Casa Susanna

The Story of the First Trans Network in the United States, 1959-1968

£45.00
£45.00

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Brings together a wealth of research and an expansive selection of photographs to create an enduring account of America's first known trans network, Casa Susanna

In the 1950s and 60s, an underground network of transgender women and cross-dressing men found refuge at a modest house in the Catskills region of New York. Known as Casa Susanna, the house provided a safe place to express their true selves and live for a few days as they had always dreamed - dressed as and living as women without fear of being incarcerated or institutionalized for their self-expression.

This book opens up that now-lost world. The photographs - mostly discovered by chance in a New York flea market in 2004 - chronicle the experiences of men who dressed as women, gender nonconforming people, and transwomen in states of relaxation, experimentation, connection and joy. All of this was made possible by Susanna Valenti who - on her own journey toward womanhood - created Casa Susanna, a protected space where others could crossdress and live freely as women. Supplementing the images are excerpts from Transvestia, a magazine that allowed those who had been cast out by a rigidly binary society to connect in a different medium.

The people who came to Casa Susanna found a spot where they could explore and celebrate their own and each other’s femininity, as they could not do elsewhere. Their creations are also a reminder that there were, and still are, many ways to explore the boundaries of gender.
Extent: 480 pp
Format: Paperback
Illustrations: 400
Publication date: 2024-01-11
Size: 25.5 x 18.0 cm
ISBN: 9780500297902

Press Reviews

An astonishing publication ... A rich, photographic homage to the life of Susanna, who orchestrated a safe community for those shunned by society, the photobook brings to the surface a hidden LGBTQ+ history
Dazed

A testament to resilience, courage, and the power of community, providing a long-overdue spotlight on a pivotal moment in the history of the LGBTQ+ movement. As these photographs and stories come to light, they contribute to a richer understanding of the diverse and evolving tapestry of gender expression in America
Digital Camera World

A nod to the indomitable human spirits quest for authenticity. On every page, Casa Susanna stands as a testament to the enduring power of resilience, acceptance, and the pursuit of genuine selfhood
Artlyst


About the Authors

Isabelle Bonnet is an independent curator currently completing a thesis in historyvisual culture devoted to the crime scene in contemporary photography Sophie Hackett is the Curator Photography at the Art Gallery of Ontario Toronto Susan Stryker is professor of gender and womens studies at the University of Arizona

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