As Donald Trump’s authoritarian push takes aim at trans and genderqueer people, mainstream media represents gender diversity as a newfangled, dangerous invention of the young. But trans, nonbinary, genderqueer and Two Spirit people have always been present, in many cultures and communities. Author Caro De Robertis‘s new collection of oral histories with trans, nonbinary, genderqueer and Two Spirit People of Color busts open the myth that gender fluidity is new, and the invisibility of people of color within queer history. And importantly, De Robertis’s book, So Many Stars, gives younger genderqueer people of color the message that they can get old, and thrive, love and be loved.
This program, which first aired the Women’s Magazine on Pacifica sibling station KPFA in Berkeley, was generously shared with Out-FM by producer Kate Raphael. She sat down with Caro De Robertis and nonbinary Black artist, activist and storyteller Crystal Mason to talk about their own journeys in gender, activism and creativity, and the others woven into this rich tapestry of queer history and culture.