Cristan Williams has worked for decades to address the practical needs of underserved populations. She founded numerous social service programs, community centers, and a community library and archive. She has published short stories, academic chapters and papers, and numerous articles for both print and digital magazines. She received numerous awards for her advocacy, presented at universities nationwide, served on numerous public health and community organization boards, and is a founding member of the Transgender Foundation of America and the Bee Busy Wellness Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center. She is a certified sexologist, community healthcare worker, holds a degree in sociology, and is a candidate for a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.
Trans History
Gender-expansive history has been an interest of mine for decades. I founded the Trans Library and Archives in Houston and rewrote the early etiologies of ingroup vernaculars specific to gendered minorities. Dr. Milton Diamond referred to my historical research as being “…extremely valuable not only to me but to the many researchers who strive for accuracy. Your work has certainly opened my eyes and corrected for me many misconceptions…” and trans activist and author, Kate Bornstein called my research a “must-read” for those in gender studies. Both Dallas Denny and Susan Stryker claim to be fans of my research, and Jamison Green called it “brilliant.”
For more on my personal blog posts concerning gendered language, click here.
- 2021: Women’s Movement, Trans Inclusion In/Exclusion From
The SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies - 2021: TERFs
The SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies - 2020: The ontological woman: A history of deauthentication, dehumanization, and violence
The Sociological Review - 2016: Radical Inclusion: Recounting the trans-inclusive history of Radical Feminism
Transgender Studies Quarterly - 2014: Alpha Male
The Queer South: LGBTQ Writers on the American South - 2014: Transgender
Transgender Studies Quarterly - 2014: Transgender*: The Rhetorical Landscape of a Term
Present Tense: A Journal of Rhetoric in Society - 2014: Historical Advisor
Trans Bodies, Trans Selves
Historical Exploration
One of my hobbies is exploring historical areas – especially if that historical area has been forgotten. I’ve researched, explored, and documented so-called haunted houses, pirate strongholds, snake-oil “medicinal” springs, forgotten and abused mass graves, and more. Here are a few of my explorations:
The Ghost Town Downtown
Did you know that there’s a ghost town just a few hundred feet from downtown Houston?
The Donnellan Crypt, Downtown Houston
I have to admit that I felt a bit like Lara Croft while getting my shots for this photo essay. Last night I read that there was supposed to be a large family tomb that had been built over, but is still somewhat accessible in downtown Houston. Of course this rumor caught my attention and so I began researching. […]
A Hempstead Highway Ghost: Scales
On my way home, I decided to stop at an abandoned industrial scale that looked interesting to me: Front of Building Rear of Building Overgrowth Inside: “Scales Closed Forever! Thank You For 9 yrs. Joe, Rose“ A Nearby Train
Et Cetera
I like turtles: While my favorites are centrochelys sulcata, agrionemys horsfieldii, aldabrachelys gigantea, and the Texas beauty, terrapene ornata ornata, I have cared for terrapene and tortoises since I was a child.
I like to paint and cultivate lovely outside garden spaces. I love the Texas hill country even as I am consistently saddened and embarrassed by the harmful Dunning-Kruger political culture cobbled together out of type I errors that seem to thrive there. While I don’t like Facebook, you can sometimes find me posting on my Twitter. You can also check out the stuff I write for the TransAdvocate. My Google Scholar profile is here, and my Academia profile is here.
Cristen, we are not acquainted and I am only learning about you now… while it’s come to my attention that you apparently know of me. I’d like to have a dialogue with you at your convenience, either by phone or on a private social media connection of your choosing. I feel it’s important we speak. I hope you’ll agree!
I am also writing to express my complete support for your site’s Open Letter and to congratulate you on your inclusion in this year’s Trans100.
Looking forward to e-meeting you,
Dawn Ennis