Interview of Eli Erlick

NYC Trans Oral History Project

Born in rural California, Eli Erlick recounts her experiences as one of the only trans kids in her area, which led her, at age 15, to co-found Trans Student Educational Resources, an organization that works to implement trans-inclusive policy models in school systems across the country. Erlick also discusses her time studying Gender Studies at Pitzer and UC Santa Cruz, as well as formative political encounters with trans literature like Dean Spade’s Normal Life and Eric Stanley and Nat Smith's Captive Genders. Erlick shares her thoughts on cancel culture, disrespectability politics, and trans identity in academia. Having signed several book deals, Erlick is currently working on rewriting the timeline of trans history in adult and young adult formats using recently digitized primary sources.