Digital Transgender Archive

Telling Complex Stories

The Twenty Minutes newsletters offer equal parts information, personal testimonials, and entertainment. Each issue of the newsletter touches on a range of topics including distressing stories of discrimination in the workplace, prison, and daily life, as well as more lighthearted features that attempt to illustrate the daily struggles faced by members of the transgender community. We found it heartening to hear of all the community events hosted by The XX Club, ranging from picnics to support groups, demonstrating solidarity and camaraderie between people experiencing “gender dysphoria.”

We found the personal accounts to be poignant examples of struggles in the transgender community because they present complicated stories of individual experiences. An article in this 1991 issue, detailing her gender realignment surgery, was revealing of the physical and emotional pain it can cause. She had a difficult time transitioning psychologically and she challenges the notion that surgery is indicative of a “heartwarming success story.” She goes into great detail about her body’s difficult recovery as well as the support of the people around her, ending on a note of hope. This was a very raw but moving account of what it is like to take steps to fully realize your identity.