One year after graduating from UC Santa Cruz, Vann Jones dedicates his time to advocating and fighting for the rights of others. With two degrees in feminist studies and the history of art and visual culture (HAVC), and half a dozen internship experiences, Jones (Merrill ’23) made the most of his time at the university.
“During my time in college, I was given the grace to explore and figure out what I care about and what careers really speak to me and my interests,” he said. “I feel like my time at UCSC made me aware of what I want and gave me the tools I needed to go after it.”
Jones came out as transgender at 15 years old and sought hormone replacement therapy to ease his gender dysphoria. He was told the use of testosterone would render him unable to have biological children, but nearly a year later, he discovered this wasn’t true.
“This misinformation impacted my ability to make safe and informed decisions with my own body, and I realized that many other people are in the same boat.”
Motivated by his own experience, Jones created a website for his senior project titled What to Expect When He’s Expecting to combat misinformation about fertility and transgender health. His website is included in every UC Health Centers’ transgender self education packet. He has received messages from people across the country thanking him for his work, and received the Dean’s and Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Awards.
While at UCSC, Vann held multiple internship positions around the Bay Area. He worked as a legislative intern for the Office of Assemblyman Evan Low, then chair of the California LGBTQ Legislative Caucus through the Equality California Comcast Fellowship; a communications & development intern for Our Family Coalition— an SF Bay Area-based nonprofit dedicated to serving queer and trans families; and he worked for Trans Fertility Co. led by renowned trans activist Trystan Reese.
Jones also held an internship with the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History as an educational programs intern. He set up and led field trips for students K-12 and created activities, reading materials, and lesson plans to support their learning.
While attending UCDC, a program for University of California students and faculty to study, research, work, and live in Washington DC, Jones held two internships; one with Erin Reed, a nationally renowned journalist on transgender legislation and issues; as well as the National LGBTQ Task Force, the oldest LGBTQ+ rights-based organization in the country.
“I loved being able to try so many different fields and take experience and skills from different areas,” Jones said. “It has made me a more well-rounded professional, and has helped me develop a rather extensive network of contacts. While my friends often tease me for this, if you ask me any question, I often respond with ‘I have a person for that!’”
Now, Jones works as a freelancer and activist. As a freelancer, Jones worked with several nonprofit organizations to update gender affirming informational materials, advocate for the needs of current and former sex workers, and support underrepresented small business owners through marketing materials.
Most recently, Jones uses his experience to advocate for Palestinian liberation. Jones is one of the lead organizers of East Bay 4 Ceasefire Now, a community-based coalition with a wide network representing various stakeholders dedicated to putting pressure on locally elected representatives.
“As a direct descendant of a living Holocaust survivor, I grew up with stories of war and what it was like to live as a displaced person when my prababcia (great-grandmother) was a teenager and young adult,” he said. “It’s horrific to see another genocide being committed in my own lifetime.”
In the future, Jones wants to run for office as an openly transgender man.
“My hope is to help trans people across the country feel safer in knowing we have someone fighting for us, and that we have a seat at the table,” Jones said. “I would love to be able to represent my home here in the East Bay and fight for people in my community to have more support, protections, and opportunities.”
Read more about the Class of 2023 and their lives beyond the UCSC redwoods.
