Menu
Jenn Burleton is a prominent American activist, educator, and advocate whose work centers on supporting transgender and gender-diverse children, youth, and their families.
In 2006, she co-founded Trans Youth Family Advocates/Allies (TYFA), the first non-profit focused on the needs of trans+ children, youth, and families. Her voice and extensive experience have contributed to public conversations on gender diversity, gender-affirming healthcare, and policy development and practice.
In 2007, she co-founded TransActive, which in 2019 became the TransActive Gender Project at Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling and opened the doors of Burleton Education.
In 2024 she left that institution and founded Burleton Education.
Jenn's pronouns are she/they.
A self-described "woman of transgender experience", Jenn Burleton has been same-gender attracted her entire life, and has been with her partner and wife for more than 40 years..
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she has been a resident of the Portland, Oregon area since 1994.
From 1974-2010, Jenn Burleton worked as a professional musician, songwriter, and arranger, touring the world with various headliners and bands.
In 2021, Jenn Burleton was honored as an LGBTQ Nation Hometown Hero to recognize her sustained impact and advocacy for trans youth.
She was interviewed for a 2022 New York Times article ("They Paused Puberty, But Is There A Cost?"), and later commented critically about the lack of journalistic integrity in that same article.
And more:
Oregonians for Equality
Sy Award
Sen. Merkley/Wyden
Advocates for Justice
Queer Heroes PNW
A Fellow of the Georgetown University Center for Juvenile Justice Reform, Jenn Burleton's work has been a bridge between trans youth, families, educators, policymakers, institutions, and corporate leadership.
In 2015 she played a pivotal role in securing healthcare coverage of pubertal suppression treatment under Oregon's Medicaid program, a first in the USA.
Jenn Burleton created the nation's first Gender Diversity Certificate Program during her tenure as program director of the TransActive Gender Project at Lewis and Clark Graduate School.
“On the Just and Accurate Representation of Transgender Persons in Research” (2013) — co-authored by Jenn Burleton. Source: PDXScholar+1
“Being There for Nonbinary Youth” (Learning for Justice, Summer 2016) — quotes and commentary from Jenn Burleton.
SoCo Keynote: Jenn Burleton
Keynote Speech
Sep 15, 2007
Source: My Husband Betty (blog archive)
When We Fight with Jenn Burleton (channel) YouTube livestreams / videos — Ongoing Source: YouTube
KGW (Portland) television interview - March 2022
Best of GenderTalk #575 - August 2006
Jenn Burleton, trans activist, talks about the first advocacy group working to raise awareness about challenges facing gender variant kids and their families.
Source: GenderTalk & Apple Podcasts
Jenn Burleton is named LGBTQ Nation's Hometown Hero
Transcending Uncertainty: How Parents Can Make a Huge Difference for Their Trans Kids Feature/article quoting Burleton
Aug 17, 2023
Source: PDX Parent
The TransActive Gender Project Expands the Scope of Its Advocacy Feature article
Feb 28, 2019
Source: Portland Mercury
Jenn Burleton & Bentley Fox (StoryCorps Interview) Audio interview (with transcript)
Nov 1, 2023
Source: StoryCorps
Jenn Burleton Interview (blog)
May 29, 2014
Source: The Heroines
TransActive Gender Project at L&C; Institutional news
Feb 2019
Source: Lewis & Clark
TransActive Provides Resources to Trans Youth Feature
Dec 3, 2021
Source: Mossy Log
The Often Overlooked 'T' in LGBTQ: Interview with Jenn Interview
Jun 6, 2011
Source: Huffington Post
TransActive Gender Project Update: August 2022
TransActive Gender Project Update: June 2023
Jenn Burleton & Senators Merkley and Wyden Support Trans Youth
Gender Diversity Certificate Program
Jenn Burleton's response to the suppression of trans youth rights in Texas
Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling Launches TransActive Gender Project
January 2019