The trans pioneer and gender theorist Kate Bornstein reflects on her journey in new memoir
By WALLACE BAINE
Posted:   08/16/2012 01:30:44 AM PDT

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/entertainment/ci_21324511/trans-pioneer-and-gender-theorist-kate-bornstein-reflects

The story of becoming a transsexual in the 1980s and blazing a trail in gender theory is, you might think, enough fodder for a rollicking memoir. That's certainly Kate Bornstein's story, but she's also a refugee from the Church of Scientology, which could make for a whole other memoir as well.

These two themes come crashing together in Bornstein's new book "A Queer and Pleasant Danger" Beacon Press. She appears tonight at Bookshop Santa Cruz in support of the new book.

"I never wanted to write a memoir," said Bornstein, who also authored 1994's "Gender Outlaw," an influential treatise on gender identity. "I had lots of people warn me against it, including three very cool psychics."

The new book began, in fact, as a performance piece; besides being a writer, Bornstein is a longtime performance artist. "It really had to do with trying to get in touch with my daughter, who I haven't seen in 30 years and who is 39 years old now."