Happy Pride, all! Did you know that members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are more likely to experience health disparities than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts?1 Many members of this community say they feel uncomfortable accessing healthcare and report facing discrimination because of who they are.2 Not on our watch!
The Wendy Patrick Consumer Health Collection has books to help members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community take their health into their own hands. Here is a sample of some the books in our collection:
Naked Nutrition: An LGBTQ+ Guide to Diet and Lifestyle by Daniel O’Shaughnessy
“As a gay man living in London and working as a nutritionist, Daniel O’Shaughnessy knows that the LGBTQ+ community has specific dietary and health needs. Yet while there is huge demand for this kind of information in his private practice, there is very little reliable public information out there for the community to access. Naked Nutrition seeks to change that: it is the first LGBTQ+ focused guide to diet and lifestyle, taking an honest, inclusive and non-judgemental approach to the questions Daniel is asked most frequently. It covers a wide range of subjects, giving detailed, practical advice on matters including: weight loss and muscle gain, digestive health issues, addiction, sex, fertility, nutrition for balancing hormones while transitioning, how to eat if you have a chronic condition, and how to mitigate against the party lifestyle.”
Like a boy but not a boy : navigating life, mental health, and parenthood outside the gender binary by Andrea Bennett
“Like a Boy but Not a Boy explores author andrea bennett’s experiences with gender expectations, being a non-binary parent, and the sometimes funny and sometimes difficult task of living in a body. The book’s fourteen essays also delve incisively into the interconnected themes of mental illness, mortality, creative work, class, and bike mechanics (apparently you can learn a lot about yourself through truing a wheel).”
How to understand your gender : a practical guide for exploring who you are by Alex Iantaffi & Meg-John Barker
“Have you ever questioned your gender identity? Do you know somebody who is transgender or who identifies as non-binary? Do you ever feel confused when people talk about gender diversity? This down-to-earth guide is for anybody who wants to know more about gender, from its biology, history, and sociology to the role it plays in our relationships and interactions with family, friends, partners, and strangers. Activities throughout the book will engage people of all genders in a thoughtful, practical way, and help you understand people whose gender might be different from your own.”
I am ace: advice on living your best asexual life by Cody Daigle-Orians
“How do I know if I’m actually asexual? How do i come out as asexual? What kinds of relationships can I have as an ace person? If you are looking for answers to these questions, Cody is here to help. Within these pages lie all the advice you need as a questioning ace teen. Tackling everything from what asexuality is, the asexual spectrum, and tips on coming out, to intimacy, relationships, aphobia, and finding joy, this guide will help you better understand your asexual identity alongside deeply relatable anecdotes drawn from Cody’s personal experience. Whether you are ace, demi, gray-ace, or not sure yet, this book will give you the courage and confidence to embrace your unique self.”
Gender confirmation surgery : a guide for trans and non-binary people by Edward Whelan & Nicholas Avigdor Melamed
“With personal stories and illustrations throughout, this comprehensive resource will help you understand the full range of surgical options available. Information and advice about each procedure is offered, including planning and recovery, sexual health and fertility, and insight into what to expect in the years following an operation. This is essential reading for any trans or non-binary person considering gender confirmation surgery and will help you make the decision that’s right for you”
Am I trans enough? : how to overcome your doubts and find your authentic self by Alo Johnston
“Alo Johnston has been where you are. From watching every transition story on YouTube and navigating online message boards for answers to finally starting testosterone and transitioning himself, he now walks alongside you every step of the way to guide you towards acceptance of who you truly are. Born out of thousands of hours of research and conversations with hundreds of trans people, Am I Trans Enough? digs deep into internalized transphobia and the historical narratives that fuel it. It unveils what happens after you come out, or begin questioning living as a trans person, in a world that works against you. Use this book as a space to engage with your fears and explore your doubts without the pressure of needing to be a perfect trans representative. If you are just beginning your trans journey, are twenty years into transition or have no idea if you are even trans at all, this book will help you to become your most authentic self”
You can check out these books and many others on the main floor of the library. You can also visit our catalog to browse more titles in the Wendy Patrick Consumer Health Collection.
Have a safe and happy Pride! From the staff at the Schulich Library of Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Engineering
- Alliance for Healthier Communities. 2SLGBTQ+. (n.d.). Retrieved June 7, 2024, from https://www.allianceon.org/2SLGBTQ#:~:text=Two%20Spirit%2C%20Lesbian%2C%20Gay
%2C,to%20stigma%2C%20discrimination%20and%20social ↩︎ - Mills, S., Dion, M., Thompson-Blum, D., Borst, C., & Diemert, J. (2019). Mapping the Void: Two-Spirit and LGBTIQ+ Experiences in Hamilton. ↩︎