Stories of Resilience and Advocacy

By Sloan MacRae, May 6, 2025

Adam Polaski ’12 coauthors a book advocating for transgender youth and their allies.

Adam Polaski '12 (Photo submitted)

Adam Polaski ’12, communications and policy director for the Campaign for Southern Equality, generated buzz with his new book, Trans Kids, Our Kids: Stories and Resources from the Front Lines of the Movement for Transgender Youth, which was cowritten by Alexis Stratton and Jasmine Beach-Ferrara. Recently, Polaski embarked on a national tour, sharing the book’s powerful message.

Highlighting the personal stories of transgender youth and their families, the book offers candid glimpses into their lives and the tough decisions they’re making to navigate the current political landscape. It also features the voices of medical providers, activists, teachers, and faith leaders who are on the front lines of providing care and advocacy.

By telling these stories, Trans Kids, Our Kids captures both the pain and resilience of transgender and LGBTQ+ youth, their families, and their supporters. The book also offers practical resources for those who are on similar journeys.

Jim Obergefell, the activist behind the landmark Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, praised the book, saying, “I am in awe of the families and advocates who are doing everything they can to support their children, build supportive spaces, and empower young people to live with authenticity and dignity.”

“I am in awe of the families and advocates who are doing everything they can to support their children, build supportive spaces, and empower young people to live with authenticity and dignity.”

Adam Polaski ’12, author and communications and policy director for the Campaign for Southern Equality

Even in this challenging political climate, Polaski remains optimistic and undaunted: “I do think that the LGBT movement is facing a pretty unprecedented challenge,” he acknowledged. “We’re just seeing this constant attempt to claw us back. I think it’s a natural part of social change. We push forward, and we make gains, and then there are these desperate attempts to pull us back and keep us in the past. But the fact is, people are also talking about trans people as people. They’re getting chances to understand who trans people are. I think the attacks on trans kids and trans adults don’t feel good for people. They see it and feel, ‘Hey, this feels like a cruel attack, and I don’t want to support this.’ As they say, the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice, and I think this is the dark part of the arc.”