reviews_and_ramblings | 2017 Rainbow Awards Best LGBT Non Fiction & Biography / Memoir

The Dirk Vanden Award for Gay Biography / Memoir

And the Rainbow Award goes to...

Winners:

1-tie) #Trans: an anthology about transgender and nonbinary identity online Evelyn Deshane
Transgender - Non Fiction
Paperback: 204 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (February 16, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1543175880
ISBN-13: 978-1543175882
Amazon: #Trans: an anthology about transgender and nonbinary identity online Evelyn Deshane

1) Trans was somewhat painful to read - not by any fault of the author but as a collection of difficult and heartfelt stories it was heart wrenching, but I felt it was a book that needed to be written and will be loved by many.
2) I rather like that each piece was allowed to create it's own setting. The diversity of the pieces was part of the power of the book. The voice of each essay allowed me to glimpse into different worlds and gave me a clearer understanding of many things.
3) #Trans brings use collection of genuine stories from transgender and non-binary writers who share their heartfelt experiences and insightful thoughts on identity formation and how it has been impacted by technology, film, literature, social media, and music. Well written and edited, this is a must read for youth and adults.
4) #Trans is by turns academic, thoughtful, and provocative, providing insights and deconstruction of what it means to occupy a body in space and time... and how the internet has made it more possible than ever to find the others asking those same questions.
5) Thought provoking and informative, well written and edited, I really loved this book. It sparked quite a few family discussions!

1-tie) Equality: What Do You Think About When You Think of Equality? Paul Alan Fahey
LGBT - Non Fiction
Paperback
Publisher: Vine Leaves Press (January 15, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1925417263
ISBN-13: 978-1925417265
Amazon: Equality: What Do You Think About When You Think of Equality? Paul Alan Fahey
1) "Equality: What Do You Think About When You Think of Equality?" consists of essays describing different meanings of equality. Sometimes it's about LGBTQ rights, sometimes it's about understanding people and their various problems. This collection showed me that I still have a lot to do, because even though I fight about equal rights for everyone, there are still issues that I do not think about. There was just one thing missing - I would like to read what equality means to people from the "right side". Still, this book is definitely worth reading.
2) 25 gifted writers give their views on equality. Always insightful, these personal and often intimate observations give food for thought and some surprises along the way. The struggle for equality goes on despite the steps forward that have been made over the decades. A timely addition to the many essays on this subject. Highly recommended.
3) It is such an important topic. The essays were diverse, well-written and insightful and extremely well-organized and the editing was excellent. I learned so much from this anthology. *****

Runner Up:

2) One-Man Show: The Life and Art of Bernard Perlin by Michael Schreiber

Finalists:

3) Cornyation: San Antonio’s Outrageous Fiesta Tradition by Amy L. Stone
4) Dog Church by Gail Gilmore
5-tie) Dispatches From Lesbian America by Giovanna Capone, Xequina Berber, Cheela Romain Smith
5-tie) Fried & Convicted: Rehoboth Beach Uncorked by Fay Jacobs