Angeline C. Jackson | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Bio

ANGELINE C. JACKSON is an LGBTQ human rights activist, expert witness, and minister-in-training. Angeline is the former Executive Director and co-founder of Quality of Citizenship Jamaica. She is the 2014 recipient of the Hero Award from Saint Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation for her work on LGBTQ rights in Jamaica, the 2016 Troy Perry Medal of Pride award, the 2017 International Youth Icon Award from the Florida Youth Pride Coalition, and the 2022, LGBT Advocate of the Year.

Her writing has appeared in The Advocate and Time Magazine. She has been interviewed by numerous media outlets and cited in multiple academic papers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management from Antioch University, a Master in Business Administration from National University, and is pursuing a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School. In 2015, President Barack Obama recognized her as one of Jamaica’s remarkable young leaders at the Town Hall for Youth in Kingston Jamaica.

She is the Ministerial Intern at Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church in Pasadena, CA, an expert witness for Jamaican LGBTQ asylum seekers, and the author of Funny Gyal: My Fight Against Homophobia in Jamaica, a 2023 Lambda Literary Finalist.

Current position (1)

Intern Minister

Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church

Achievements (1)

Lambda Literary Finalist

My book, Funny Gyal My Fight Against Homophobia in Jamaica, was a 2023 Finalist in the Lambda Literary Awards category for LGBTQ Young Adult.

Degrees (5)

Masters in Divinity

Meadville Lombard Theological School

2020 to 2023

Masters in Business Administration in Information Technology

John F. Kennedy University

2017 to 2020

Bachelor's of Arts in Management

Antioch University

2015 to 2016

Associate of Science in Computer Systems Technology

Vector Technology Institute

2007 to 2013

Diploma in Law

University of London

2009 to 2010

Presentations

Presentations (3)

The Power of One Person

Activist and author Angeline Jackson stood up to the culture of homophobia in Jamaica after coming out as a lesbian in her teenage years. She shares her inspiring story told in her new memoir of overcoming Jamaica’s oppression of LGBTQ+ people to demand recognition and justice. Angeline discusses activism and helping young people find their voice to speak out.

LGBTQ Family Estrangement and Grief

A Pew Research Center survey of LGBT Americans nearly 40% of them have been rejected by families and friends because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Family rejection often leads to ostracization and estrangement. And as estranged relatives, LGBT individuals deliberately distance themselves from other family members because of the toxicity and negative relationship. When death happens during estrangement, the LGBT family member is likely to mourn separately from the rest of the family rather than patriciate in the collective mourning; their grief may also not be acknowledged leading.

In this talk, Angeline will share the story of her estrangement from a family member, his sudden illness, and his subsequent death. She talks about the impact the estrangement had on the grief she experienced and how family members can restore estranged relationships.

The Power and Resilience of Lesbian Visibility

From standing in solidarity with gay men during the HIV and AIDS crisis to serving as change-makers in politics, activism, and the arts, lesbians have left an indelible mark on history and played an integral role in advancing LGBTQ+ rights.

Angeline explores the pivotal moments and trailblazers, look at the unique challenges and barriers lesbians continue to face, and the progress and achievements of the community.

She also discusses the importance of visibility and advocacy in promoting equality for all LGBTQ+ individuals and how we can work together to create a more inclusive and supportive world.

Let us celebrate the power, resilience, and visibility of lesbians.

Workshops (3)

Professional Ethics and Boundaries

Full day

Many people begin their careers with a clear sense of their interests, and desires, full of energy and enthusiasm. Over time they lose their shine, dulled by the stressors of work life, office/movement politics, despondency, and overwork. This creates fertile ground for boundary violations and misconduct. What if they could identify and articulate their boundaries and ethics before landing in the proverbial hot water?

A Queer Ethic For Activists And Spiritual Types

4 hours

What do liberatory ethics and leadership look like for activists? The workshop will explore: what are ethics, sources of ethics, living ethically, power and justice, and love. Learning about ethics from a purely academic perspective runs the risk of presenting an understanding of ethics removed from the day-to-day realities, resulting in one formed by people in places of privilege and power. This workshop seeks to help participants articulate an understanding of ethics based on their lived realities versus one based on rational abstractions only. At the end of the workshop participants will be able to define a queer ethic specific and unique to their context.

Strengthening Community Bonds Through The Exploration Of Emotions

4 hours

This workshop allows the LGBTQ community to explore their experiences of anger, fear, grief, love, and pleasure. Angeline explains the reason behind the exploration of each emotion and uses breakout sessions for deeper engagement with the experiences. The LGBTQ community has learned to live the dire realities of queer life without having opportunities or spaces to process the experiences and emotions that arise. Community bonds can become stronger if they can come together and explore their anger, fear, grief, love, and desire for pleasure.

Past talks (13)

The Power and Resilience of Lesbian Visibility

Lesbian Day of Visibility

Virtual

April 26, 2023

With Wonder Film Premier and Panel Discussion

Jamaica

August 19, 2022

Speaking out for LGBTQ Youth

Diversity Stage Presentation - American Library Association Annual Conference

Virtual

June 7, 2022

Intimate Conviction: Examining the church and anti-sodomy laws across the Commonwealth

Kingston, Jamaica

October 13, 2017

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Washington, DC

May 17, 2016

Taboo... Yardies Film Screening

University of California, San Diego

October 20, 2015

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Washington, DC

May 15, 2015

On the Human Rights Frontier – The Global Struggle for LGBT Equality

Seattle, WA

May 13, 2015

Realizing the Right to Relate

June 7, 2014

Promoting Equality and Human Rights in Jamaica

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Washington, DC

May 21, 2014

Follow –Up Of The IACHR Report On The Human Rights Situation In Jamaica - 150th Ordinary Period Of Sessions

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Washington, DC

March 27, 2014

Youth Creating Change: Stories from the Global South

Creating Change Conference

Houston, TX

January 18, 2014

LGBT and Gender Inequality: Developing Gay-Straight Alliances to Counter Extremism

Women PeaceMakers Conference: Defying Extremism

University of San Diego

November 19, 2014

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Videos
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Delivering a homily to Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church

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Books & Articles (3)

Funny Gyal My Fight Against Homophobia in Jamaica

Dundurn Press,

2022

Is 'The Most Homophobic Place on Earth' Turning Around?

Op-ed: Access to Justice in Jamaica Is Sparse for LGBT Citizens

Expertise (17)

Clients

Fortune 500 Global Medical Device Company

Human Rights First

Alturi

Founders Metropolitan Community Church

HRPA competencies

Enabling Competencies

Emotional Intelligence

Awards & certifications (4)

LGBT Advocate of the Year

Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays

2022

International Youth Icon

Florida Youth Pride Coalition

2017

Troy Perry Medal of Pride

2016

Hero Award

Jamaica

2015