shawndeez, Ph.D. Website

shawndeez, Ph.D.

LGBTQ+ Studies Expert, Public Speaker, and Spiritual Guide

shawndeez, Ph.D. (he/they) is a LGBTQ+ studies expert, public speaker, and spiritual guide based in Colorado. They hold workshops, give lectures, and hold private guidance sessions for clients who wish to expand their spiritual practice. They received their doctorate in UCLA’s Department of Gender Studies. While at UCLA, they created and led courses on Trans Magic, Queer & Trans Muslim Feminisms, and QTPoC Resistances while simultaneously serving on the Trans Wellness Team, a collective of medical doctors and mental health providers working to provide gender-affirming healthcare to trans students across the UC system. shawndeez’s dissertation research explored how queer, trans, and nonbinary individuals engage with the spiritual as a form of resilience, healing, and possibility. Their work today offers spiritually-conscious spaces for queer/trans people to lean into their joys.

Education

  • Ph.D., Gender Studies, University of California - Los Angeles

Professional Achievements

  • Presented at Google, On, UCLA School of Medicine, Lincoln Financial, and others
  • Creator of The Trans Joy Workshop, 7 years and running
  • Guidance Counselor for queer/trans individuals and their parents
  • Former Instructor in UCLA's Department of Gender Studies

wikiHow's Editorial ProcesswikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.

Co-authored Articles (8)

Am I Transmasc?

"Transmasc" is short for transmasculine, meaning a person assigned female at birth who leans masculine. Does that sound like that might be you? We're here to help you find out! Just answer a few simple questions, and we...

How to

Know if You Are Genderfluid

LGBTQ+ Studies Expert Shawndeez, Ph.D., explains how to figure out if you're genderfluidGender fluidity refers to changes in a person's gender expression, gender identity, or both throughout time. This shift might be in ...

What Does He/Him Mean?

Does he/him mean someone is straight? Your questions, answered You’ve probably seen “he/him” or something similar in someone’s email signature or in a social media bio. When you see this, it means that person is ...

How to Deal With Gender Dysphoria: Mental Health, Gender Expression & Medical Treatments

LGBTQ+ Studies Expert Shawndeez, Ph.D., provides ways to cope with gender dysphoriaIf you identify as transgender, genderfluid, or nonbinary and experience gender dysphoria, know that there are many ways to cope and over...

How to

Know if You Should Transition

LGBTQ+ Studies Expert Shawndeez, Ph.D., explains how to know transitioning is right for youIf you're thinking about transitioning, you probably have some questions about how to make that decision and about the process it...

What Does LGBTQIAPK Stand For?

Learn all the essential terms in the queer community The LGBTQ+ vernacular is constantly expanding and evolving, which is especially apparent when it comes to an acronym sometimes used within the queer community: LGBTQIA...

How to

Talk With a Gay or Lesbian Person

The best tips for chatting with gay people and being a good ally If you are an ally of the LGBT+ community, you may be concerned about behaving in a way that supports that attitude. If you struggle to accept gay people,...

18 Practical Ways to Celebrate Pride as an Ally

How to support the LGBTQ+ community during PridePride month (June) is an important time of the year for all members of the LGBTQ+ community to take pride in who they are, all while acknowledging the path of progress that...