Um, Jennifer? Girl Class (2023)
Queer history can be dramatic, romantic, tragic and occasionally absurd. Few people tell those stories with as much curiosity and affection as Kuku Schrapnell. Born in 1991 and working between Leipzig and Berlin, Kuku moves across writing, journalism, public speaking and political education. Through writing, but also lectures and workshops, their work combines historical research with a sharp sense of humor, making complex political questions both accessible and personal. Over the years, Kuku has written for publications including analyse & kritik, Jungle World and Missy Magazine, often exploring the intersections of identity, politics of power and resistance.
For Kuku, history becomes a living archive: messy, contradictory and full of people whose lives challenge the stories we think we know. This approach is at the heart of Kuku’s recent book Gender Punks. Part historical excavation, part love letter, the book introduces readers to trans and intersex pioneers from the seventeenth to the twentieth century, tracing lives that have often been erased or misrepresented. Rather than positioning these figures as exceptions, Kuku places them within a longer lineage of survival.
When we asked Kuku for a track, the answer came in the form of “Girl Class” by Um, Jennifer? In their words: “It's trans, it's punk, it's hilarious, sad and horny all at the same time. It's the soundtrack to joy, resistance and fun in dire times.”
Happy listening!
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