Love Lives Here: A Story of Thriving in a Transgender Family

In this heartfelt memoir, Jetté Knox recounts three coming-out stories from her family: her wife’s and daughter’s as transgender women, and her own as a lesbian. She recounts a difficult childhood during which she faced extreme bullying, contemplated suicide, and was living on her own by 16. Then she met “the love of my life” and got pregnant, followed by marriage, two more children, and a parenting blog, The Maven of Mayhem. Her second child, at age 11 and suffering from anxiety and depression, came out as transgender. Jetté Knox made a plan to support her daughter’s transition and confronted her own “internalized transphobia” (“Her being a boy was part of my identity. But it wasn’t part of hers”). Shortly after, her then-husband came out as transgender. After they decided to renew their vows for their 20th anniversary, Jetté Knox came out as a lesbian, noting that, because her partner’s “living her truth, I’m finally able to live mine.” Though the unique bond shared between Jetté Knox’s wife and daughter isn’t deeply explored, her straightforward account of her daughter’s journey is valuable representation. This sweet and positive account of a family facing obstacles and growing closer together is inspiring. (Aug.)