In this episode of the Trans Lesson Plan Podcast, we explore the fascinating history of Casa Susanna, a hidden sanctuary in the Catskill Mountains of New York during the 1950s and 60s. Discover how this cozy retreat became a pivotal safe haven for transgender women and cross-dressing men in an era of intense societal pressure and discrimination. Join us as we uncover the story of Susanna Valenti and the diverse community that found solace and self-expression at Casa Susanna.

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Works Cited:

• ​Bakker, Alex, et al. Others of My Kind: Transatlantic Transgender Histories. University of Calgary Press, 2020.
• ​Bonnet, Isabelle, et al. Casa Susanna: The Story of the First Trans Network in the United States, 1959-1968. Thames & Hudson ; Art Gallery of Ontario, 2023.
• ​Broverman, Neal. “Visit Casa Susanna, A Secret House of Trans Women in the 1960s.” Advocate.Com, Advocate.com, 1 Apr. 2024, www.advocate.com/transgender/casa-susanna#rebelltitem11.
• ​Casa Susanna. PBS, 2023.
• ​Davis, Bob. “Using archives to identify the Trans* women of Casa Susanna.” TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly, vol. 2, no. 4, 1 Nov. 2015, pp. 621–634, https://doi.org/10.1215/23289252-3151547.
• ​Haynes, Suyin. “In Upstate New York, Casa Susanna Was a Safe Haven for Trans Women in 1960s America.” CNN, Cable News Network, 26 June 2024, www.cnn.com/2024/06/26/style/casa-susanna-trans-photo-archive/index.html.
• ​Hurst, Michel, and Robert Swope. Casa Susanna. PowerHouse Books, 2014.