Though there’s no dearth of groundbreaking NYU alumni, it feels especially necessary to honor GSAS alumna Janet Mock for being recognized among the 2019 NYU Changemakers of the Year. NYU Changemakers are a selected group of NYU alumni whose accomplishments help build a better world.
Mock earned her MA in Journalism from NYU in 2006. After graduating from NYU, she immediately solidified herself as a journalistic powerhouse. In 2011, Mock came out publicly as a trans woman – and since, she has used her voice and platform to advocate for and defend trans rights and visibility in media and politics. What makes her accomplishments particularly poignant is an emphasis on intersectionality, inclusion, and justice.
Among Mock’s accomplishments are milestones of firsts for the trans community. In 2014, her novel, Redefining Realness, became a New York Times bestseller. It was the first memoir to chronicle the experience of a young person transitioning (Mock began transitioning as a freshman in high school). She is the first trans woman of color both to write and direct for a major television series, Pose (FX), which features a cast almost entirely made up of trans people of color. Most recently, she is the first openly trans woman to sign a major content deal with Netflix.
Mock’s journalism career includes such media giants as People, Marie Claire, and Elle. In addition to her induction as a New York University Changemaker, Mock has received countless awards for her accomplishments as a writer, advocate, and public figure.
Not only is Janet Mock a changemaker – she is a history maker, a testament to the bravery of living one’s unapologetic truth. That she continues to make strides in a world that continually seeks to invalidate trans lives, a world where simply existing as a trans woman of color is a radical act, should remind us all to be courageous, especially when the stakes are high. Her bravery, her brilliance, and her dedication to harnessing the power of truth have impacted the trans community and beyond.
You can learn more about Jacket Mock online through her full profile. And you can also meet all of the 2019 honorees on the website.
Leave a Reply