He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters

Activist and educator Bailar, the first openly transgender athlete to compete in an NCAA Division I sport, makes his adult debut (following his middle-grade coming-of-age story, Obie Is Man Enough) with a vulnerable, incisive discussion of gender and sexuality. The book is divided into four parts, with each section addressing different gender-related issues, from finding the right words (and understanding why some language is harmful or helpful) to considering one’s biases and learning how to fully engage in allyship. Standout sections include discussions of difficulties faced by trans athletes, from anti-trans legislation to increased drug testing; confronting toxic masculinity as a trans man; and the ways that race, disability, and mental health affect transgender individuals and communities. He combines well-researched statistics with his own story and reflections from other transgender individuals. He carefully lays bare the complexities and nuances of gender while making it clear that these issues have the power to change, destroy, and even save lives.