This idea often comes with a manipulative demand for “dialogue”, which offers a guise of civility. Gender Recognition Act debates have wrongly suggested that there is a potential conflict of interests between trans and cis women. “Together we must find, reinforce, and validate our authentic selves” –Radicalesbians, in The Woman Identified Woman Manifesto (1970) Belonging to this club comes with a set of ideological positions that may not be questioned, if you care to remain a member. Being “radfem” – short for radical feminist – becomes a club. In some feminist circles, being anti-trans, similarly to being anti-sex workers’ rights, is a practice of belonging. Or, that to be a radical feminist means to reject the sex workers’ rights movements. Yet, many people have come to believe that radical feminism inherently clashes with the rights, recognition and respect of trans people. It celebrates femme and butch identities and culture, and fundamentally questions social norms and constraints of masculinity and femininity.

This book is full of love and respect for characters who are transgender, as well as those who do sex work.

Leslie Feinberg’s Stone Butch Blues (1992), a celebrated novel of great importance to lesbian culture, tells the story of Jess, a working-class butch, with a complicated and evolving relation with her gender identity. 'I have always wanted to be both man and woman' - Audre Lorde in Zami: A New Spelling of My Name (1982)

Zami a spelling of my name