Title: Crossing Sexual Boundaries: Transgender Journeys, Uncharted Paths Author: Ari Kane-DeMaios, EdD & Vern L. Bullough, PhD, Dsc Publisher: Prometheus Books Publish Date: 2006 Pages: 365 Genres:: Transgendered/Transsexual, Compilation, Gender Studies, Non-Fiction Reviewer: Layla Tichtchenko

Rating:

Crossing Sexual Boundaries is a combination of memoirs by people in various stages and levels of the “trans” process. It brings to light many of the extreme issues still faced by transgendered people today, as well as contrasting the extreme taboo it held in decades past and still holds in many more conservative places in the country and in the world. Within this tome lies an intricate, in-depth expression of a wide variety of first-hand accounts encompassing the transgender experience. It dispels stereotypes while simultaneously explaining their first-hand perspective: from a transvestite who is a heterosexual to a man born in a female body who must undergo an extreme and at times excruciating transformation to be in the “right” body.

They are presented in short memoirs from many different people living the trans lifestyle at all stages in their lives. It puts to rest the notion that all transsexuals are sex workers, flamboyant or that they may be deviant in some way. In fact many of the stories included in this book are by people who have become professors and hold doctorates and other advanced degrees. Not to diminish those who must rely on sex work to pay for their transgender medical costs, it is quite refreshing to see that transgender people span all walks of life and all socioeconomic levels within society.

This textual tutorial even has appendices that explain both types of transgender surgery and what is involved for those out there who wonder just how they do that. The chapters are more or less in their own words, the words of the ones undergoing the transgender experience, whether it is an individual who is trans or the spouse of someone who is. They are poignantly written and well-informed. They explain from their own points of view what is involved in their transformations, societal stigmas attached to their becoming open about it, and how it affects their relationships with family, friends and spouses. For many of them they have spent most of their youth resisting their nature. The subject matter is intriguing and the perspectives and well-written style will appeal to a wider audience than many of the other material out there about the trans lifestyle.

The chapters, being written by a variety of people gives you an expert glimpse into a very personal experience. Self-involved? Of course, but it needs to be, considering the format and the subject matter discussed. Each time a writer or a team of editors come together on a project of this nature, people have the opportunity to come that much closer to truly understanding the struggles and confusions of the transgendered. There is one more option for the judgmental and skeptical ones out there. There is in this book also a voice to refute those who consistently tout the phrase that “God doesn’t make mistakes” in regards to feelings of being born in the wrong body.

Although some accounts in this compilation may leave you desperately wanting more and give the reader the sense that the story is incomplete, perhaps it was intentioned to whet the literary appetite and give the reader the drive to seek out more information on the subject. But so many of these words are written with such force, truth and sometimes brevity; the tellers of these tales will end their struggles only in simple sentences. The issues of gender go beyond the simplicity of sexuality and gender identity. If truth be told, they may very well go beyond humanity.

Crossing Sexual Boundaries is not necessarily a hot under the collar or panties (hers or his) kind of hot. It is hot in the sense of being current, accurate and including up-to-date information. It greatly challenges the intrinsic human need to identify, understand, or label if you will, not just a persons gender but also their sexuality. By and large this was an excellent and informative read with the facts to back up the talk. The fact that so many of the contributors to this compilation are those with doctorates and various advanced degrees will perhaps entice even more people to open their minds to Crossing Sexual Boundaries and learning more about this peculiar condition called transgenderism.