ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores notions of trans emergence from many different angles, encompassing medical discourse and practice, art and music, popular media, research praxis, interpersonal relationships and nonnormative ethics. ‘Trans’, like ‘queer’, embraces this incomprehensibility, reconfiguring notions of community, body, origin, outcome. It is a difficult concept, and activists, support groups and service providers all continue to grapple with the practical consequences and radical productive potential of this difficulty. Notions of trans or transgender possibility stand in opposition to the normative discourses. Therefore, while being or becoming trans is a matter of self-emergence or self-creation in a repudiation of social norms, there is also something very important that is shared between people. Trans people are more visible to those who feel threatened by our emergence, and those who might wish us harm.
