None of the Above: Reflections on Life Beyond the Binary

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Travis Alabanza is a wise, hilarious, and sharp thinker—a writer who not only defies categorization, but who makes categorization itself seem fussy and obsolete.” —Torrey Peters, author of Detransition, Baby: A Novel For Alabanza, this sense of disembodiment is everyone else’s fault, for inflicting the arbitrary “gender binary” upon the world. Horn’s account of growing up offers richer and stranger possibilities, recounting childhood with a heavy-drinking, indebted mother, a fine artist who called Horn’s school projects ‘bits of twonky shite’ and used her child, from an early age, as the model for her work: Sometimes when identities are under heavy scrutiny, we build special rules around them to protect ourselves. But I just don’t want to be working from a place of protection anymore. I don’t want to make transness this special identity that you can’t critique. We’ve seen with identity politics, that just leads to bullshit, you know? It leads to a dialogue that isn’t healthy, and a situation where we are unable to make a class-based analysis of anything. That’s just what happens when an identity becomes this circle that you can’t touch – I guess I just wanted to burst that a bit. As well as a writer, Alabanza is also a performance artist, and in 2017 they became the youngest recipient of an artist residency at the Tate. Their debut show, Burgerz, won the Edinburgh fringe total theatre award in 2019. None of the Above is a well-crafted and considered work of literature . . . [Alabanza's] analysis of how gender is experienced in the world is nuanced, ambiguous and often unexpected in its conclusions. The book is also very funny’

But this memoir made me realise that I want to be difficult. I want people to use my correct pronouns, not just the ones that they gave me at birth. I want to fight, to be heard, to be seen, not as difficult, but as a human being wanting to live their life to its fullest. So, when did you know, uh … ?” asks a donor to a very popular LGBTQ+ charity in the UK, at a private dinner celebrating volunteers. The “uh” is followed by a grand gesture of her hand, pointing up and down to my outfit and makeup. This is a deeply personal memoir that truly connected with me and makes me want to do whatever I can to make the world we live in more acceptable and kind to everyone no matter their gender, race, identity...etc. I have struggled with my identity all of my life and there was one particular quote that hit so close to home that I had to consider who I was trying to satisfy with my answer, myself or the people around me who won't stray from the binary. All upcoming public events are going ahead as planned and you can find more information on our events blog Fellow judge Irfan Master said the book stood out for its “craft, courage and connection”, while Yaba Badoe, also judging, said “every teenager” should read the book.Absolutely stunning . . . Travis is one of the sharpest writers out there and everyone should read this book’ IONE GAMBLE Travis Alabanza: ‘What is terrifying is that for a long time I felt I owed every question an answer.’ All portraits: Harry Borden/The Guardian. Makeup: Montell-Dominique

When someone refers to me as a “he” in passing I have to remind myself they could possibly be talking about me’ The rich, white donor lady leans in. She nods, as if to say, go on, don’t stop, tell me, how exactly you know.Educational, illuminating and hilarious. Not only an empowering and enriching read for those that are treated like outsiders on this confusing and cluttered planet but a book that leaves readers with a far better understanding of issues that are faced’ Travis Alabanza is an award-winning writer, performer and all-round LGBTQ+ icon. Their stage shows Burgerz and Overflow explored the joy and traumas of being a trans person in public spaces. Travis is now releasing their much anticipated memoir None of the Above. is reviewed between 08.30 to 16.30 Monday to Friday. We're experiencing a high volume of enquiries so it may take us The Library's buildings remain fully open but some services are limited, including access to collection items. We're

In the 70s and 8s you could be a man and wear your hair long, and wear make up and no one wondered if they had changed gender. Hair bands, Goths… Travis' book will challenge the reader to reflect on the ways we treat each other, pushing for a brighter future where gender structures aren't being weaponised in the ways they currently are’ JG: Do you feel the pressure to be a public spokesperson for trans issues and if so, how does that sit alongside your sense of humour? None of the Above is more than a breath of fresh air. It’s a prison break, a revolt, a wild thumb in the eye of a carceral gender system that tries to bind our flesh into rigid and ranked categories.” —Susan Stryker, author of Transgender History: The Roots of Today’s RevolutionAlabanza's memoir is separated into seven chapters, each with a phrase that has been directed at them throughout their life. As a gender-nonconforming, mixed-race person, Travis talks about their life and struggles from living in an estate town to being who they truly are in a binary-focused world. Modern political thought has disappeared down the postmodernism rabbit hole but has forgotten that postmodern white rabbit, does not believe in identity itself.