Spotlights the work of trans youth in creating inclusive spaces within high schools

Based on a year-long ethnographic study conducted in a Canadian high school, Fierce, Fabulous, and Fluid presents a poignant critique of educational policies aimed at supporting trans and gender-nonconforming students. Author LJ Slovin observes the experiences of gender-nonconforming youth who were often overlooked in discussions about trans issues, in part due to policies created by well-meaning educators that inadvertently perpetuated a narrow definition of trans identity. Despite their lack of recognition, these individuals persevered, navigating their own identities and striving to thrive within the education system while building more inclusive spaces that embrace a spectrum of trans identities.

By sharing these stories, Slovin emphasizes the need for educators to move away from a focus on risk and concern and instead towards fostering a celebration of trans and gender-nonconforming youth. The book urges educators to cultivate a genuine desire to understand and support trans youth, paving the way for a brighter and queerer future within educational settings.

LJ Slovin is the Martha LA McCain Postdoctoral Fellow at the Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies at the University of Toronto. Their work has been published in Curriculum Inquiry, Journal of LGBT Youth, Sex Education, and RERM. Slovin was a Vanier Scholar, and the 2020 recipient of the Pat Clifford Award.

L.J. Slovin's profile page