By Rebecca Pirkle
Jude Patton is the Cloud Dancers Foundation’s very first wish recipient. As a trans man, Patton has worked as an activist for LGBTQ+ communities since the early 1970s and continues to work as a community advocate, especially for elderly people on the trans spectrum. At 79 years old, Patton is a pioneer of the trans community, continuing to bring visibility to the lives and experiences of trans elders through his book series, TRANScestors.
Patton was selected for a grant in part because of his work, impressing CDF with his focus on trans elders. In continuing his activist work as well as being the editor for several books, Patton has a substantial clerical workload. Patton has been able to use his grant money to further develop his website, advertise for his book series, and hire transcription services which have greatly assisted his editing process. “I was able to get some things done far sooner than I might have otherwise,” Patton told us, “and that helped a lot.”
Patton has an impressive educational background, with multiple degrees from universities including University of California, Irvine and University of Southern California’s School of Medicine. He has worked as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 1980, and as a Physician’s Assistant in Psychiatry since 1982. Currently, he works part-time for HOPE Collective, a community mental health clinic in Sacramento, CA. As part of his private practice, Patton works as a medical consultant and guide for LGBTQ+ elders. He currently serves on the board of directors for several LGBTQ+ groups, including the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.
Between 1973 and 1993, Patton interviewed for various TV and radio shows, books, and magazines speaking about his experiences. He also lectured for over 250 college classes. For more than fifteen years, Patton has been lobbying for the World Professional Organization for Transgender Health, or WPATH, an organization devoted to the understanding and treatment of gender dysphoria. As the first trans person to serve on WPATH’s board of directors from 1979 to 1985, Patton continues his work towards extending the standards of care to include elder and end-of-life care.
Patton’s book series TRANScestors currently has two volumes published. The series contains accounts and stories concerning aging, illness, and lived experience from nearly 50 elders on the trans spectrum. He is currently working on two more books concerning various aspects of the LGBTQ+ experience.
The work of increasing rights for transgender elders in the United States is far from over. Nevertheless, Jude Patton remains hopeful. “The more I’ve done it, the more I feel I can do it, the more successes, small successes I’ve had, the more I look at pushing the envelope to get bigger success,” he said about learning to become a public voice. Reflecting upon his experiences, he also stated his belief that vulnerability is the key to increasing visibility.
“If it’s safe to be out, and you can be out, I think it’s the best way to be . . . out in public when it’s possible to educate someone, when it’s being who you are so that other people can see how wonderful we all are, I think if we can do that it’s not only healthier for the planet, everybody, but it’s healthier for you as an individual.”
Know someone deserving of a wish? Nominate yourself or someone else through the Cloud Dancers Foundation Wish Nomination form today.