About Jaelynn
Jaelynn Scott is a dedicated spiritual leader, social justice advocate, and community organizer known for her profound impact on Black trans rights and her unique integration of Christian and Buddhist spiritual practices. She is affectionately known for her work as the Executive Director of Lavender Rights Project- a national transgender advocacy organization based in Seattle, Washington.
Significant milestones in Jaelynn's career include her leadership in policy advocacy, the substantial funding she secured for the Lavender Rights Project, and the impactful curriculum she developed for the Unitarian Universalist community. Her integration of Black Christianity and engaged Buddhism into social activism stands out as a turning point in her professional journey. In her role within the Unitarian Universalist community, she developed a mutuality movement curriculum focused on socially engaged faith-based practices for youth and young adults. She also continues to remain actively involved in spiritual education and social activism within the Tibetan Buddhist community.
Currently, Jaelynn continues to lead and innovate in her role as Executive Director at the Lavender Rights Project, advocating for policy changes and supporting the professional development of Black trans individuals. At Lavender Rights Project, she has worked tirelessly in transforming the organization into a Black-centered movement cause and building the largest Black trans-led organization in Washington State. She has created pathways for Black trans young professionals, expanded legal services, and influenced public policy, raising $11 million for the organization. Notable policy achievements include reallocating $16 million from incarceration funds to supportive housing, co-advocating for youth affirming care protections, and securing Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming healthcare in Washington State.
She currently resides in Tacoma, Washington, with her longtime boyfriend, their dog Bodhi, and their cat Shabba. When not working, she enjoys sci-fi movies, kayaking, hiking, deep Southern cooking, gardening, and spending time with family and dear friends.
Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Jaelynn grew up in a vibrant Black community during the 1980s and 1990s. This environment, despite systemic oppression and police surveillance, showcased Black leadership, entrepreneurship, and governance, instilling in her a vision of what Black communities can achieve. Raised in a family where her grandmothers were Pentecostal Evangelists and her parents were Baptist, Jaelynn found inspiration in the Black church. This upbringing offered her a blueprint for combining spirituality with social justice values.
Educated in Black institutions, she pursued a degree in Music Vocal Performance and Cultural Geography at the University of Southern Mississippi. During her undergraduate years, she became involved in LGBT activism, especially after the tragic murder of Matthew Shepherd. Her journey then led her to a Buddhist retreat in Northern Colorado for two years of meditation study.
At Naropa University, she earned her Master’s of Divinity (MDiv) in History of Religions- Buddhism, focusing her study on comparative theology of the spiritual practices of the emergent Black church and Buddhist Vajrayana practices. She developed her thesis in the exploration of Black theology, engaged Buddhism, and social activism and while a student, led numerous social activism causes and began community organizing with a Black Buddhist student group.
Transitioning later in life, in her 40s, Jaelynn faced numerous challenges and barriers, waiting for independence from her family to fully embrace her truth. This experience has been an anchor in her advocacy and has allowed her to work towards building a community of Black trans practitioners grounded in decolonized, deeply ancestral spirituality. Her work promotes living in freedom and exploring the depths of what it means to be human, leaving a lasting legacy in the fields of social justice and spiritual leadership.
A little-known fun fact about Jaelynn is her obsession with podcasts and articles on parallel universes, as well as her patient anticipation for the arrival of aliens and paranormal.