Beyond the Gender Binary

Pocket Change Collective

By: Alok Vaid-Menon

Narrated by: Alok Vaid-Menon

Winner of the 2021 In The Margins Award

"When reading this book, all I feel is kindness."—Sam Smith, Grammy and Oscar award-winning singer and songwriter

"Thank God we have Alok. And I'm learning a thing or two myself."—Billy Porter, Emmy award-winning actor, singer, and Broadway theater performer

"Beyond the Gender Binary will give readers everywhere the feeling that anything is possible within themselves"—Princess Nokia, musician and co-founder of the Smart Girl Club

"A fierce, penetrating, and empowering call for change."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"An affirming, thoughtful read for all ages."—School Library Journal, starred review

In Beyond the Gender Binary, poet, artist, and LGBTQIA+ rights advocate Alok Vaid-Menon deconstructs, demystifies, and reimagines the gender binary.

Pocket Change Collective is a series of small books with big ideas from today's leading activists and artists. In this installment, Beyond the Gender Binary, Alok Vaid-Menon challenges the world to see gender not in black and white, but in full color. Taking from their own experiences as a gender-nonconforming artist, they show us that gender is a malleable and creative form of expression. The only limit is your imagination.

©2020 Alok Vaid-Menon (P)2020 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"There's no better time for a new conversation about the damaging effects of mainstream society's oppressive, dismissive, and silencing stance on who folks are supposed to be based on...what...? Thank God we have Alok. And I'm learning a thing or two myself." (Billy Porter, Emmy award-winning actor, singer, and Broadway theater performer)

"This beautiful book is a beacon, just like Alok. Having Alok in my life has saved me in so many ways, and now you can have a little bit of them with you, too. When reading this book, all I feel is kindness. This is a step-by-step education on what it means to respect non-binary people. Alok is a human being who has a deep love and commitment to other human beings. They have come to us from the future to show us what life could be like if we all loved a little harder and dug a little deeper." (Sam Smith, Grammy and Oscar award-winning singer and songwriter)

"Beyond the Gender Binary is a literary vessel of light for those who are looking for hopefulness, honesty, and a stimulating education in the exploration of themselves. This book is a twenty-first-century survival guide for queer-identifying people of all walks of life—Alok provides a safe space of shared experiences, commitment, and love to expand the gender binary to create a brighter and more inclusive present and future. This book shares wisdom, knowledge, and the universal spirit of celebrating one's self by shattering the transphobic lens that hinders most gender non-conforming people. Beyond the Gender Binary will give readers everywhere the feeling that anything is possible within themselves, and that self-love through whatever choice of gender expression is truly attainable." (Princess Nokia, musician and co-founder of the Smart Girl Club)

Short, simple and clear

This book provides a gender primer for folks who want to learn more about trans non-binary gender and why it is so threatening to people.

short , sweet and perfectly poignant

Reading or listening to Alok's words are never a waste of my time. They are for everyone.

Gratitude

Alok creates a space within their book to lean in, learn, and grow as a human. Their voice, both as narrator and writer, is moving and empowering. I am a parent of a child who is curious about their gender and identity. Listening to others' stories and experiences helps our family support and navigate life alongside our child. I am grateful for Alok and their gift of communication to the world.

Should be required reading for all

I think if this was required reading for all, it has the potential to create wide societal shifts and changes. This was a thought provoking, easy read and something anyone/ everyone can enjoy, I think.

Wonderful, powerful, a must read!

This book was beautiful and so educational. From start to finish, it was filled with powerful deep insights people really need to hear especially in this time and age. That, along with Alok’s soft voice, makes for an amazing audiobook. Perfect for those short on timing but want to learn a little more about this topic. Well done Alok, you are truly changing the world.

😍 loved it

Great book, great ideas, I love Alok and their contribution to the world. THANK YOU

Love it!!

I absolutely loved this book! Only complaint is that I wish it were longer. Hope to read more books by Alok!!

Small, but mighty indeed!!!

This was a great read. One of the people I love most on this earth is non-binary and I wish to learn more so that I can gain a better perspective. This book was great. Provided a great deal of insight. I will be reading more books by Alok. Thank you .

A perfect little window into beauty

Alok shares his beautiful perspective on how the gender binary harms us all, and shares so many moments of poignant beauty and epiphany in this short book. If you’ve ever felt alone, confused, like you don’t fit in, like you’re not enough, like you’re too much, like you’re hard to love… READ THIS.

eye opening and justifying

LOVED! This book gives language to the ongoing paradigm shift in our culture and educational.