iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Cortinarius everywhere today!

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I love these small worlds, small lives

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

3 years ago, I drove to Maria Lugones' old property. My aim: to meet the mushrooms she knew & wrote about. My reflections on that experience (here: muse.jhu.edu/article/981388 ), are the first time I worked philosophically with my lifelong admiration of fungi. Hope to do more! Also met these cuties:

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Jacks are back! Naturally bioluminescent, although I've never seen it.

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Been waiting to see one of these! Cauliflower mushroom

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Did you know caterpillar (L. catta-pilosus) means hairy cat? You're welcome!

picture of a blue caterpillar with yellow hairs

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

I use "genealogy" to describe much of the work in *Cisgender*. While I find some origins, I am more interested in lines of descent & emergence. One goal for me was to emancipate us from the category's constraints & fill it to bursting w/ incongruent stories. sites.google.com/view/critica...

sites.google.com

Critical Genealogies Workshop

The Critical Genealogies Workshop provides a space of collaboration and experimentation for theorists from any discipline who deploy genealogy in order to investigate problematizations of the contempo...

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

A fun addition to *Cisgender* is a glossary of cis+ terms. I didn't include "cisn't" but could have. It means "not cis." But it also suggests a secondary conjunction: "cis-isn't." "I'm not cis" & "Cis isn't what you think it is." Related "cis(disside)nt" adds militant refusal to factual correction.

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

thanking the academic gods every day that it is still not-yet-August.

a picture of grass transitioning to parched/cracked dirt

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

If you're looking for a (teachable!) intro to my *Cisgender* book -- & why disability, race, coloniality, queerness, & citation politics are so crucial to how we need to rethink the term, check out my convo w/ the amazing @lenamattheis.bsky.social on Queer Lit! www.spreaker.com/episode/cisg...

spreaker.com

“Cisgender” with Perry Zurn

Who coined the term cis and why are some people calling it a slur? Amazing return guest Perry Zurn joins me to discuss what the concept of cis does, why it’s

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Been seeing these around lately. Not sure who is housed here…

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

I'm trying desperately to bring the next book in at 70k words. A little lighter and sweeter than my usual. Hopefully first draft done this summer.

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Greetings to/from my favorite tree!

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Great to join the good folks at @hotelbarpodcast.bsky.social and chat about disorienting cisgender! Thanks @drleighmjohnson.bsky.social, Bob Vallier, and Jennifer Kling for a discussion I'm still chewing on! hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/cisg...

hotelbarpodcast.com

Episode 227: Disorienting Cisgender (with Perry Zurn) - Hotel Bar Podcast

The word everyone's fighting about has a history almost no one knows.

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Ah the thymus! Obviously explains everything.

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Reposted by Perry Zurn

Duke University Press @dukepress.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Today's blog post features our great new books coming out this July, including "Cisgender" by @perryzurn.bsky.social, the first book to trace the story of how cis entered contemporary gender lexicons. buff.ly/zs9RK2C

Cover of Cisgender: Disorienting a Category by Perry Zurn. The cover is a teal blue with navy blue loops and curls tangled across it. They have the texture of brush strokes. The title appears center and large in a sans serif type in light green/blue. The loops that overlap with the title appear berry pink. The subtitle is above aligned left in a white serif font. The author’s name appears below aligned right in a white serif font.

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

I think of May/June as the giddy, freefall months of academic summer, where all the dream projects begin. And I think of July as the month of "If you intend to do X this summer, start X now." It's an important pivot into a very different temporality. Also, this is when the lepiota appear.

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Seem to have a double rainbow on my hands! Just really need a green book next…

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

A book about Lohana Berkins, travesti activist/theorist. I appreciated how in telling her story she ended up immortalizing so many travestis’ stories. As if one couldn’t tell her story alone. As if each deserved to be told as much as the next. As if spotlights are to be shared, diffused, defracted.

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Emi Koyama passed away last week. She was so excited to hear Cisgender was coming out. I interviewed her for it, given the significance of her 2002 uptake of the term. Thinking through race, gender, disability, & class, she had wise words for me to guide its future use. bsky.app/profile/emin...

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

OMG it arrived in person! Personing right into my hands! @dukepress.bsky.social

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

I enjoyed these two books! Andrea D'Atri's Bread and Roses (a Marxist feminist history, with special focus on Latin America [2004]) and Patricio Simonetto's A Body of One's Own (a travesti and trans history of Argentina [2024]). I especially appreciated exploring the overlaps in the two movements.

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

*Cisgender* is now officially IN STOCK! A month early! And you can get it 30% off with code: E26CGNDR. Whether "cisgender" makes sense to you, or doesn't, this is a great place to learn its histories and grapple with what it might yet do. @dukepress.bsky.social dukeupress.edu/cisgender

dukeupress.edu

Cisgender: Disorienting a Category

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

With Hampshire College closing, I can't help but rethink *How We Make Each Other*. I thought it would be the 1st of many books telling AMAZING stories of queer/trans life at Hampshire & the 5 Colleges. Weird to think it could be the last! @dukepress.bsky.social www.dukeupress.edu/how-we-make-...

dukeupress.edu

How We Make Each Other: Trans Life at the Edge of the University

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Hi Folks, FEAST (@feministphilosophy.bsky.social) is calling for self-nominations to fill a full roster of positions (by June 5th!). Sign up if you feel called! The group would warmly welcome your leadership. All Best, Perry (with Alison Reiheld) docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

docs.google.com

FEAST Leadership Nominations

Self-nominations only, please. All nominations should include a brief biography of 150 words or less, plus a short narrative of 150 words or less describing the candidate’s interest in and hopes for F...

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Coming soon! The "Trans Philosophy" special issue of TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly! Co-edited with Talia Mae Bettcher, and featuring Jacob Hale on the cover. Will post again when the links go live next week, but was too excited to wait. @dukepress.bsky.social

Front cover, with a picture of Jacob Hale from 2000.

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

I woke up eager to ask: What queer book saved your life? Or was there any book that, at a really critical moment in your life, gave you strength, threw you a life preserver, shifted your core, helped you say "no" and "yes" to different things? @thisqueerbook.com thisqueerbook.com/stone-butch-...

thisqueerbook.com

Stone Butch Blues with Perry Zurn

Today, Dr. Perry Zurn shares the queer book that saved his life: Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Had the delight! of joining This Queer Book Saved My Life podcast to talk about the book that most changed mine. We talk Leslie Feinberg, growing up conservative/religious, & why "butch" mattered. Also a quick preview of my new book *Cisgender.* @thisqueerbook.com thisqueerbook.com/stone-butch-...

thisqueerbook.com

Stone Butch Blues with Perry Zurn

Today, Dr. Perry Zurn shares the queer book that saved his life: Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Final day to get *Cisgender* or *How We Make Each Other* or SO MANY OTHER GOOD BOOKS from Duke UP at 40% off!

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Re: the path to mestiza consciousness, Anzaldua says: Grab your backpack. Throw out the maps and money. Keep the journal, address book, knife, can opener, & eyebrow pencil. Add bones, bark, herbs, feather, snakeskin, tape recorder, drum, etc. EYEBROW PENCIL. Discuss. www.auntlute.com/borderlands

auntlute.com

Borderlands/La Frontera | auntlutebooks

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Reposted by Perry Zurn

The Gaily Show @thegailyshow.org · 15/05/2026

In his new book, @perryzurn.bsky.social really dives into whether or not "cisgender" makes sense. When does it work and when doesn't it? Where did it come from and should we keep using it? Despite a full-episode I still didn't have enough time to get all my questions in! youtube.com/shorts/VKZJU...

youtube.com

Does "cisgender" make sense?

YouTube video by The Gaily Show

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

On @thegailyshow.org today to talk about *Cisgender: Disorienting a Category* (pre-order now; out in July)! Loved being in conversation with John Parker! @dukepress.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=fclP...

youtube.com

The Gaily Show - May 14, 2026

YouTube video by The Gaily Show

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

These are the 4 books that most changed how I thought about & wrote *How We Make Each Other: Trans Life at the Edge of the University*. I'd love to talk more about that process. You can get it (& pre-order Cisgender) from @dukepress.bsky.social 40% off, SPRING26. www.dukeupress.edu/how-we-make-...

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

After many years in this place, I finally hung something on my office wall. throwback to my college days. I never smoked, but otherwise vibe still just as apt!

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

A first for me! Wrinkled thimble morel, I think…

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

New (edited) excerpt from *Curious Minds*! From the chapter called "Curiosity as Edgework" ... in which I argue for a socio-relational account of curiosity (which otherwise is typically characterized as psycho-individual). Hope folks enjoy! thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/curiosity-is...

thereader.mitpress.mit.edu

Curiosity Is No Solo Act

It gains its real power when embedded in webs of relationship and shared meaning-making.

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Big brother nailing it with their ads for me…

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Thanks @Cornell for spotlighting *How We Make Each Other,* which I finished there. & shout-out to Kim Haines-Eitzen who asked the stunning question: “What do we (over)simplify in order to complexify something else?” It has stuck with me ever since. societyhumanities.as.cornell.edu/news/perry-z...

societyhumanities.as.cornell.edu

Perry Zurn on his new book, How We Make Each Other

The Fellows’ Q&A series continues with a spotlight on Perry Zurn, Provost Associate Professor of Philosophy at American University and form Society for the Humanities Fellow at Cornell University. His...

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

I went to college at a place like this. We couldn't say "feminism" let alone "queer." I was put on academic probation for dating 'gay'. Had my library card threatened for ordering Feinberg. I won't downplay the costs. But! It didn't take the queer out of us. It couldn't. truthout.org/articles/tex...

truthout.org

Texas Tech Establishes Draconian New Censorship Policies on LGBTQ Topics

In addition to restricting classroom instruction, the new memo extends content censorship to student research as well.

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

The universe was listening! @dukepress.bsky.social posted the intro to *Cisgender.* You get to read vignettes about my grandmother & Leslie Feinberg & Audre Lorde... & wrestle with what they do to the cis category. You also get a peak at why disorientation is my framework of choice. bit.ly/4vKd53u

The cover of "Cisgender," full of squiggly lines in dark blue and pink.

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Perry Zurn @perryzurn.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Hot take: phones have ruined the gym. The number of people who sit there watching videos for ten even twenty minutes on a single weight machine is mind blowing.

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