Arin and Katie's Stories

Katie Rain Hill and Arin Andrews received international attention last year because of the unique nature of their relationship at the time: They are both transgender and dated while supporting each other through their transitions.  A little over a year ago, I wrote a post about Arin and Katie and their amazing story.  I was touched to see that they have each published a memoir: Rethinking Normal by Katie and Some Assembly Required by Arin.  Huffington Post said that the "books are beautifully written and incredibly personal, with neither of them shying away from sexual content, which may be seen as somewhat controversial due to our society's fascination with transitioning, trans bodies and the way trans people have sex."

"I wanted to be the most authentic way I could explain it without getting too sexual because my grandma is going to read it, my aunt is going to read it, my little cousins are," Andrews told The Huffington Post. "So I wanted to find a way to explain it that was still able to share my story without sexualizing it a lot and I think I found that way. It was just really important to share that because there's issues that go into that with the trans community... it's a very complex thing."

Hill noted, "I thought, No one else is talking about it, so why not me? ... Someone has to step up to the plate and address these things because these are questions everyone has... We might as well be straight up and honest with these people." She added, "I know it's going to help people because I have so many people who say to me, "Oh wow! That's what it's like."

I have to admit, when I think of transitioning transgendered people and sexual reassignment surgery, I have wondered how it all works.  I doubt anyone can honestly say that they haven't thought about it.  That being said, I always wanted to know more about each of their journeys.  I will be buying tune books and reading them, and you can be sure that I will let you know in a few weeks what I thought of them.

Though Arin and Katie are no longer a couple, they do remain good friends.  Each have gone their separate ways with college and since they were not seeing much of each other they decided to remain friends but no longer date.  Also, Katie has undergone full reassignment surgery, whereas, Arin is continuing to hope to have the bottom half of the surgery done sometime in the future.  I hope both of them the best can't wait to read their memoirs.