions about society as a whole. In this book, we explore what it means to be bisexual or pansexual. We discuss how to have a safe, fulfilling, and empowering life as a person of any sexual orientation. Throughout the book, you will find depictions of personal experiences with bisexuality and pansexuality, as well as resources for better emotional, mental, and physical health.

by Aron Alber

As transgender people gain acceptance in society, more and more individuals are discovering and coming to terms with their transgender identity. Yet despite the fact that trans men transition at similar rates to trans women, trans men and nonbinary transmasculine individuals remain largely invisible in the media and to most of the population. Even so, the Internet and the rise of social media has allowed transmasculine individuals who were once isolated from one another to form thriving online communities. Our frameworks and language to describe transgender identities are rapidly evolving, and they are only just beginning to capture the rich diversity of trans experience. While in previous decades, what it meant to be a trans man was strictly defined as being binary and male-identified, many transgender individuals are discovering that they do not fit neatly into the categories of man or woman. Nonbinary transmasculine individuals are just as valid as binary-identified trans men and have the same options for social and medical transition.

by Jeremy Quist

Young people today are taking the lead in exploring the complexity of gender that has been denied for so long. Gender-expansive youth are showing that human experience can’t be reduced to only one of two options. Gender exists along a spectrum. Humanity is much more complex and interesting than just female and male. This book explains what it means to be gender expansive and why society’s understanding of gender is evolving. For people who don’t feel at home in the gender they were assigned when they were born, it’s a new world of opportunities to express who they truly are. What’s the difference between biological sex and gender? Why do some people reject the gender roles they were taught by society? What does it mean to be genderqueer, genderfluid, or gender nonconforming? How can a person know where they fit on the gender spectrum? What’s the difference between gender identity and gender expression? Whether you’re trying to explore your own identity or better understand a nonbinary person in your life, this book will give you the information you need to get started.

by Jeremy Quist

Most people think that there are only two options for a person’s sex: female and male. But there a lot of people who don’t fit strictly into either of those categories?almost 2 percent of the population by some estimates! There are over 30 different genetic traits that can be considered intersex, meaning that these traits are not generally considered to be “typical” of either females or males. For many intersex people, these genetic traits have a huge impact upon their lives and their identities, in ways that can be difficult for others to understand. This book makes this complex issue understandable and accessible. Intersex people have a long history of mistreatment by the medical field and a culture of silence surrounding important parts of who they are. Until recently, it was a topic rarely discussed, leaving intersex people to believe that they were alone and isolated. But more and more, intersex people are coming together to share in their common experiences and raise awareness of intersex lives. In this book, you’ll learn about the issues facing intersex people and the brave activists fighting to make a difference for their community.

by Rin Ryan

Male-to-Female Transgender and Transfeminine Identities is an all-in-one resource for trans people and allies of the trans community. This book explores a wide variety of topics relating to transfeminine people’s experiences and identities and includes guidance on everything from building affirming friendships and relationships to navigating the law and medical care. Whether you’re a young gender-diverse person or not, this volume will serve as an informative and interesting resource, making use of real-life stories and real-world advice. Educational information, such as “words to understand,” research projects, and hyperlinked educational videos sourced from YouTube, make for engaging and fun classroom material. This volume strives to provide frank discussion about issues that impact and interest the transfeminine and trans woman communities. With up-to-date language and an intersectional approach to understanding, Male-to-Female Transgender and Transfeminine Identities is an invaluable addition to the world of LGBTQIA+ educational literature.

by Sarah Lorenz-Coryell

There are all kinds of family units and dynamics in the world today. That is what makes things interesting and unique. However, for most people, the relationship metric they are most familiar with is monogamous to some extent. Whether a mom and dad, two dads, or two moms, the two-person relationship dynamic is one that has largely permeated every aspect of our lives. In movies, TV shows, books, and real life, it is what is predominately seen and supported and recognized by society as “good” and “moral” and “right.” So, when the idea of a polyamorous relationship comes into the picture, the idea of three or more people living and supporting a mutual multi-partner relationship, many people today do not know quite how to react and respond. There is a great deal of fear and confusion as well as unfortunately high levels of stigma and prejudice against those who practice this sort of relationship and embrace a polyamorous lifestyle. The goal of this book is to shed light on the polyamorous way of life and clear up some of the misunderstanding surrounding it. Whether you yourself are in a poly relationship, have questions about this relationship set-up, or simply want to know more about how it all works, then this book is for you. Take that first step of understanding and hear from relationship experts and those living the polyamorous life.