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Jessica Jaymes Purdy
Jessica Jaymes Purdy (she/her) is a poet, author, LGBTQ+ activist, organizational leader, and advocate for equity, inclusion, and human dignity. As a neurodivergent, panromantic, asexual, trans woman, who lives with a disability, Jessica brings her lived experiences, creative expression, and commitment to social change into everything she does. Her work explores the complexities of identity, the vulnerability and resilience of the human spirit, the beauty of everyday life, and the social and political realities that shape our collective experience.
Jessica’s identity is central to her life and work. She is, as they say, out and proud. But rather than simply coming out, she prefers to bring people into her confidence, her truth, and her life. Her work focuses on creating opportunities for people to understand one another, challenge their assumptions, and build relationships grounded in empathy and mutual respect. It is this combination of personal experience, openness, and a commitment to bringing people in that has helped make Jessica an effective leader, facilitator, advocate, and change agent.
A Lancaster, Pennsylvania, native, Jessica’s life has included several reinventions of self. From son and brother to soldier, to husband, to career professional, to full-time caregiver, to daughter and sister, to activist, each chapter has contributed to her evolving understanding of identity, belonging, and the world around her. Through every transformation, one constant has remained. she has continued to write. Her poetry has provided a place to explore both darkness and light, to make sense of personal experiences, to celebrate the extraordinary within the ordinary, and to confront the injustices that demand our attention.
Identity
Jessica’s understanding of herself has evolved over a lifetime of questioning expectations, navigating relationships, and finding language for experiences she did not always know how to describe. Although she has always been who she is today, recognizing and understanding the different dimensions of her identity took time. Each discovery helped her make sense of experiences that had previously seemed difficult to explain, allowing her to develop a deeper understanding of herself and her relationships with others.
Jessica’s journey of self-discovery began in earnest at the age of 19, while serving in the military, when she was first introduced to terminology describing transgender identities. Although the language of that time sparked a flicker of recognition, the terminology available was heavily medicalized and closely associated with sexual feelings and experiences she did not have. Even without the words to fully understand or articulate her experience, she could not deny that her gender had never quite felt like a comfortable fit.
Balancing this growing understanding of her gender identity with the expectations of military service proved difficult. Under the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, Jessica struggled to reconcile her internal sense of self with the gender presentation expected of her. Her military career ultimately ended during this period of gender conflict between who she understood herself to be and what she felt required to present to the world. It would take years before she had the opportunity to fully and safely embrace her authentic self.
As her journey continued, Jessica began to recognize and understand other aspects of her identity. Understanding her asexuality was an important step in making sense of her experiences of intimacy and relationships. She does not experience sexual attraction, and finding language for that experience helped explain why conventional assumptions about sex and romantic relationships had never quite fit.
This understanding opened the door to recognizing that romantic attraction and sexual attraction are distinct experiences. Asexuality does not mean an absence of or desire for affection, intimacy, romance, or meaningful connection. For Jessica, these remain important parts of life and she came to identify as panromantic as she also realized that her capacity to develop romantic feelings and fall in love is not limited by another person's gender. This realization helped her reinterpret past experiences and recognize feelings she had not always known how to name.
With a deeper understanding of how she experiences attraction and connection, Jessica also came to embrace her polyamorous identity. She recognized that her capacity for romantic love and meaningful relationships was not necessarily limited to one person. Understanding herself as polyamorous helped her make sense of her experiences of loving and connecting with multiple people, while deepening her appreciation for the honesty, communication, mutual respect, and consideration that healthy relationships require.
Each identity has given her language for experiences that she had long before she knew how to describe them. They are not separate pieces of who she is, but interconnected aspects of how she experiences gender, love, intimacy, relationships, and the expectations society places on them. Her journey has reinforced her belief that self-discovery does not necessarily change who we are; sometimes, it simply gives us the words to understand who we have been all along.
Disability and Neurodivergence
Jessica’s lived experience extends beyond her identities as a queer woman and transgender advocate. She also lives with disability and neurodivergence, experiences that have shaped how she understands herself, navigates the world, and approaches the challenges and possibilities of human difference. Her experiences include dyslexia, ADHD, a functional neurological and movement disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the lasting effects of three spinal injuries sustained at different points in her life. Together, these experiences have influenced her relationship with her body and mind, her understanding of resilience, and her perspective on the ways environments and expectations can either limit people or help them thrive.
Jessica’s dyslexia was identified in first grade, followed by the identification of ADHD in sixth grade. School was often a struggle, not because she lacked the ability to learn or succeed, but because traditional educational environments and structures did not work well with the way her mind operated. The expectations of the classroom could make it difficult to demonstrate her abilities in ways that fit conventional measures of academic success. Over time, however, Jessica came to recognize that her ADHD also came with what she thinks of as superpowers: the ability to think creatively, explore ideas from unexpected angles, make connections, and pursue possibilities that might be overlooked by more conventional approaches.
She learned that she could succeed and even thrive when given the space to work, think, create, and prioritize in ways that made sense to her. Environments that offered autonomy and flexibility allowed her to put her strengths to work rather than continually struggle against structures that did not fit. This understanding helped shape her approach to leadership and organizational culture, reinforcing her belief that people often accomplish their best work when they are trusted to find effective ways of working rather than being required to conform to a single model of productivity or success.
Her experience of physical disability has brought a different set of challenges. Jessica’s first spinal injury occurred during Army basic training, when she fell from the web wall on an obstacle course. Years later, while riding her bicycle to work, she was struck by a car and sustained a second spinal injury. Her third occurred in a workplace accident when structural repairs to a home she was inspecting failed. Each incident became another chapter in a life marked by unexpected changes and the need to adapt.
Living with a functional neurological and movement disorder has presented its own challenges. The relationship between intention and movement, something many people take for granted, can become a difficult and uncertain process. Following her initial diagnosis, Jessica worked hard to strengthen her body and regain control over her movements, undertaking the demanding work of rebuilding abilities that had been disrupted by her condition.
Nine years later there was a significant progression of her symptoms. Her mobility became severely limited and she was once again navigating the world in a body that was betraying her.
Three years after that progression, she continues the work if strengthening her body and reteaching it how to move. She is slowly regaining lost ground. Progress is neither simple nor necessarily linear, and rebuilding strength and movement requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to adapt to a body whose capabilities may change over time.
Jessica’s experiences with disability and neurodivergence have deepened her understanding of vulnerability, independence, and the many forms resilience can take. They have also reinforced her appreciation for the dignity of people whose lives do not fit conventional expectations of ability, productivity, or recovery. She understands that a person’s struggles in one environment do not define their potential, just as changes in physical ability do not diminish their worth. Her story is not one of disability simply being overcome, but of continuing to live, learn, adapt, and discover possibilities amid changing circumstances.
These experiences inform her approach to leadership, advocacy, and human connection. They remind her that people do not all think, learn, move, or work in the same ways, and that equitable environments make room for those differences instead of treating them as shortcomings.
Writing and Poetry
As an author, Jessica writes about identity, love, resilience, mental health, self-discovery, and societal change. Her poetry moves between the deeply personal and the broadly political, inviting readers to recognize themselves in experiences that may initially seem unfamiliar. Across her collections, she explores what it means to endure, to love, to change, and to find meaning in a world that can be both beautiful and profoundly difficult.
Jessica has published under three names: J. Scott Purdy, Jessica Jaymes, and Jessica Jaymes Purdy. Each name marks a different part of her personal journey, and together her collections reflect an evolving exploration of the human experience.
As J. Scott Purdy
Dive Bars & Empty Glasses delves into addiction, loss, despair, and the difficult work of finding hope amid struggle. Through raw, unfiltered poetry, Jessica examines the experiences that can leave people feeling isolated or broken while acknowledging the resilience that allows them to continue. The collection offers an honest exploration of life's darker corners without losing sight of the possibility of light.
As Jessica Jaymes
With Captured Moments, Jessica turns her attention toward the beauty and magic of everyday life. Through poetry that celebrates the simple yet profound experiences that make life meaningful, she invites readers to slow down, notice their surroundings, and appreciate the wonder hidden within ordinary moments. The collection serves as a reminder that joy, connection, and meaning are often found not in grand gestures but in the small details of being alive.
In Tantrums & Tempests, Jessica brings her poetic voice to pressing social and political concerns. The collection challenges readers to look beyond their own immediate experiences and consider the broader consequences of injustice, inequality, and the choices societies make. Through verse that encourages introspection and empathy as well as righteous anger, Jessica invites readers to question established assumptions, recognize the humanity of others, and consider what meaningful change might require.
As Jessica Jaymes Purdy
Glass Hearts & Broken Pedestals offers a deeply personal exploration of love, romance, vulnerability, and self-discovery through the lens of Jessica’s experiences as a panromantic, asexual transgender woman. The collection challenges conventional expectations about relationships and intimacy while examining the courage it takes to be vulnerable, to understand oneself, and to build connections that honor who we truly are.
In Shooting Stars and Origami Swans, Jessica explores gender identity, dysphoria, acceptance, transformation, and rebirth. Drawing on her experiences as a transgender woman, she traces the difficult and often beautiful process of discovering and embracing an authentic self. The collection is both an intimate account of personal transformation and a testament to resilience, self-acceptance, and the possibility of becoming more fully who we are.
Taken together, Jessica’s poetry reflects a continuing conversation between the personal and the collective. Her work asks readers to sit with difficult truths, appreciate fleeting moments of beauty, question the structures that shape their lives, and approach themselves and others with greater compassion.
Activism and Advocacy
Jessica’s activism is rooted in a commitment to justice, equality, and human dignity. She advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, transgender equality, environmental protection, disability rights, affordable housing, and the protection of fundamental human rights. Although these causes span different areas of public life, Jessica sees them as interconnected expressions of a shared principle: every person deserves to live with dignity, safety, autonomy, and the opportunity to thrive.
As a transgender woman, Jessica is particularly committed to advancing the rights and well-being of transgender people. Her advocacy encompasses legal recognition, access to affirming healthcare, equal protection under the law, and the creation of communities where people of all gender identities and sexual orientations can live openly and safely. She is also a steadfast supporter of marriage equality, recognizing that the freedom to build a life with the person one loves remains a right worth defending.
Her broader human rights advocacy extends to opposition to war and militarization, the targeting of civilians, and the use of detention systems that deny people meaningful legal protections. She opposes torture in all forms and challenges practices that undermine due process, accountability, and humane treatment. Her perspective reflects a belief that human rights must be protected consistently, including when doing so is politically difficult or when the people affected are marginalized, unpopular, or far removed from public view.
Jessica also advocates for environmental protections and meaningful action on climate change, recognizing the responsibility to preserve the planet for future generations. She considers improved accessibility and neuroinclusion and access to safe, affordable housing as essential components of a just society.
Across these areas of advocacy, Jessica seeks not only to challenge harmful policies and practices but also to help people understand the human consequences of injustice. Her approach emphasizes education, honest conversation, empathy, and the possibility of changing hearts and minds.
Nonprofit Leadership and Community Building
Jessica has played an active role in building and supporting organizations that advance social justice, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and community well-being in Lancaster County.
She was a co-founder and first board president of Lancaster Pride, where she helped establish an organization dedicated to celebrating and supporting the local LGBTQ+ community. She also co-founded the Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition, contributing to efforts to create a more connected, visible, and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ people throughout the region.
Her nonprofit leadership has also included board service with the Keystone Business Alliance, supporting LGBTQ+ businesses and professionals, and YWCA Lancaster, whose mission includes eliminating racism and empowering women. Through this work, Jessica has helped strengthen relationships between organizations whose missions intersect around equity, inclusion, and community care.
She has also served as a commissioner on the City of Lancaster Human Relations Commission, working to address discrimination and promote equality at the municipal level.
Jessica currently serves as Executive Partner of Culture and Operations at Lancaster County Chooses Love, a trans-led LGBTQ+ advocacy and support organization. In this role, she oversees organizational culture and operations, volunteer engagement, and programs that connect people with affirming resources and community support. Her work includes supporting the organization's Inclusion Institute, which provides education and training focused on LGBTQ+ cultural competency, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Through this work, Jessica helps advance a vision of Lancaster County where LGBTQ+ people are safe, affirmed, connected, and able to thrive. She believes advocacy is not limited to public statements or policy debates; it also means building the relationships, resources, and practical systems that allow people to experience dignity and belonging in their everyday lives.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging
Throughout her professional career, Jessica has worked to help organizations build cultures that are more equitable, inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the people they serve. Her work combines education, organizational development, policy analysis, and leadership training, with a focus on understanding how systems and everyday practices can either reinforce inequity or help dismantle it.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging
As the founder and former CEO of FIC Human Resource Partners, Jessica focused on helping organizations develop people-centered workplaces and leadership practices. Her work brought together human resources, organizational culture, employee well-being, and equity, reflecting her belief that effective organizations must recognize the humanity of the people who make them function.
Through FIC Human Resource Partners, Jessica developed several frameworks designed to help leaders translate these values into practical organizational practices.
The 9 Principles of Employee Care provides a foundation for considering employee well-being, workplace experience, and the responsibilities organizations have toward their people.
The 9 Principles of Leadership Excellence offers guidance for leaders seeking to build effective, inclusive, and supportive working environments.
Her 4-Question Framework for Achieving Equity in Policy helps organizations examine policies through an equity-focused lens, identify unintended barriers, and consider how rules and procedures affect people differently.
Jessica also developed the SIO Culture Model, a framework for cultivating organizational cultures that prioritize inclusion, belonging, and equitable experiences.
These contributions reflect her broader approach to leadership. Creating structures that support people, examining the assumptions embedded in organizational practices, and treating equity as an ongoing responsibility rather than a one-time initiative.
Acting and Theatrical Work
In addition to poetry, activism, and organizational leadership, Jessica has explored creative expression through acting.
In the late 2000s, she appeared in regional commercials for Bah-hum-bug Pest Control. She worked as an extra in the 2019 independent film, Adam, directed by Rhys Ernst and based on the novel by Ariel Schrag. The film explores queer culture, gender identity, and relationships within the LGBTQ+ community. Adam had 7 award nominations, winning L.A. Outfest Outstanding Directing in a U.S. Feature and Mezipatra Queer Film Festival Best Feature Film.
Jessica also appeared on stage at Susquehanna Stage in Dr. Voynich’s Children, a dystopian science-fiction play by Leanna Keyes, portraying the title character, Dr. Voynich. Set in a future where reproductive freedoms are heavily restricted, the play follows underground activists who provide necessary healthcare to those in need. Its themes of bodily autonomy, resistance, and the ethical challenges of confronting oppressive systems intersect with many of the broader social questions that inform Jessica’s writing and advocacy.
