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To Survive on This Shore: Photographs and Interviews with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Older Adults
Representations of older transgender people are nearly absent from our culture and those that do exist are often one-dimensional. For over five years, photographer Jess T. Dugan and social worker Vanessa Fabbre traveled throughout the United States creating To Survive on This Shore: Photographs and Interviews with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Older Adults. Seeking subjects whose lived experiences exist within the complex intersections of gender identity, age, race, ethnicity, sexuality, socioeconomic class, and geographic location, they traveled from coast to coast, to big cities and small towns, documenting the life stories of this important but largely underrepresented group of older adults. The featured individuals share a wide variety of life narratives spanning the last ninety years, offering an important historical record of transgender experience and activism in the United States. The resulting portraits and narratives provide a nuanced view into the struggles and joys of growing older as a transgender person and offer a poignant reflection on what it means to live authentically despite seemingly insurmountable odds.
To Survive on This Shore was published as a hardcover book by Kehrer Verlag (first edition 2018, second edition 2019) and is currently sold out. It was also published as a limited edition portfolio designed for university art museums and other teaching collections.
To Survive on This Shore was published as a hardcover book by Kehrer Verlag (first edition 2018, second edition 2019) and is currently sold out. It was also published as a limited edition portfolio designed for university art museums and other teaching collections.
164 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
6 people are currently reading
670 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 14, 2019
I have no words for how much this made me feel as 20yo non-binary trans person
This book was gifted to my LGBTQ+ centre but I read it before putting it on our shelves and I'm really happy I did. My only wish is that I would have liked to be able to take my time more.
These are words from trans elders. They're all from the US but there's a lot of diversity in these stories, lots of POC, non-binary & binary trans folks, ace people, gay/bi people, disabled, fat people, religious people from very different religions. The editors did an awesome job with this book.
It made me so emotional as a young trans person. I don't really have words. It hit me in a very special way, to read the words of my elders, hear the voices of older trans people, who we don't hear or see that often. This was a whole special experience and I know I'll go back to it when in doubt about my future. This gave me a lot of hope and a lot of courage to keep fighting.
However, just know there are ALL THE TWs!! ALL OF THEM!! I'm going to try and make a list but I might forget some. These stories aren't easy to read because they're not all happy, so be careful.
TW: mention of suicide/self-harm, sexual assault, child abuse, drugs/alcohol & addiction, misgendering/transphobia, queerphobia, family abuse, violence, emotional & physical abuse, slurs (including queerphobic slurs), dated terminology to refer to transidentity.
This book was gifted to my LGBTQ+ centre but I read it before putting it on our shelves and I'm really happy I did. My only wish is that I would have liked to be able to take my time more.
These are words from trans elders. They're all from the US but there's a lot of diversity in these stories, lots of POC, non-binary & binary trans folks, ace people, gay/bi people, disabled, fat people, religious people from very different religions. The editors did an awesome job with this book.
It made me so emotional as a young trans person. I don't really have words. It hit me in a very special way, to read the words of my elders, hear the voices of older trans people, who we don't hear or see that often. This was a whole special experience and I know I'll go back to it when in doubt about my future. This gave me a lot of hope and a lot of courage to keep fighting.
However, just know there are ALL THE TWs!! ALL OF THEM!! I'm going to try and make a list but I might forget some. These stories aren't easy to read because they're not all happy, so be careful.
TW: mention of suicide/self-harm, sexual assault, child abuse, drugs/alcohol & addiction, misgendering/transphobia, queerphobia, family abuse, violence, emotional & physical abuse, slurs (including queerphobic slurs), dated terminology to refer to transidentity.
November 11, 2018
This is a terrific resource for showing the younger generation of trans kids and youth that they can/will live long lives.
Not all the stories that accompany the photographs are happy, but they provide valuable perspectives into the lives and resilience of our elders in the community.
The photographs are wonderful. My favorite is Freya. But I also love that there's a wide representation in terms of identity and expression. Trans men are often erased from the cultural narrative (which I guess is the price we pay for our relative safety and security), but the book has plenty of great photos of people identifying on the trans masculine spectrum.
Lovely book. Read slowly and enjoy.
Overall, highly recommended, especially for parents of trans kids/youth and for people transitioning later in life who may not see themselves in media representations or Youtube.
Not all the stories that accompany the photographs are happy, but they provide valuable perspectives into the lives and resilience of our elders in the community.
The photographs are wonderful. My favorite is Freya. But I also love that there's a wide representation in terms of identity and expression. Trans men are often erased from the cultural narrative (which I guess is the price we pay for our relative safety and security), but the book has plenty of great photos of people identifying on the trans masculine spectrum.
Lovely book. Read slowly and enjoy.
Overall, highly recommended, especially for parents of trans kids/youth and for people transitioning later in life who may not see themselves in media representations or Youtube.
May 13, 2019
Phenomenal. Over five years, the authors, a photographer and a social worker, met with older transgender and non-binary folks across the US to collect their stories and create photographic portraits of them. The result is an incredible, enlightening, and moving window into their lives.
The subjects range from their 50s to their 90s. Some have been living in the gender into which they’ve transitioned virtually all their lives. Others transitioned only as senior citizens (I loved Joanne, who transitioned in her 80s). Their stories touch on so many important dimensions - family and intimate relationships in all their subtle permutations, the privileges and disadvantages of race/class/gender, shifts over time in the sense of what is possible or permissible, the challenges of aging and seeking health care for the trans and non-binary. Many of the stories are truly inspiring.
I think this is a critical resource for younger trans people, for families, for health care workers, for cisgendered older people (they should have copies in seniors’ centres. Excellent interview at the end with the authors - happy to know that the interviews in full are going to be archived and available as a resource in future.
The subjects range from their 50s to their 90s. Some have been living in the gender into which they’ve transitioned virtually all their lives. Others transitioned only as senior citizens (I loved Joanne, who transitioned in her 80s). Their stories touch on so many important dimensions - family and intimate relationships in all their subtle permutations, the privileges and disadvantages of race/class/gender, shifts over time in the sense of what is possible or permissible, the challenges of aging and seeking health care for the trans and non-binary. Many of the stories are truly inspiring.
I think this is a critical resource for younger trans people, for families, for health care workers, for cisgendered older people (they should have copies in seniors’ centres. Excellent interview at the end with the authors - happy to know that the interviews in full are going to be archived and available as a resource in future.
March 1, 2023
Sped through this book in a single sitting. Incredible photos and interviews. It means so much to see older trans adults. To imagine that life can extend that far. Infinitely grateful to the authors and subjects for sharing their lives and their images here. What a joy.
June 30, 2024
Fantastic and powerful!! We should all have it for our coffee tables
August 6, 2019
Jess T. Dugan, a photographer, and Vanessa Fabbre, social worker specializing in gerontology, collaborated on this book with amazing results. Together they interviewed and photographed 66 people over the age of 50 who were either transgender or gender nonconforming to hear about their experiences and capture what their current lives are like. Each journey is very individual, yet on the other hand you can’t help but notice the many similarities that they share. Many of their stories are sad, with family members who have disowned them or their own regrets that they went through most of their lives as the wrong gender. Other stories are so uplifting: spouses and children who totally support their decision to transition, and communities and friends who support them. Their ages, race, ethnicities, and socio-economic situations also had a huge impact on their lives.
You cannot read these stories about their struggles and joys without being pulled in emotionally. One of the reasons the authors wanted to make this book is so that younger transgendered people can learn from their elders’ experiences, but this is an important book for anyone to read, regardless of sexual orientation or gender. You can’t walk away from this book without feeling humbled and amazed by what they have gone through. It's both heartbreaking and uplifting: an incredibly powerful book.
You cannot read these stories about their struggles and joys without being pulled in emotionally. One of the reasons the authors wanted to make this book is so that younger transgendered people can learn from their elders’ experiences, but this is an important book for anyone to read, regardless of sexual orientation or gender. You can’t walk away from this book without feeling humbled and amazed by what they have gone through. It's both heartbreaking and uplifting: an incredibly powerful book.
April 6, 2019
This is a beautifully photographed book documenting the lives of older people who are transgender. It's a large size edition and makes a stunning coffee table book. The cover portrait is fabulous and everyone in the book is amazing. They have indeed survived on this shore with dignity and have earned our respect....
I recommend this book to all who want to know more about older people who are trans. Some have transitioned years ago and some have only recently transitioned.... Ages 50-90....
I recommend this book to all who want to know more about older people who are trans. Some have transitioned years ago and some have only recently transitioned.... Ages 50-90....
June 16, 2019
Highly recommend
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October 29, 2020Selailin sieltä täältä. En koe voivani antaa tästä syystä tähtiä.
March 8, 2025
Just the kind of hope I needed right now🏳️⚧️
May 14, 2019
This is a beautiful, sometimes encouraging, sometimes heartbreaking book. And a powerful testament.
October 8, 2024
Pull quote/note
"We're fortunate that the people who participated in the project gave us permission to put the content of the project out into the world and donate it to archives for preservation. I'm now able to use these data to answer important research questions about the health and well-being of trans and gender nonconforming older adults." (155) YES. This is what I love to see: active informed consent
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November 12, 2023"It's like my life had been a scattered puzzle and suddenly the frame was there and everything fit and I understood the picture...I had never heard of anybody my age transitioning. I couldn't find anybody online. You know, I found people in their forties transitioning, but to transition at sixty-three!"
-John, AR
-John, AR
January 7, 2024
As a young queer person I can’t express how heartbreaking and simultaneously heartwarming it is to read these older queer people’s stories. While many of their stories outline their suffering and potential fear of what the future has in store, it is hard not to see the sentiment expressed in having the privilege to grow older as an LGBT individual where many have not.
January 20, 2024
Oh, my god, what an important book. These portraits of and interviews with trans and gender non-confirming people 50+ are incredible - that they exist, that they will be part of the historical record. As such a person myself, one still early in my gender journey, the folx in this book are truly inspirational to me, personally. And the cover portrait of Gloria is *everything*.
April 10, 2019
A brilliant book! Well crafted edited versions of interviews revealing a full spectrum of experience - beautiful portrait photos. Make sure to read the back pages to learn more about the process of creating the book.
December 6, 2020
Really inspiring!!! Essential! There is basically no representation of trans elders so this book is a big deal!
Thank you to Miriam Frank for having this book sitting out when I visited! That's how I learned about it!
Thank you to Miriam Frank for having this book sitting out when I visited! That's how I learned about it!
March 29, 2023
This is the best book I have read in a very long time. The portraits are gorgeous and the interviews are beautiful. I had to actively stop myself from reading it all in one sitting. I wanted to savour it!
Stunning. Incredible. A must-read.
Stunning. Incredible. A must-read.
February 24, 2019
CW: mention of suicide, sexual assault, and death
November 4, 2019
Absolutely stunning. Moving stories.
February 1, 2020
I needed this book very badly, and I'm beyond thankful that it exists.
February 18, 2020
Beautiful - just beautiful. Each person's story is unique and inspiring.
November 20, 2020
An amazing testament of those (those of us, I suppose it more accurate to say) who live with such embodied courage, strength, and care. Such a lovely book.
June 15, 2021
Love love LOVE this Humans-of-New-York style series of interviews and photographs with trans and gnc older adults. It was incredibly eye-opening but in a way that fills you with hope.
August 24, 2021
Amazing. Just amazing. What an incredible addition to the body of trans books and documentary photography
April 23, 2022
I was fortunate to see the photography exhibition that partners this book - both are fabulous.
October 11, 2022
Absolutely lovely.
July 17, 2023
The authors collected photographs and interviews with transgender and gender nonconforming older adults. Eye-opening and interesting. Well worth the read.
January 2, 2024
Stunning, gorgeous, profoundly important historical document.
cw: descriptions of transantagonism, suicidality, child sexual abuse
cw: descriptions of transantagonism, suicidality, child sexual abuse
January 30, 2024
Almost made me cry multiple times. I love queer people.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews