Erasing Stigma with Rowan Jetté Knox

Youth United Speaker Series

Join author & mental health advocate, Rowan Jetté Knox as he discusses how to thrive in a transgender family and ways to deal with mental wellbeing through the 2SLGBTQIA+ lens.

In this signature talk based on his bestselling books, Rowan shares the personal story of a family’s journey through more than one gender transition, and demonstrates how everyone can make a difference in their lives by overcoming fear and embracing change.

This compelling story explores our own deeply held biases, the power of unconditional love, and ways we can all create change at work, at home, at school and in our communities.

About Rowan Jetté Knox

Rowan Jette Knox (he/him) is an award-winning writer and human rights advocate from Toronto, Canada. He, along with his family, share their story about the power of acceptance, understanding, vulnerability and unconditional love, in the hopes of normalizing the existence of LGBTQ+ families.

Prior to transition, Rowan was a 2019 Chatelaine Woman of the Year, a 2020 Woman of Influence, and a 2021 recipient of the Order of Ottawa. His work has been featured by several national and international media outlets, including CBC, BBC, The Today Show, CTV’s The Social, The Good Stuff with Mary Berg, O Magazine, and Upworthy.

Rowan is the author of the two bestselling memoirs LOVE LIVES HERE and ONE SUNNY AFTERNOON. He lives in Toronto with his family and a coffee maker that never quits.

This Speaker Series was proposed by Barrie Public Library's Leaders & Innovative Teens (BPL LIT) through the Youth United Grant. United Way Simcoe Muskoka’s Youth United is an entirely youth-driven program for youth ages 15-30 that provides one-time micro-grants to help support youth-led projects in the County of Simcoe, the District of Muskoka or the Town of the Blue Mountains. 

Youth United is funded in part by Canada Service Corps, a national movement that empowers youth aged 15–30 to gain experience and build important skills while giving back to their community. Learn more at Canada.ca/CanadaServiceCorps.

If you have any questions, please call 705-728-1010 or email askus@barrielibrary.ca

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