Read My Lips: Sexual Subversion and the End of Gender

by Riki Anne Wilchins

Riki Anne Wilchins has written the book that may take the discussion of gender over the top.
In a voice that is by turns outraged, outrageous, sad, and hilarious, Wilchins - cofounder of the Transexual Menace and Executive Director of GenderPAC - weaves theory and personal experience into a story of self-discovery.
Lesbians, feminists, queer academics, activists, transpeople, the "queer-on-the-street," and mainstream readers hungry for writing that pushes the absolute edge of the gender envelope - Read My Lips will change the way you think about bodies, sex, and gender.

Genres: Queer, Nonfiction, Gender, LGBT, Transgender, Gender Studies, Feminism

234 pages, Paperback

First published September 27, 1997

About the author

Riki Wilchins is an activist whose work has focused on the impact of gender norms. While she started out as a transgender leader -- founding the first national transgender advocacy group (GenderPAC) -- her analysis and work broadened over time to include discrimination and violence regardless of individuals' identity. While this perspective has been widely accepted, its breadth has provoked criticism by some in the transgender community. Wilchins' work and writing has often focused on youth, whom she not only sees as uniquely vulnerable to the gender system's pressures and harm, but whom she sees as capable of "looking with fresh eyes." Wilchins' work has been instrumental in bringing transgender rights into the mainstream LGBT movmement, and has helped bring awareness of the impact of gender norms to a wider audience. In 2001, Wilchins' work resulted in her being selected one of just six community activists named by TIME Magazine among its "100 Civic Innovators for the 21st Century."

A founding member of Camp Trans, since the mid-1990s Wilchins has been highly active in founding a number of organizations and events focused on gender issues, including:

The Transexual Menace, the first large direct action group for transgender rights, which was modeled along the lines of Queer Nation and which at one point boasted representatives in 40+ cities (co-founder Denise Norris).
Hermaphrodites With Attitude, the first direct action group for the intersex (co-founder Cheryl Chase, Executive Director of the ISNA, the Intersex Society of North America).
NYC Gay Community Center Gender Identity Project (co-founder Dr. Barbara Warren, Dir. of Social Services).
NYC Gay Community Center Transgender Health Empowerment Conference, an annual event (co-founder Dr. Barbara Warren, Dir. of Social Services).
Camp Trans, an annual educational event outside the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival that contests the exclusion of anyone who is not deemed a "womyn-born womyn" (co-founders Janice Walworth, Nancy Jean Burkholder).
National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (co-founder Susan Wright, its first Exec. Dir.)
National Gender Lobby Day, an annual event on Capitol Hill (co-founder Phyllis Frye).

In 1995 Wilchins founded the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition GenderPAC, a tax-exempt organization focused on gender rights issues. GenderPAC originally focused on the transgender community, but gradually broadened its focus to include anyone who suffered discrimination or violence because of their gender identity or gender expression. GenderPAC described its mission as the creation of "classrooms, communities, and workplaces [that] are safe for everyone to learn, grow, and succeed - whether or not they meet expectations for masculinity and femininity."

In late 1999, the organization was incorporated and received tax-exempt status. In 2009 it rebranded and relaunched as a new organization, effectively ceasing operations as GenderPAC. While GenderPAC's Executive Director, Wilchins helped dozens of corporations as diverse as IBM, JP Morgan Chase, and Citigroup, as well as major funders like the Arcus and Gill Foundations to expand their employment non-discrimination policies to include gender identity and gender expression. GenderPAC's Congressional Non-Discrimination Pledge eventually had almost 200 sponsors, including both Republicans and US Senators. She helped compile and publish the GENIUS (Gender Equality National Index for Universities & Schools) Index, which rated and ranked schools' adoption of gender identity protections. During her watch, GenderPAC also launched the GenderYOUTH Network, which eventually supported student groups at 100+ schools in creating safer and friendlier environments for those who were gender non-conforming on their own campuses.

With help from researcher Emilia Lombardi, GenderPAC compiled and published the "1st National Survey of TransViolence," based on surveys provided by more than 500.

Reviews

[Red · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this were ten years ago, my mind would probably be blown.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this about a few years ago, but I recently found it and started re-reading it. Riki Wilchins is awesome because she writes intelligently and has an amazing sense of humor about her experiences. Even though a lot of what she writes about is heartbreaking, her writing always makes me laugh.

[Lori Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny and honest look at the reality of transgender individuals and the transgender community as whole, which aims to help the reader understand the ideas and feelings of this often repressed community.

[Maren Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realer than theory, more theoretical than straight memoir. Reading this book was a transformative experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone seeking to undo their gender -- or just see what this gender thing is all about.

[6655321 · Rating 3 out of 5]

can i just say "so 1994" and not review a book? Foucault/Butler done well, but so 1994

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been trying for months to remember the title of this book!

I knew the author's name was Riki, but I couldn't remember the proper spelling. I couldn't remember the title of the book either. I DID remember it was written by a trans woman and it was about trans issues. I just found the title on a transgender resource list circa 1998 that I came across in my file cabinet while searching for my birth certificate. Whew! What a relief to know that I hadn't imagined an entire book.

[DW Rowlands · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is rather dated--it was first published in 1997--but that actually adds to its value, because it's a well-written snapshot of transgender activism and theory from well before the "transgender revolution" of the last decade. While I wouldn't recommend it as a first book, or one's primary book, on trans issues, I think it's very worth reading, particularly for trans women like myself who don't have any firsthand experience of that era.

[Sucre · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was full of so much more historical info than expected which makes it a super worthwhile read from that angle alone. while I don't necessarily agree with all the ideas presented here, they're presented well. the wit and humor of the author makes this an engaging and quick read that gave me a lot to chew on. highly recommend for anyone wanting to branch out from more basic gender and trans readings + ppl who want to learn about several different areas of queer history.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is currently out of print. I had to read it for an American Studies class. The author is extremely sarcastic and although my professor thinks it's an excellent book, it was just ok for me. There were some valid arguments and although I learned a lot about her thoughts on transpeople, Riki's "in your face" writing style was a huge turn-off for me.

[Heta Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew a little bit about transexuals from psych classes before reading the book. Riki really opened my eyes to a lot of the unique forms of prejudice and trials experienced by people who are transexual or intersexed. This book challenged many of my notions about sexual identity and gender roles, and I am very glad that I read it.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to help those unfamiliar or wary of trans issues to see the humanness of the struggle for an authentic gender identity.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really want to teach more material from this book but it's maybe a bit to close to a journal. Anyway, I like the connections between theory and daily life.

[Meen]

Ooooh!

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilchins is smart, funny and serious as hell.

[duck reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Possibly suffering from comparison to some of Wilchins' more recent work, it seemed to be repeating things I'd heard before.

[Gabe Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best and leading transgender voices on the topic of gender and sexual otherness.

[Jasmine J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazinggggg.

So relateable as someone who questioned wherher they were a trans woman. There were relateable parts, parts that voiced a shared frustration, funny parts, and parts that answered questions in a somewhat academic context which is something I have craved for such a long time bcs it often feels difficult to find works about trans people that are not extremely colloquial. The books also holds up so well considering its 3 decades old and trans rights is such a dynamic movement.

[Corvid · Rating 5 out of 5]

the terminology is old but the feeling is all the same. wilchins puts so many of my questions about gender into words, and doesnt answer them so much as explain where they come from.

[Rodolphus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and liked the point of view that was different from other such books, yet did touch on familiar themes and events that were important, historically and culturally.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Wilchins's ideas are interesting and explained with wit and candor and I loved reading this.

[Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

literally best book I've ever read please read!!

[ariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

good for beginners but a bit outdated

[Quinn]

!!

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful piece on trans issues with discussion of semiotics, politics, and personal issues.