Kate Bornstein

Since 1989, trans trailblazer Kate Bornstein has — with humor and spunk — ushered us into a world of limitless possibility through a daring re-envisionment of the gender system as we know it. Bornstein identifies as nonbinary: not a man, and not a woman — and she’s been writing about nonbinary gender identity for nearly thirty years.

Bornstein was born Albert Bornstein in 1948, in Asbury Park, New Jersey. At an early age, he came to the conclusion that he wasn't a boy, and that she didn't want to grow up to be a man. To Albert, being a boy was all acting, and pretending to be a boy. In 1984, she began her hormonal, surgical, and social transition from male to female, which she completed in 1986 — she was a woman! In less than two years, she realized that being a woman was for her no more than acting and pretending... just like it had been for being a man. So in 1988, Bornstein gave up the idea of being a woman, and now she lives on the edge of paradox: she is not a man, and not a woman. She looks beyond the gender binary to see gender as both a conscious practice, and a playful journey.

Bornstein's work is taught in five languages, in over 300 high schools, colleges, and universities around the world. The titles of her books say a lot about who she is and how she views things: "Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us;" "My New Gender Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving World Peace Through Gender Anarchy and Sex Positivity;" "Hello, Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws;" "A Queer and Pleasant Danger: The True Story of a Nice Jewish Boy Who Joins the Church of Scientology and Leaves Twelve Years Later to Become the Lovely Lady She Is Today."

Currently, you can see Bornstein onscreen as Joan, the church lady, in the film, Saturday Church. Bornstein is the subject of Sam Feder's award-winning documentary, “Kate Bornstein Is a Queer and Pleasant Danger.” Bornstein's work on suicide prevention, and her advocacy for marginalized and at-risk youth has earned her two citations of outstanding citizenship from the New York City Council.

Bornstein has been on the road lecturing and performing for over 25 years, at colleges, high schools, and anywhere people gather to talk about gender.