Letter of Introduction

Dear Student Activity Director,

       My name is Debra Davis and I am a retired transgender high school librarian. I retired in 2001, after 32 years of working in secondary education, the last three years as an out transgender woman at my school. Recently I have been speaking about my experiences and presenting at campuses and organizations around the country. I give 50 to 80 presentations a year. In 2007 through 2010 I gave 232 presentations and workshops involving nearly 8,200 participants. I spoke in 16 different states.

       I have experience as a major campus presenter in the areas of diversity, gender education, women's issues and LGBT education. I have keynoted many regional and national conferences, I do luncheon speaking and have an array of training and in-service workshops that I can present to students, staff and/or faculty audiences.

       My presentation focuses on self-esteem, being true to yourself and proud of who you are. I tell about the experience of being a successful, out and visible transgender staff person in a public high school. (I am one of only a small handful of transgender secondary educators in the country.) I left school one Friday as a man and successfully returned the following Monday as the woman, Debra Davis. People have called my presentation ". . . an incredibly gentle portrayal of a sometimes taboo subject." Others have said:

       ". . . She blew me away. It was the only time in my life I've felt compelled to go up and hug a presenter."
       ". . . Thank you for always being available to teach us. Your spirit is indeed a gift from God."
       ". . . I have never before been exposed to anyone like Debra. Listening to her speak gave me the feeling of embarking on something new, something that was going to forever change my perspective on life."
       ". . . I am so grateful she came to speak to us. Her story touched my heart."
       ". . . The frankness of Debra is both encouraging and enlightening, that we all should listen to our inner voice and be 'true to our self.'"
      ". . . The understanding she created was phenomenal!"


       Enclosed you will find a brief biography, excerpts from letters I have received after speaking, and a list of the over 1,100 places I have given presentations and workshops over the last two decades (over 500 at colleges and universities). For more information, please contact me or check my web site, www.debradavis.org. Also, please feel free to forward this to others on your campus, or other community agencies who might be interested in a presentation. I may be reached by phone (763/424-5445) or e-mail (gec @ debradavis.org) and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Debra

Debra Davis
Retired High School Media Specialist &
Executive Director, Gender Education Center
P.O Box 1861, Maple Grove, MN 55311
Home office: 763/424-5445
www.debradavis.org      -      gec @ debradavis.org

A Minnesota non-profit corporation of differently gendered people dedicated to support, advocacy & education.
Funded in part by grants from Philanthrofund Foundation, Headwaters Foundation, honorariums and individual donations.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GENDER EDUCATION CENTER • P.O. BOX 1861 • MAPLE GROVE, MN 55311 • 763/424-5445 • www.debradavis.org

  Return to campus presntation page