Both/and by Denne Michele Norris

Both/and

Essays by Trans and Gender-nonconforming Writers of Color

Denne Michele Norris, Electric Literature

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · August 12, 2025

From Denne Michele Norris and Electric Literature, a vital anthology of essays by trans and gender-nonconforming writers of color, sharing stories of joy, heartbreak, rage, and self-discovery.

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Who it’s for
Seventeen essays bring trans and gender-nonconforming writers of color into close, varied conversation.
Themes
Trans identity, Queer joy and self-discovery, Lived experience
Genres
LGBTQ+ Literary Collections, Transgender Studies, Essay Collections

About this book

From Denne Michele Norris and Electric Literature, a vital anthology of essays by trans and gender-nonconforming writers of color, sharing stories of joy, heartbreak, rage, and self-discovery. Featuring seventeen essays by trans people of color—spanning writers, scientists, actors, activists, and drag queens—Both/And explores what it means to live as a trans or gender nonconforming person of color today.

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Acclaimed authors Akwaeke Emezi, Tanaïs, and Meredith Talusan share their stories alongside activist and organizer Raquel Willis and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Peppermint, as well as a host of rising literary talent. Each story is told with honesty, authenticity, and beauty. A nonbinary molecular biologist has nightmares about their estranged father transitioning. A writer revisits a casual hook-up when she discovered her womanhood. And a woman vacations with her wife in Hawaii, where she gets in touch with the fire goddess within. These stories depict real trans lives from trans points of view, at a time when these perspectives are most urgent and valuable. Inspired by Electric Literature’s groundbreaking series and edited by the first Black, openly trans editor-in-chief of a major literary publication, Both/And uplifts and amplifies stories of queer joy, heartbreak, rage, and self-discovery.

Many Ways of Being

Seventeen essays bring trans and gender-nonconforming writers of color into close, varied conversation.

Come here for

  • Stories of joy, heartbreak, rage, and self-discovery
  • Trans lives told from trans points of view

Expect

  • A range of voices across writing, science, activism, and performance
  • Personal essays with honesty, beauty, and complexity

Where it sits

Essay Collections80%
Transgender Studies52%
LGBTQ+ Literary Collections51%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • LGBTQ+ Lives
  • Essay Collections
  • LGBTQ+ Literary Collections
  • Queer Literary Criticism
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • Gender & Sexuality
  • Gender Studies
  • Social Science Essays
  • Transgender Studies
Authors
Denne Michele Norris, Electric Literature
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
August 12, 2025
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Trans identity · Queer joy and self-discovery · Lived experience
Reading lane
LGBTQ+ Lives