In the LGBTQ Nation article, “Gender-variant people come from a rich cultural lineage. It’s time to reclaim it!”, author Daniel Villarreal interviews Caro De Robertis about their book, So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color. The piece highlights the critical importance of preserving the stories of BIPOC queer and trans elders to counter the myth that gender variance is a modern “fad.”
De Robertis emphasizes that gender diversity has always existed across global cultures, though often erased from the historical archive. By interviewing 20 elders—spanning Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian identities—the project uncovers a “sacred” lineage of resilience. These elders share formative experiences from childhood and their roles in establishing vital community spaces, even during the height of the AIDS epidemic. One notable aspect of the book is its exploration of “Two-Spirit” identities, which De Robertis describes as a powerful subversion of Western, Judeo-Christian norms regarding what is considered sacred.
The article also tackles complex, “uncomfortable” truths, such as early sexual awakenings or the use of black-market hormones. De Robertis argues that queer individuals deserve the same “grace and spaciousness” for their messy realities that cis-heterosexual people receive. Furthermore, the discussion touches on the nuances of family rejection and acceptance within communities of color, advocating for a compassionate approach that acknowledges the intersecting layers of systemic racism and xenophobia.
De Robertis believes that cultural change—driven by art, storytelling, and community organizing—is the necessary precursor to political and legal progress. By reclaiming their rich cultural lineage, gender-variant people can find the “radiant” inheritance they need to survive and thrive in the face of modern political hostilities.
