Episode 14: The rise of transgender science fiction

Sarah Snook as John in Predestination. — Sarah Snook as John in *Predestination*.

Transgender people have always been part of science fiction and fantasy, but the past few years have seen a whole new generation of trans creators bursting onto the scene. Why are so many trans people flocking to SF and what kind of stories are they telling? Also, we delve into the controversy over Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria, and explain why so many people are questioning the science behind this concept. Why can't teenagers shape their own identities without being accused of some mysterious new malady?

Works cited:

The Transcendent anthologies at Lethe Press

Meanwhile Elsewhere anthology at Topside Press

Unquenchable Fire by Rachel Pollack

The Drowing Girl by Caitlín M. Kiernan

Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg

Tomorrow or Forever by Jack Kaulfus

The Merry Spinster by Daniel Mallory Ortberg

The Machineries of Empire trilogy by Yoon Ha Lee

Predestination (2014 movie)

Rapid-onset Gender Dysphoria in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Study of Parental Reports, by Lisa Littman (PLoS One)

Journal Looking into Study on ‘Rapid-onset Gender Dysphoria’ (Inside Higher Ed)