Here are some publications that have helped members of PFLAG Oakland-East Bay learn about gender, the journeys of transgender people, and LGTBQ+ lives and history.

Click here to find many of these wonderful books at an Alameda County Library.

A Guide to Gender: The Social Justice Advocates Handbook, by Sam Killermann: Killermann dissects gender using a comprehensive, non-binary toolkit, with a focus on making this subject accessible and enjoyable. Featured as #1 on gender on Amazon, used by Gender Studies and Sociology professors on three continents. PDF e-book available for donation online.

A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns, by Archie Bongiovanni and Tristan Jimerson: A quick, easy and important educational comic guide to using gender-neutral pronouns.

The Gender Book, by hunter rook, Jay Mays and Robin Mack: A fun, colorful, community-based resource, which illustrates the beautiful diversity of gender - a gender 101 for anyone and everyone. Based on countless hours of research, more than 200 questionnaires, and dozens of one-on-one interviews with members of the communities depicted. Many pages available for free online.

The Transgender Child by Stephanie Brill and Rachel Pepper: This comprehensive first of its kind guidebook explores the unique challenges that thousands of families face every day raising their children in every city and state. Through extensive research and interviews, as well as years of experience working in the field, the authors cover gender variance from birth through college.

Transgender 101 by Nicholas Teich: Written by a social worker, popular educator, and member of the transgender community, this well-rounded resource combines an accessible portrait of transgenderism with a rich history of transgender life and its unique experiences of discrimination.

Transgender History by Susan Stryker: Covering American transgender history from the mid-twentieth century to today, Transgender History takes a chronological approach to the subject of transgender history, with each chapter covering major movements, writings, and events. Includes quotes from major texts and speeches in transgender history and brief biographies of key players, plus excerpts from transgender memoirs and discussion of treatments of transgenderism in popular culture.

Two Spirits, One Heart: A Mother, Her Transgender Son, and Their Journey to Love and Acceptance by Marsha Aizumi and Aiden Aizumi: Mother, educator, and LGBT activist Marsha Aizumi shares her compelling story of parenting a young woman who came out as a lesbian, then transitioned to male. Two Spirits, One Heart chronicles Marsha's personal journey from fear, uncertainty, and sadness to eventual unconditional love, acceptance, and support of her child who struggled to reconcile his gender identity.

A Queer History of the United States by Michael Bronski: Drawing upon primary-source documents, literature, and cultural histories, scholar and activist Michael Bronski charts the breadth of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history, from 1492 to the 1990s.

Love Lives Here: A Story of Thriving in a Transgender Family by Amanda Jette Knox: An inspirational story of accepting and embracing two trans people in a family--a family who shows what's possible when you "lead with love."

Becoming Nicole by Amy Ellis Nutt: The inspiring true story of a transgender girl, her identical twin brother, and an ordinary American family’s extraordinary journey to understand, nurture, and celebrate the uniqueness in us all, from the Pulitzer Prize–winning science reporter for The Washington Post

She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan: When she changed genders, she changed the world.  It was the groundbreaking publication of She’s Not There in 2003 that jump-started the transgender revolution. By turns hilarious and deeply moving, Boylan – a cast member on I Am Cait; an advisor to the television series Transparent, and a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times -- explores the territory that lies between men and women, examines changing friendships, and rejoices in the redeeming power of love and family.

The Daughter We Didn’t Know We Had: The Tears, Fears, and Joys of a Mother of a Transgender Child by Marilyn Phillips: When your beautiful son comes to you and says he has had feelings of suicide, your heart skips a beat. You do whatever it takes to get him help. When your beautiful son comes to you and says he wants to become a woman, your world is suddenly turned upside down. A million thoughts invade your mind. Fear becomes your constant companion, and tears swell up inside you every time you think of what could be waiting ahead. You can't help feeling pride in your child for showing the kind of courage that would be needed for their long road ahead. You watch as your family struggles to come together and stay together in what will be the most trying of times.

The Gender Book by Jay Mays, hunter rook, and Robin Mack: the GENDER book is a fun, colorful, community-based resource, which illustrates the beautiful diversity of gender - a gender 101 for anyone and everyone.

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel: In this graphic memoir, Alison Bechdel charts her fraught relationship with her late father. Distant and exacting, Bruce Bechdel was an English teacher and director of the town funeral home, which Alison and her family referred to as the Fun Home. It was not until college that Alison, who had recently come out as a lesbian, discovered that her father was also gay. A few weeks after this revelation, he was dead, leaving a legacy of mystery for his daughter to resolve.

Far from the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity by Andrew Solomon: Solomon tells the stories of parents who not only learn to deal with their exceptional children but also find profound meaning in doing so. Solomon's startling proposition is that diversity is what unites us all.

If I Was Your Girl Meredith Russo (Young Adult): Amanda Hardy is the new girl in school. Like anyone else, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is keeping a secret, and she's determined not to get too close to anyone. But when she meets sweet, easygoing Grant, Amanda can't help but start to let him into her life. As they spend more time together, she realizes just how much she is losing by guarding her heart. She finds herself yearning to share with Grant everything about herself, including her past. But Amanda's terrified that once she tells him the truth, he won't be able to see past it. Because the secret that Amanda's been keeping? It's that at her old school, she used to be Andrew. Will the truth cost Amanda her new life, and her new love?

Transgender History by Susan Stryker: Covering American transgender history from the mid-twentieth century to today, Transgender History takes a chronological approach to the subject of transgender history, with each chapter covering major movements, writings, and events. Transgender History includes informative sidebars highlighting quotes from major texts and speeches in transgender history and brief biographies of key players, plus excerpts from transgender memoirs and discussion of treatments of transgenderism in popular culture.

PFLAG Publications

Our Children: Our Children offers a fresh eye for families and others about what to do when a loved one comes out. Full of useful knowledge, helpful tips, expert opinions and first-person stories, Our Children --which has a focus on sexual orientation and gender expression--is a must read for anyone looking to learn more about how to support LGBTQ loved ones...or looking for support for themselves.

Our Trans Loved Ones: Written by PFLAG staff members, and created with the help of content experts, reviewers, and PFLAGers with experience to share, Our Trans Loved Ones is full of information, first-person stories, and expert input geared to those who have a loved one who has come out as trans or gender expansive.

 Straight for Equality Guide to Being a Trans Ally: This publication, from our Straight for Equality program, will help you learn more about what transgender means, develop competency around talking about the issue, become better informed about the challenges that many trans people face, and know specific ways that you can be a strong trans ally.

Straight for Equality Guide to Being a Straight Ally: This guide will help you understand how straight allies fit in the effort to achieve equality for all. Learn more about what it means to be a straight ally and get some great tips and tools to being more supportive of your LGBT friends, family, and colleagues.