The cast of characters is a veritable melting pot of transness and their empathizers: Estelleâ€™s surviving wife being one. Throw in some amazing scenes about being ungendered online, a lovely exchange between a â€œtough as nailsâ€ femme and an â€œsuit and tie bulldagger,â€ a remarkable speech by Vickieâ€™s communist uncle a chilling scene of an apartment break-in by mysterious and angry visitors, and one scene â€“ an exchange of sweet, light coffee and flags â€“ that was so touching, so genuine, and so intense that I could taste the coffee and jonesed for a smoke right along with Max. The book is Maxâ€™s apology to Vickie, for that moment of assumption and hierarchy that a crossdresserâ€™s life is somehow â€œeasierâ€ than anyone elseâ€™s. The next day Vickie is found brutally murdered.Īnd the rest of the book is Maxâ€™s meditation on friends, community, activism, family itâ€™s an insiderâ€™s view into being queer, being outside, being â€œotherâ€ while also being well-loved, deeply loving, and sorry. In a moment of frustration, of â€˜transer than thouâ€™ anger, zie says something about how Vickie can take the clothes and the wig off and go back to being normal.

The book starts with Max Rabinowitz (transman, drag king, genderqueer, bulldagger â€“ itâ€™s not really clear and doesnâ€™t matter) talking to hir friend Vickie. You think Iâ€™m your friend? Leslie Feinberg is the mensch you want at your back, believe me. Leslie Feinberg was thinking about crossdressers, and zie was thining about crossdressers a lot, and in deep, empathetic ways.Ĭrossdressers: buy this book. Leslie Feinberg thanking me? For anything? Absurd. When I met hir at TIC (UVMâ€™s trans conference), zie came up to thank me and Betty for what we were doing, and I could have been knocked over with a feather. Leslie Feinberg is not just remarkable as a person, and activist, but as a writer. I remember practically pointing out passages to strangers on the subway when I was reading it.īut Drag King Dreams is like something from another world. Transgender Warriors was equally great, full of information, rage, inspiration. My friend knew it would speak to me, as it spoke to him.

Made me, and for good reason: itâ€™s like a sledgehammer of experience for anyone who has ever lived in the world as queer, or working class, and especially for anyone who has lived in the world as both. A lesbian friend â€“ since transitioned â€“ made me read it. When I first read Stone Butch Blues, it blew my mind.

Iâ€™m not sure Leslie Feinberg has an actual fan club, but if there is one, I want in. Murdered Crossdressers, and Other Facts of Trans Life

Leslie feinberg drag king dreams