My friend and mentor Lynn Conway died on June 9. This is a tremendous loss for me personally, for the transgender community, for science, and for humanity.
Lynn overcame profound anti-transgender discrimination to become one of history’s greatest scientists. After being fired in 1968 for making a gender transition, Lynn started a revolution in computer chip design that was instrumental in developing the device on which you are reading this.
In keeping with her passion for innovation, Lynn was also a pioneer in online transgender resources. Among her most valuable early contributions were lists of successful trans people that inspired many in their own transitions.
For over 20 years, Lynn and I worked closely to share information and wisdom that made gender transition easier for younger generations. We also worked hard to push back against unscientific and unethical academics engaged in anti-transgender activism.
Lynn and her husband Charlie traveled the world having adventures together after their storybook wedding in 2002. Please keep him in your thoughts.
I encourage you to reflect on Lynn’s remarkable life and find inspiration in her brilliance, her restless curiosity, her deep love of people, and her visionary accomplishments.
I will write a longer reflection at a future date.
Feel free to contact me at aj@andreajames.com to share your own memories or for additional information.
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Chicago 2003, working to end academic pathologization of transgender people. Andrea James, Lynn Conway, Calpernia Addams.
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Los Angeles 2004, at our first all-transgender production of The Vagina Monologues with playwright Eve Ensler
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San Francisco 2018, where Lynn was honored with one of many major scientific awards.
Michigan, 2018
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