4.0

"Each time we ask anyone—whether they are transgender, Black, an immigrant, Muslim, Native American, gay, or a woman—to sit by and let an extended conversation take place about whether they deserve to be respected and affirmed in who they are, we are asking people to watch their one life pass by without dignity or fairness. That is too much to ask of anyone.”

"There's a saying that goes, 'If you're not at the table, you're on the menu.' . . . A government cannot be 'of the people, by the people, and for the people' if wide swaths of the people have no seat at the table, if large parts of the country feel like there is literally no one in their government who can understand what they are going through.”

"But nothing inspired me more than the fights for equal rights at the center of our history. Each generation, it became clear, was defined by whether they expanded equality, welcoming and including people who had once been excluded or rejected.”

“But nothing inspired me more than the fights for equal rights at the center of our history. Each generation, it became clear, was defined by whether they expanded equality, welcoming and including people who had once been excluded or rejected.”

“Compromise is often necessary [in politics], but entire marginalized identities are not expendable chess pieces.”

This book was incredible and very enjoyable. I loved how Sarah crafted her story and paid homage to the man she loved, and also stressed the importance of allowing people to be their complete selves. Trans people are often the forgotten ones when it comes to the LGBTQ movement.

I particularly enjoyed her recounting of her experiences in Delaware. I used her quotes, some of them at least, because I think she says what I thought better than I ever could have. Many people are uncomfortable with trans people. I'd invite you to read this book, regardless of your thoughts and perhaps set aside your/my/our charicatures.

Warning: The Delaware legislation chapter says the f word I believe three or four times. Other than that this book is clean.