Selected Work
A working portfolio, organized by argument.
Most of what I write is some version of two questions: who gets to tell the story of trans women — especially Black trans women — and who profits when somebody else tells it. That's the work.
The pieces below are grouped by argument, not by outlet. I'll keep this updated as the archive grows.
Transmisogynoir, fetishization, and the politics of representation
"The Problem With Identifying As 'Trans Attracted'" — Out, 2019
"20 Microaggressions Transgender People Are Tired of Hearing" — PopSugar, 2019
“Black Trans Women Want the Media to Show Them Living, Not Just Dying” — Vox, 2019
“How Black Trans Women Are Redefining Beauty Standards” — Harper's BAZAAR, 2018
Trans youth, schools, and policy
"Title IX Is Harming Transgender Youth: Here's What We Can Do" — Wear Your Voice, 2019
"Alabama's State Motto Is Something Governor Kay Ivey Ignores" — The Advocate, 2022
“Alabama May Pass the Most Aggressive Anti-Transgender Bill Yet” — GLAAD, 2022
“Transgender Day of Visibility: Meet the Organizations Fighting Anti-Trans Legislation on the Ground” — GLAAD, 2022
Media criticism and narrative control
“The New York Times’ Inaccurate Coverage of Transgender People is Being Weaponized Against the Transgender Community” — GLAAD, 2023
"There's No Empty LGBTQ+ Allyship From Police" — Teen Vogue, 2020
Public education and collective advocacy
“What Are Your Pronouns?” — GLAAD and Universal Music Group, 2021 (featured participant)
“Open Letter Supporting Trans Women and Girls” — GLAAD, 2021 (signatory)
Testimony and lived experience
"10 Transgender and Nonbinary People Explain What Gender Dysphoria Feels Like" — Daily Dot, 2017
"Four Transgender Indigenous and Two-Spirit People On What They Need From Allies" — INTO, 2018
“Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People On Dealing With Workplace Discrimination” — INTO, 2018
“Asexual People Tell Us What Their Romantic Lives Are Like” — VICE, 2019
13. Reclaiming Our Honor, How We Can End the Violence Against Trans Women of Color — Out, 2019 (in collaboration with Raquel Willis)
Books
Gender Euphoria: A New Collection (contributor) — a zine on the joys and complications of trans embodiment.
A note on range: I've gone outside this lane too. There's a Live Science piece on cat butt-wiggles I'm proud of. But the work above is the work I want to be read by.
For pitches or collaborations: SonomaSerena@gmail.com