Books for a Better World Book Club discussion

This thread is for reflection and overall discussion of the book. Feel free to post here whenever you finish the book, however, a 'live' discussion will be facilitated in this thread on June 20th from 2 - 3pm.

This month's book: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/1...

Brian and Tish have had quite a life so far. Coming out as gay, then transitioning from MTF in NYC, getting married and traveling with her army husband, returning to NYC, pursuing acting on stage but falling back constantly on sex work for money, struggling then overcoming addiction, receiving an HIV+ diagnosis in the midst of the AIDS crisis, detransitioning to his assigned-at-birth gender, and then finally finding contentment and true love.

Brian's experience was such a whirlwind. You felt for him as he faced a childhood of emotional and physical abuse, terrified to explore his desires and sense of self. You cheered for him as he navigated the LGBTQ scene in 70s NYC while imagining the run-ins with famous players of the time, worried for Tish during her encounters with johns and descent into drugs, horror at the HIV diagnosis and the fear he must have felt (knowing what we do now about the governmental failures in dealing with the crisis), and felt joy when he finally got some closure with his father and found happiness in the life he had found himself in.

This is the first time I'd read a memoir of a person who detransitioned. I have heard a bit about the stigmas that unfortunately follow those who do around (and that people who detransition or retransition can be subjected to a lot of hate from those who pose it as a political issue). I've read some more info since then and suggest the readers seek more information and tellings of peoples' experiences too (some other reviewers on the book's GR page have posted some links to check out). I've always been in the wheelhouse that pursuing your true identity is NEVER a political issue.