justin adkins

  • Home
  • About justin
  • Classes
    • ASSATA: In her own words (Syllabus)
    • Standing Up for Racial Justice (Syllabus)
  • Workshops
    • Trans/Non-binary Issues
      • Transgender Cultural Competency
      • Creating Safe Space for Trans and Non-binary Students in Your Classroom
      • My fabulous transgender life
    • LGBTQ
      • LGBTQ Cultural Competency
      • Engaging LGBTQ Student Athletes
      • Meditation, it’s kinda queer
    • Race and Identity Development
      • Anti-Racism 101 for White Folks
    • Activism
      • Occupy What?!?
    • Coming Out
      • Coming out … not a one-stop shop
    • Bullying
      • Bully to advocate in 5 hard steps
  • Videos
  • Booking

Coming out … not a one-stop shop

Referred to as a “master of coming out” justin has completed a hat-trick, coming out as a lesbian, as a trans man, and as bisexual.  justin’s coming out workshop focuses on self-care and understanding.

In 2004 justin came out to his extremely conservative evangelical christian family as a lesbian and ran off to Massachusetts to get married.  In 2006 he came out as a trans man on the job at a fly fishing/hunting company and then in 2009, to the dismay of some of his lesbian and gay co-workers who were invested in their little identity boxes, as a bisexual after his divorce.

In this workshop justin discusses tools and ideas to make coming out a doable process.  He addresses that you are never done coming out and how identity labels are often more restricting than the closet doors they are meant to open.

The Moment I Knew, for Huffington Post:

My “I’m from Driftwood” story:

Have me speak at your school or organization

Testimonials

“Not only is justin a charming, warm, caring, talented, brilliant and engaged human being, he’s also a compelling speaker. I’ve heard Justin present, and I was deeply impressed by his ability to discuss complex issues in a way that is accessible, smart, amusing and moving. Justin has a lot to say, and I hope he never shuts up!”
–Robyn Ochs

“That was the most FUN, informative & insightful workshop that I’ve had here on campus in the 8 ½ years I’ve been here and all I’ve been “forced” to participate in. I really wanted to thank you for not only being able to help this office, but I’m incredibly grateful you’re here for our student body too.”
-Nicole Wilson
Office of the Registrar, Williams College

“THANK YOU so much for coming to the 2012 UMass Dartmouth LGBT Youth Symposium !! You really rocked it so hard. we gave the students evaluations, and 80% said that their favorite part of the day was your presentation…because you were very informative yet very funny 🙂 Great stuff !”
-Amanda Fraser
Programming Coordinator UMass Dartmouth Center for Women, Gender and Sexuality

“justin speaks from the heart and has a way of challenging the listener to question their own assumptions about the world, each other, and themselves.  His honesty and insight will inspire a whole new generation of people to live their truth.”
-Dru Levasseur

“Thanks, justin.  We thoroughly enjoyed your presentation last Friday and learned a lot.  It has already made me much more alert to innuendos and slang that I need to address promptly.”
-Jeanne Filiault
Principal Hancock Elementary School

“Now is a critical time to be an LGBTQ and ally leader, as public opinion is shaped. The time we spend as leaders impacts who we are, whom we love, how we choose to live, and how we can live in our communities. These are opportunities to create change to transform our own lives and the lives of those around us. I had the good fortune of becoming friends with justin adkins some years ago, and I learned quickly that he is a powerful leader in inspiring this kind of cultural change. On countless occasions, I have witnessed justin fearlessly fight for the LGBTQ community and set forth to educate those around them, including his antagonists. justin does a masterful job when speaking about this cause that he is so passionate about and it is with great enthusiasm I throw my support behind any venture justin undertake.”
-Shani London-Kane

About justin

justin adkins is an educator, consultant, and life-coach living in Williamstown, MA. He worked in higher education for 14 years, most recently as Associate VP for Student Affairs at The College of Wooster (2020-2021) Previously justin was Associate Dean of Students in charge of conduct and Director of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, Social Justice (IDEAS) Center at Allegheny College (2016-2020) and former Interim Director of The Davis … Learn More...

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Workshops

“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up in mine, then let us work together.” -Lila Watson justin has over 15 years of experience in life coaching, consulting,  leadership and anti-oppression based education in non-profit, educational, and religious organizations. He has led multicultural social justice based trainings in a variety of settings including social service … Learn More...

Life Coaching

ho·lis·tic - adjective \hō-ˈlis-tik\ Characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole. I have been a life coach, primarily working with 15-24 year olds, since 1999. I believe that everyone needs someone to bounce ideas off of and part of thriving is working with others to discover your full potential. Looking at life from a holistic approach we can discover new … Learn More...

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