Clare Howell

This book is exactly what the subtitle says "voices from beyond the sexual binary." While some of these pieces are well thought-out essays, a large number are more on the level of diary or blog entries, giving voice to the range of genderqueer experience but not much definition. I personally didn't find most of the essays that helpful, but your mileage may vary. There were gems among the voices. I would single out Cheryl Chase's piece on intersex issues, L. Maurer's Story of a Preadolescent Drag King, and Mr. Barb Greve's Courage from Necessity. There are also some real duds, including one piece that reads like a homophobic rant (mostly against lesbians). The seven introductory pieces (one each from editors Joan Nestle and Clare Howell and five from Riki Wilchins really bog down the beginning. I skipped some of this material. Wilchins' Epilogue was very useful.… (més)