In a historic milestone for Howard University, Jay Jones, a junior political science major from Fort Worth, Texas, has become the first transgender person to be elected as the student body president. Her election marks a significant moment not only for the university but also for the broader transgender and LGBTQ+ community. Jones’ journey to this point has been one of resilience, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity.
Jones’ story is particularly inspiring, given her background. Born into a conservative Christian family where being gay was not socially acceptable, Jones faced numerous challenges in her early life. Despite this, she found solace and empowerment in leadership roles at a young age. Her first foray into leadership came in middle school, when she was elected as the student body president, a position that set the stage for her future endeavors.
“I think that was a very much a turning point year for me because it was a year where I kind of knew how I was feeling,” Jones explained. “There were emotions I felt ever since I was younger, but I never could put verbiage or language to it.”
Jones came out as gay in eighth grade to her sister, who responded with a supportive, “Girl, I been knew.” This moment of acceptance was crucial for Jones, who had always felt different but couldn’t fully articulate her identity. Her journey continued through high school, where she began to grapple with her gender identity more deeply.
When Jones entered Howard University, she was initially unsure of how to navigate her identity. Serving as the vice president of the Howard University Student Association (HUSA), she faced a pivotal moment when asked about her preferred pronouns. “I said, ‘I don’t really know because I don’t feel comfortable using he/him pronouns because I don’t think that expresses who I am as a person,’ but at that time, I don’t think I was to the point where ‘she/her’ was necessary,” she recalled.
A significant turning point came during a conversation with Eshe Ukweli, a trans journalism student at Howard. Ukweli asked Jones a simple but profound question: “‘If you were to have kids or if your brother or your sister or someone around you was to have kids, what do you imagine them calling you?’ and I realized, it was always ‘mom,’ it was always ‘sister,’ and it was always ‘aunt,'” Jones said. This realization helped Jones fully embrace her identity as a trans woman.
Her commitment to fostering an accepting and encouraging environment for all students has been a defining characteristic of Jones’ leadership at Howard. Under her leadership, Howard University has been recognized as the No. 1 most inclusive Historically Black College or University (HBCU) for LGBTQ-identifying students by BestColleges in 2023. This accolade reflects the positive changes Jones and her peers have worked tirelessly to implement.
Howard University has a complex history with the LGBTQ+ community. While it hosted the first National Third World Lesbian and Gay Conference in the 1970s, homophobia was still prevalent on campus in the following decades. Organizations like The Bisexual, Lesbian, and Gay Organization of Students at Howard (BLAGOSAH) and the Coalition of Activist Students Celebrating The Acceptance of Diversity and Equality (CASCADE) were formed to combat these stigmas and create a safer environment for queer students.
Jones’ achievements and her journey toward self-acceptance are a testament to the power of resilience and community support. She acknowledges the role of mentors and friends like Ukweli and Samarion Montgomery in helping her navigate her transition. “She knows what it’s like to do hormones, she understands what it’s like to be in a place of leadership and to be in a place of transition,” Jones said of Ukweli. “There is no amount of research, no amount of information, no amount of anything that you can take in, that could ever equate to that.”
Montgomery, who met Jones during their time in the Men of George Washington Carver Inc., a traditionally all-male organization at Howard, was instrumental in encouraging Jones to embrace her true self. “I knew the woman who Jay was. … She was and still is one of the smartest people I have ever met,” Montgomery said. “I was like, ‘Listen, you have so much potential, I cannot have it hindered any way whatsoever.’”
Jones’ faith has also been a crucial part of her journey. Raised in a church that condemned homosexuality, she had to reconcile her faith with her identity. “I’m a very devout Christian and for me, I was like, ‘It was nothing but God that got me through, it was nothing but God that got me through this,'” she said. “If people knew what I went through you would be falling on your knees and weeping too.”
As Jones prepares for her final year at Howard and her role as HUSA president, she remains focused on her goals of creating a more inclusive environment and empowering the next generation of leaders. She hopes to work in campaign strategy after graduation, aiming to engage and mobilize young voters, particularly Black and Brown communities.
Jones’ message to other transgender individuals and those questioning their identity is one of empowerment and hope. “Be the role model that the inner child in you needed most, be the advocate that the child in you needed most,” she said. “And most importantly, be the woman that the child saw in you but was too scared to be.”
Jay Jones’ story is not just a personal triumph; it’s a beacon of hope for countless others who see themselves in her journey. Her leadership at Howard University is a reminder that authenticity and resilience can pave the way for groundbreaking change.
