Josephine Paulette Tittsworth (1950–2024) was a pioneering transgender activist, social worker, and educator whose dedication to equality transformed policies and institutions across Texas. As the founder of the Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit (TXTNS), she worked tirelessly to promote inclusive policies in educational institutions, ensuring that transgender individuals were protected and recognized.
Born in Pasadena, Texas, Josephine navigated early challenges in a conservative environment. She graduated from Sam Rayburn High School in 1969 and later served in the United States Coast Guard from 1973 to 1977, achieving the rank of Electronics Technician Second Class and earning the Good Conduct Medal. Following her military service, she built a 31-year career at IBM as a Customer Engineer before retiring in 2008.
Josephine’s advocacy for transgender rights began in the early 1980s when she co-founded the first Texas chapter of TRI-ESS, the Society for the Second Self, a support group for heterosexual cross-dressers. Her passion for social justice led her to pursue higher education later in life. She earned an Associate of Arts from San Jacinto College (2005), a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Houston-Clear Lake (2006), and a Master of Social Work from the University of Houston (2007). During her time in academia, she successfully advocated for the inclusion of gender identity and expression in nondiscrimination policies at both universities.
In 2009, recognizing the need for broader institutional change, Josephine founded TXTNS. At the time, only three Texas universities had nondiscrimination policies that included gender identity and expression. Due to her leadership and relentless advocacy, that number grew to 38 university systems and five independent school districts by 2016. One of her most notable achievements was the passage of the Josephine Tittsworth Act by the University of Houston’s Student Government Association in 2014, allowing transgender students to use their chosen names and gender markers on university documents.
Josephine’s impact extended beyond policy advocacy. She was a licensed Master Social Worker, a researcher, and a visiting scholar at Rice University’s Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. She co-authored numerous research articles and continuously worked to advance the understanding and support of the transgender community. In 2018, she was honored as an Honorary Grand Marshal for the Houston Pride Parade, a testament to her lifelong contributions to LGBTQ+ rights.
Josephine Tittsworth’s legacy is one of courage, transformation, and unwavering commitment to justice. Through her work with TXTNS and beyond, she ensured that transgender individuals in Texas and across the nation had a voice, rights, and a path toward equality. Her impact will continue to shape the future of transgender advocacy for generations to come.
