Paula Stone Williams
Trans pastor & TED speaker | Lived as evangelical pastor for 35 years before transitioning
About
Paula Stone Williams is a pastor and author who transitioned later in life after 35 years as a male evangelical pastor. Her TED talk 'I've Lived as a Man and a Woman, Here's What I Learned' has been viewed over 10 million times and offers unique perspective on gender, privilege, and identity.
She serves as a teaching pastor and advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion in religious communities. Her story bridges conservative religious and progressive LGBTQ+ worlds that rarely intersect.
With 3 talks at major events, she speaks on gender, privilege, faith, and identity.
What Paula Talks About
What I learned living as both a man and a woman
Gender, privilege, and the things you don't see until they're gone
Faith and identity: bridging religious and LGBTQ+ communities
Transitioning at 60: it's never too late to be yourself
How empathy changes when your perspective changes
Talks3
The story of a parent's transition and a son's redemption
Paula Stone Williams knew from a young age that she was transgender. But as she became a parent and prominent evangelical pastor, she feared that coming out would mean losing everything. In this moving, deeply personal talk, Paula and her son Jonathan Williams share what Paula's transition meant for their family -- and reflect on their path to redemption. As Jonathan says: "I cannot ask my father to be anything other than her true self."
At a Glance
Is this you?
Claim this profile to edit your bio, add talks, and get verified.
Know a talk we're missing?
Get in Touch
Save for Later
Frequently Appeared With
Speakers who have appeared at the same events
AJ Jacobs
Author & Journalist | Discovering the Extraordinary in the Ordinary
1 shared event · TED
Aaron Horowitz
Co-Founder & CEO, Sproutel | Designing Therapeutic Robots for Children
1 shared event · TED
Aaron Maniam
Government Advisor | Navigating the Future of Work
1 shared event · TED
Aaswath Raman
Renewable Energy Researcher | Pioneering Space-Based Cooling Technologies
1 shared event · TED
Abe Davis
Video Technology Researcher | Revealing Hidden Properties Through Advanced Imaging
1 shared event · TED
Abha Dawesar
Fiction Author | Navigating the Digital Age
1 shared event · TED
Abigail Disney
Workers' Rights Advocate | Champion of Workplace Dignity and Fair Labor Practices
1 shared event · TED
Abigail Marsh
Researcher | Exploring the Psychology Behind Human Altruism
1 shared event · TED
Similar Speakers
Speakers with related expertise
Yasiin Bey
Award-Winning Hip-Hop Artist & Actor | Social Commentator & Cultural Icon
Sarah Jones
Tony Award-winning performer | Multi-character artist, UNICEF Ambassador
Meklit Hadero
Singer-Songwriter | Exploring Cultural In-Between
America Ferrera
Actor and advocate | Champion of identity and representation