Episode 90 of the Podcast for Social Research—TRANSgressions: Rights Wrongs, and Liberal Pieties—was recorded (mostly) live at BISR Central, as we celebrated Pride Month by asking: What happens when trans people in the public eye commit real or perceived wrongs? By what criteria—or liberal pieties or social justice aims—are these so-called wrongs evaluated? And what kind of trans experience even gets a public airing at all—why and in service of what? We submitted these questions to BISR faculty Sophie Lewis, Hannah Leffingwell, and Ruth Averbach, each of whom approached it in a way apropos of their own scholarly and activist priorities. The first voice you’ll hear is Sophie’s, speaking from Philadelphia about a very specific form of Enemy Transfeminism: Trans Zionism. Ruth picks up from there to track the ideologically bewildering reception of a counterrevolutionary trans writer in 19th century Russia. After which we hear from Hannah on how trans life has historically interacted with the clinic and been represented in film. In conversation with one another and with a live BISR audience, Ruth and Hannah then embark on a freewheeling conversation that touches on, among other persons and things, Representative Sarah McBride, attorney Chase Strangio, the recent Supreme Court decision on trans-affirming healthcare, and much else besides.

The Podcast for Social Research is produced by Ryan Lentini.

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Terrible perfection

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