Transgender Pioneers

Chaz Bono has been in the spotlight for the entirety of his life. As a child, he was a star on his parents Sonny and Cher's variety show. In 1995, Bono's role as a celebrity shifted after tabloids outed him as a lesbian. Bono embraced his potential and became an LGBTQ advocate. In 2009, Bono further advanced LGBTQ awareness by announcing his gender identity as a trans male. Since then, Bono has shared his struggles and triumphs through documentaries, interviews, and a very public life. This comprehensive biography celebrates the accomplishments of this celebrity activist who has broadened public perspective on LGBTQ issues.

Countless media outlets reported it: 2015 was the year of identity. And by and large, Caitlyn Jenner was a central figure in forging that dialogue. When she revealed her gender identity as a trans woman, Jenner shocked the public with her frankness, bringing awareness of transgender rights into the public spotlight. This biography tracks the life of one of America's most beloved athletes and television personalities, putting emphasis on her role as a celebrity advocate for transgender individuals. Sidebars highlight other celebrity figures who paved the way for Jenner and cover important topics such as language sensitivity and transgender suicide rates.

In 2013, Orange Is the New Black began captivating audiences with its cast of female characters representing diverse strata of society. Perhaps no star on the show has inspired as much as Laverne Cox, who plays the black transgender inmate Sophia Burset. Cox's work, both as an actor and off-screen, has brought attention to the risks faced by vulnerable populations, particularly racial minority transgender individuals. This biography documents Cox's triumphant life and work as an activist, documenting her own growth from troubling times she recalls as a teenager to becoming the first openly transgender actor nominated for an Emmy.

In 1999, two sibling directors hit it big with their second film, The Matrix. After achieving critical and commercial success with The Matrix, the Wachowskis went on to direct two sequels to that film and a string of other box office successes, including V for Vendetta and Jupiter Ascending. This title tracks the story of sister Lana, recipient of the Human Rights Campaign's Visibility Award in 2012 for having been the first major Hollywood director to come out as transgender. Since making her transition public, Wachowski has become an important advocate, raising awareness of the unique challenges faced by transgender youth.