Brighton Trans*formed was launched at a reception at Jubilee Library in Brighton last night, September 24.
The groundbreaking book published by QueenSpark Books chronicles the lives and experiences of Brighton and Hove’s Transgender community. It is a beautifully edited compendium of writing, memories, oral histories, design, photography and features, presenting the rich variety of Trans* lives in Brighton and Hove today, in the contributors’ own words.
The event was hosted by award-winning comedienne Claire Parker. Melita Dennert, the Chair of QueenSpark Books, congratulated everyone involved in the Heritage Lottery-funded project and thanked the Manager Kathy Caton for delivering the project.
Juliet Jacques, who wrote the foreword, said: “Brighton and Hove is a place where Trans* people are increasingly seen and heard, understood and respected, and Brighton Trans*formed shows how far we’ve come and how far there is to go.'”
The book’s contributors range from 18 to 81 years old, all with very different life experiences.
All of their testimonies have in common an absolute honesty and openness. Contributors shared their joys and tragedies, adversities faced, and a display of strength and resolve to be themselves. It was striking how contributors worked through confidence issues and self-protective boundaries to appear on posters, radio and in public art and the book, in order to express what being a Trans* person in Brighton is really like.
Trans* people in Brighton have a long history, but more recently, significant developments in how the community connects and organises itself have allowed new groups to blossom, complementing the stalwart Clare Project. These groups range from peer support (FTM Brighton and Transformers Youth Group at Allsorts), to social (Trans* Pride and Trans* Swimming Club) and activism (Trans* Alliance), and have been established and led by Trans*-identified people.
A percentage from the sale of each copy sold will be donated to local Trans* groups.
For over 40 years, QueenSpark Books has been producing books about the people of Brighton and Hove, with a focus on enabling less-heard voices to tell their stories. With Brighton Trans*formed this objective was paramount.
QueenSpark Books was approached by individuals eager to be involved in a project where editorial and creative control lay firmly with the community it was seeking to represent – a community whose voices have historically been distorted, misrepresented and sensationalised.
Rory Finn, a participant in the project, said: “From young to old, many people question their gender identity, but often have no role models to turn to. This book is important, if for no other reason, because it says, “we were here”.
The book’s narrative is an overriding one of hope, not tragedy. Participants and editors sought to empower and enable the community with opportunities that, by virtue of its trans* status and all that this entails, had previously been unforthcoming.
This is what community projects, public art and oral testimony can do. Brighton Trans*formed was made possible with Heritage Lottery funding support.
To purchase the book, costing £15 online, CLICK HERE:
