Wednesday 13 November 2019
10am - 12.30pm (talk from 10 - 11.30am, refreshments and networking 11.30am - 12.30pm)
Chancellors Suite, Rootes Building.

Jessica Lynn is a world-renowned American trans advocate, educator, and activist. Her experiences as a trans woman and parent led her to dedicate her life to spreading awareness and acceptance for gender non-conforming communities around the world. Over the last several years, Jessica has crisscrossed the globe sharing the story of her journey over 750 times in 25 different countries and is now internationally considered one of the foremost trans speakers due to her dynamic, refreshingly honest speaking style. You can read a more detailed profile of Jessica below.

Jessica’s presentation covers her transition and assorted issues both legal and ethical. Jessica’s style is an extremely open one, and she leaves no topic off-limits. Pivoting conversations on her audience’s questions and curiosities is the key to her Q&A series. Read more about Jessica's journey (which her talk will cover in more detail) below.

Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be provided from 11.30am. Please register your attendance using the form below.

Content warning: Jessica’s is a very personal story, told with a great deal of passion, and her talk includes use of strong language and adult humour. Subjects covered include: suicidal ideation, death and bereavement, and transphobia.

Feedback From Jessica's Talk

Jessica came to Warwick to present her story in May 2019, below you can read some of the feedback from that event:

"It was an amazing, emotional, thought provoking morning and I felt privileged to be able to attend and hear Jessica's personal journey first-hand".

"It is always interesting to hear about the way that others have faced up to extreme challenges. Jess is a strong and admirable person and it felt a privilege to hear her story".

"I thought Jessica was an amazing presenter, really impassioned and open and inspiring. It was an excellent opportunity to engage with trans issues and experiences and learn how to be a better supporter/ally".

"Jessica is an amazing speaker and the session was a real emotional rollercoaster! I certainly laughed and very nearly cried in parts. Her story is really incredible and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to hear her tell it her own words".

"An exceptional session - inspiring for everyone, and one which would be incredibly useful for those personally affected".

"I think the event was absolutely fantastic! Jessica was one of the best speakers I have ever listened to. Her story and challenges really affected me - both in a positive and negative way - but filled me with hope despite it all".

"Please thank Jessica for her presentation - it was so engaging and passionate and moving. She is an excellent speaker".

"I am so glad that I took time out of my day to attend this event and will strongly encourage my colleagues to attend if it is run again".

Jessica Lynn's Journey

At the heart of Jessica’s talk is the loss of her son. Railroaded by a Texas judge with a penchant for bigotry, she lost full parental rights to her young son in a local county custody battle in 2013. Curtis, her son, was 12. Twenty-two pages of court-ordered psych evaluations describe Jessica as a loving parent, and every page was thrown out in court by Judge Scott Becker, who ruled not only to remove her parental rights in full, but to smear her name off her son's birth certificate, like a blemish.

Jessica is the only parent in American history —a biological parent with a previously active, supportive role in her child's life — to be removed from their child's birth certificate. An inquiry by the Department of Justice said her case would never be reopened, as did a private investigation out of Houston attorney Phyllis Frye's office, which again found her to be wildly discriminated against.

Jessica has presented at many of the worlds most esteemed colleges and universities. Some of these schools include Harvard Law, Oxford University, Stanford Law, Cambridge University, Yale Law, University of Birmingham Law, numerous campuses throughout India, South Africa, and many others, orienting students and staff to issues of gender inequality and the trans community.

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More About Jessica Lynn

In recent years, Kinsey Institute Global Ambassador, Jessica Lynn, has gained adulation for her activism on behalf of the trans community. Her experience, exuberance, and extraordinary life produce a presentation that has put her on over 700 stages in 25 different countries.

After a prejudiced Texas judge stripped her of all parental rights to her youngest son, Jessica dedicated her life to combating the intolerance and ignorance of the public toward peoples who share her plight.

Addressing audiences unabashedly and answering any-and-all questions has earned Jessica worldwide renown, the prestige of a Stonewall School Role Model, and a position advising the medical community by request of NHS England. Beginning in 2019, both the University of Oxford and the National Institute for Health Research have appointed Jessica Lynn to an advisory position on projects aimed towards improving the health of gender diverse youth in Great Britain.