On Servants' Wings
A gynandromorph butterfly with the transgender pride flag for the front wing and the rainbow pride flag on the rear wing On Servants Wings
Resources and Reflections by Azariah Liron


Introductory Resources to the Transgender Community


Print Version

Books (Non-Fiction)

  • Erickson-Schroth, Laura. (2014). Trans bodies, trans selves: A resource for the transgender community.
    • Resource written by & for transgender individuals, this book provides information on the social, legal, and medical interactions transgender people encounter.
  • Boenke, M. (2003). Trans forming families: Real stories about transgendered loved ones (Revised/Expanded ed.). Hardy, VA: Oak Knoll Press.
    • Collection of stories by families and friends of individuals who are transgender.
  • Whitley, Cameron, & Hubbard, Eleanor. (2012). Trans Kin: A Guide for Families and Friends of Transgender People.
    • Stories, experiences and essays by the family, friends and professionals who know and love the transgender people in their life.

Books (Fiction)

  • Peters, Julie Ann (2004). Luna.
    • Novel about the experiences of a teenage transwoman from the perspective of her sister.
  • Herthel, Jessica; Jennings, Jazz (2014) I am Jazz
    • Picture book on the experiences Jazz Jennings, who is a transkid advocating for transkids.
  • Wittlinger, Ellen (2015) Parrotfish
    • A teenage transman processes the challenges of coming out and growing up.

Youtube Videos

Online Communities

Conferences/Camps

  • Outright VT
    • Summer camp for queer youth (age 13-18)
    • http://www.campoutright.org/
  • Camp Aranu'tiq
    • Summer Camp for transgender youth (age 8-18)
    • http://www.camparanutiq.org
  • True Colors
    • Conference for LGBTQ youth and their families.
    • http://www.ourtruecolors.org/Programs/Conference/index.html

Other Websites

  • Trans Student Educational Resources
    • Information for transgender students and their families.
    • http://www.transstudent.org/
  • World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)
    • These are the standards that are often used to guide medical transitions if that is something that a person desires.
    • https://s3.amazonaws.com/amo_hub_content/Association140/files/Standards%20of%20Care%20V7%20-%202011%20WPATH%20(2)(1).pdf
  • Trans Lifeline
    • A 24-hr hotline for trans folks who need support, validation, or just a listening ear.
    • US: (877) 565-8860 Canada: (877) 330-6366
    • https://www.translifeline.org/
  • Transgender Day of Remembrance
    • Information about the international day when the transgender community and gathers to commemorate those who were killed for their gender identity.
    • http://www.transgenderdor.org/
  • Trans Faith
    • Resource which shares information about the intersection of gender and religion.
    • http://www.transfaithonline.org/
  • Transgender Law Center
    • Legal and advocacy organization for transgender individuals.
    • http://transgenderlawcenter.org/
  • National Center for Transgender Equality
    • Group advocating for policy change that supports the transgender community.
    • http://www.transequality.org
  • Cisgender Privilege, T-Vox
    • Explores the advantages our society gives to cisgender individuals that are denied to transgender individuals.
    • http://t-vox.org/?s=cisgender+privilege+checklist

The Search for a Name

A story on the search on identity from "A Ray of Darkness" by Rowan Williams. In keeping with the spirit of how this story may appeal to transgender individuals of faith, I have made a few minor changes to ensure inclusive language. As with all stories, others experience with this text may vary based on their identity and background.

Rabbi Yehuda was the greatest rabbi of his age in Europe, the man who in his house in Prague, created the Golem, the animated form of a man, to which he gave life by putting under its tongue a slip of paper bearing the unutterable name of God. One night, Rabbi Yehuda had a dream: he dreamed that he had died and was brought before the throne. And the angel who stands before the throne said to him, "who are you?" "I am Rabbi Yehuda of Prague, the maker of the Golem," he replied. "Tell me, my lord, if my name is written in the book of the names of those who will have a share in the kingdom." "Wait here," said the angel. "I shall read the names of all those who have died today that are written in the book." And they read the names, thousands of them, strange names to ears of Rabbi Yehuda; as the angel read, the rabbi saw the spirits of those whose names had been called fly into the glory that sat above the throne.

At last they finished reading, and Rabbi Yehuda's name had not been called, and he wept bitterly and cried out against the angel. The angel said, "I have called your name." Rabbi Yehuda said, "I did not hear it." And the angel said, "In the book are written the names of all people who have ever lived on the earth, for every soul is an inheritor of the kingdom. But many come here who have never heard their true name on the lips of human or angel. They have lived believing that they know their names; and so when they are called to share in the kingdom, they do not hear their names as their own. They do not recognize that it is for them that the gates of heaven are opened. So they must wait here until they hear their names and know them. Perhaps in their lifetime one person has once called them by their right name: here they shall stay until they have remembered. Perhaps no one has ever called them by their right name: here they shall stay until they are silent enough to hear the King of the Universe himself calling them."

At this, Rabbi Yehuda woke and, rising from his bed with tears, he covered his head and lay prostrate on the ground, and prayed, "Maker of the Universe! Grant me once before I die to hear my own true name on the lips of my kin."


Context Note: This resource was created in 2014 and predominantly reflects artifacts and ideas that were known by the author at that time.


Copyright © Azariah Liron 2020