Aaron Devor

Born: 1951, USA
Gender Identity: Transgender Man
Pronouns: He/Him
Sexual Orientation: Queer
Nationality: Canadian
Ethnicity: Jewish
Profession: Sociologist, Professor, Researcher, Author, Public Speaker

Early Life and Education
Aaron H. Devor was born in 1951 in the United States. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from York University in 1971, a Certificate in Printing Trades from George Brown College in 1972, and began studies in Physics at Simon Fraser University before shifting to the social sciences. He completed an M.A. in Communications at Simon Fraser University in 1985 and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Washington in 1990. His dissertation was titled A Comparison of Gender Schema Constructs and Conformity Among Female-To-Male Transsexuals, Lesbian and Heterosexual Women.

Teaching Duties at the University of Victoria

Career
Dr. Aaron Devor began teaching in the mid-1980s and has served in numerous academic roles across Canada. He held early teaching positions at Simon Fraser University and Fraser Valley College before joining the University of Victoria in 1989. Over the following decades, he rose from visiting lecturer to full professor with tenure in the Department of Sociology. From 2002 to 2012, he served as Dean of Graduate Studies, overseeing academic programming and institutional policy.

In 2016, he was named the inaugural Chair in Transgender Studies at the University of Victoria, the first such position in the world. Devor is also the founder and academic director of the Transgender Archives, which holds the largest trans archival collection globally. He is the creator and host of the Moving Trans History Forward conference series, a major international scholarly and community-focused event.

His extensive career includes authorship of influential books, major research and policy reports, and peer-reviewed articles. Devor has been an active member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) since the 1990s, contributing to multiple versions of their Standards of Care and serving in translation and ethics committees. He has delivered over 40 invited keynotes, mentored dozens of graduate students, and advised provincial and federal agencies on inclusion, justice, and health equity.

Honors and Awards
Dr. Devor has received widespread recognition for his work in gender, sexuality, education, and equity. He was awarded the Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award by the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (2022), the Virginia Prince Pioneer Award (2018), the CAUT Equity Award (2017), and was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award (2015). He was elected a Fellow of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, and has been honored with the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2024) and a 3M National Teaching Fellowship (2000), among many others.

Activism and Advocacy
In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Devor has been a tireless advocate for trans rights and inclusion. He played key advisory roles in shaping Canadian and international policy on gender identity, including contributions to the WPATH Standards of Care and consultations with Correctional Services Canada, Google, and provincial ministries. As a public educator, he has delivered dozens of lectures to audiences around the world and has helped foster greater awareness and inclusion in education, medicine, and law enforcement. He is deeply engaged in Jewish and LGBTQ+ community work in British Columbia and beyond.

Courses Taught (1989–2025)

Sociology 435: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025
Sociology 382: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Sociology 281: 2016
Sociology 525: 2015
University 201: 2014
Sociology 565: 1999, 2000
Sociology 381: 1997, 1998, 1999
Sociology 371: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994
Sociology 402: 1990, 1991, 1992
Sociology 390: 1994
Sociology 499: 1993
CSPT 500: 1993

Directed Studies Supervision
Supervised over 25 directed studies students between 1990 and 2024.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Supervision

Supervised over 80 M.A. and Ph.D. students across sociology, education, nursing, public health, and gender studies
Postdoctoral mentors: Elliot Chudyk, Sarah Steele, Sadie Hochman-Ruiz, Evan Taylor

Guest Lectures and Course Visits (1990–2023)
Presented guest lectures across UVic and internationally in disciplines including sociology, law, health sciences, history, and education.

Committee Participation

Equity Chair, Sociology Department (2019, 2021–2025)
Ombudsperson, Salary Committee, Promotions Committee, multiple search and review panels (1989–2025)

Publications (Refereed Journal Articles)

2024: “Promoting trans patient autonomy in surgical preparation for phalloplasty and metoidioplasty,” BMC Medical Ethics
2024: “Advancing gender inclusivity for blood and plasma donors,” Vox Sanguinis
2023: “Modernizing Gender, Sex, and Sexual Orientation Data,” JMIR
2022: “Standards of Care v8,” International Journal of Transgender Health
2022: “Retransitioning: Experiences of Youth,” IJTH
2022: “Gender Euphoria,” Bulletin of Applied Transgender Studies
2022: “5 Years After Social Transition,” Pediatrics
2021: “Who Counts as Trans?” Journal of Communications Inquiry
2020: “A Rapid Review of Gender, Sex, and Sexual Orientation in EHRs,” JAMIA
2020: “Trans People and Blood Donation,” Transfusion
2018: “Normas de Atención para la salud,” IJT
2015: “360° Discussion: Radical Archives,” Archive Journal
2014: “Preserving the Footprints of Transgender Activism,” QED
2012: “Standards of Care v7,” IJT
2009: “Nomenclature in WPATH SOC,” IJT
2007: “Reed Erickson and the EEF,” IJT
2004: “Witnessing and Mirroring,” Journal of Gay and Lesbian Psychotherapy
2004: “ONE Inc. and Reed Erickson,” GLQ
2002: “Who are ‘We’?,” Journal of Gay and Lesbian Psychotherapy
2002: “Standards of Care v6,” Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality
1997: “Female Gender Dysphoria,” Annual Review of Sex Research
1994: “Transsexualism, Dissociation, and Child Abuse,” Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality
1993: “Sexual Orientations of FTMs,” Journal of Sex Research
1993: “Toward a Taxonomy of Gendered Sexuality,” JPH Sexuality
1989: “Teaching Women’s Studies to Convicted Sex Offenders,” Yearbook of Correctional Education
1988: “Teaching Women’s Studies to Male Inmates,” Women’s Studies International Forum
1987: “Gender Blending Females,” American Behavioral Scientist Books and Edited Volumes
Gender Blending: Confronting the Limits of Duality (1989)
FTM: Female-to-Male Transsexuals in Society (1997, 1999, 2016)
The Transgender Archives: Foundations for the Future (2014)
Transgender: A Reference Handbook (2019, with Ardel Haefele-Thomas)
Glimmerings: Trans Elders Tell Their Stories (2019, with Margot Wilson)
Special Issue Co-Editor: TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly, “Archives and Archiving” (2015) Book Chapters and Encyclopedia Entries
“Legitimizing Trans: Reed Erickson” in A History of Transgender Medicine in the United States (2025)
“Foreword,” Trans Children in Today’s Schools (2023)
Entries on Benjamin, Erickson, Prince in The Sage Encyclopedia of Trans Studies (2021)
“History and Prevalence of Gender Dysphoria” in Transgender Medicine: A Multidisciplinary Approach (2019)
“Trans* Sexualities” in Handbook of the Sociology of Sexualities (2015)
“Trans* Bodies” in International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality (2015)
“Archivist Voice” in Out of the Closet, Into the Archives (2015)
“Transgender People and Jewish Law” in Transsexuality in Theology and Neuroscience (2016)
“Gender Diversity” in The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (2016)
“Foreword,” Trans Britain (2018)
“The Transgender Archives” in Introduction to Transgender Studies (2019)
“Packing,” “Phalloplasty,” “Transgender” entries in Cultural Encyclopedia of the Penis (2014)
“Foreword,” Becoming a Visible Man by Jamison Green (2004) Reports and Other Publications
Lead author of over 25 major reports for Correctional Services Canada, CPATH, and various B.C. ministries between 2000 and 2024. Includes “Word of Mouth” digital exhibit, Tableau research databases, and CPATH Ethical Guidelines.

Keynotes and Major Invited Talks

2024: National Queer & Trans History Conference, Edmonton, AB
2024: BC TEAL Conference, Vancouver, BC
2023: Transgender Day of Remembrance Address, BC Legislature
2023: Transgender Day of Visibility Address, BC Legislature
2022: Distinguished Keynote, Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality Annual Conference
2021: World Association for Sexual Health Congress, Online
2021: Libraries and Archives Canada Forum, Online
2021: LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education Leadership Institute, Online
2019: Convocation Orator, UVic Honorary LLD for Martine Rothblatt
2019: Queering Memory Conference, Berlin, Germany
2019: Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Conference, Vancouver
2018: Fantasia Fair, Provincetown, MA
2018: CAUT Equity Conference, Ottawa
2017: CAUT Equity Award Address, Ottawa
2017: Salt Spring Forum Speaker, BC
2017: Universities Canada Panel on Inclusion, Ottawa
2016: Jin Xing Conference, Beijing, China
2016: BC Law Enforcement Diversity Network, Vancouver
2016: Kinsey Institute New View Conference, Bloomington, IN
2016: Without Borders: LGBTQ Archives, London, UK
2015: Fantasia Fair, Provincetown, MA
2015: Canadian Sex Research Forum, Kelowna, BC
2015: National Transgender Health Summit, Oakland, CA
2014: Founder’s Address, Moving Trans* History Forward, Victoria, BC
2009: Options for Sexual Health Conference, Vancouver
2008: CPATH Annual Conference, Toronto
2008: Mazzoni Center Trans-Health Conference, Philadelphia, PA
2007: Sex in Your City Conference, Vancouver
2006: Grupo Luna Transgender Symposium, Turin, Italy
2006: York University Trans/Equity Symposium, Toronto
2006: University of Chicago Symposium on Transgender Studies
2002: Rikki Swin Institute Transperson Educational Colloquium, Nashville, TN
2001: Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists, New Orleans
2001: Western Canadian Deans of Arts & Sciences Conference, Victoria, BC
1999: International Academy of Sex Research, Stony Brook, NY
1998: Western Canadian Sexual Health Conference, Edmonton
1997: HBIGDA Symposium, Vancouver, BC
1997: Society for Sex Therapy and Research, Chicago, IL
1996: University of Victoria Provost’s Public Lecture
1995: Society for the Scientific Study of Sex, San Francisco
1994: University of Arkansas Women’s Festival, Fayetteville
1991: IFGE Northwest Regional Meeting, Port Angeles, WA
1990: IFGE National Meeting, Boston, MA Over 40 keynote and plenary addresses worldwide from 1990–2024 at conferences such as WPATH, CAUT, Universities Canada, and Fantasia Fair.

Academic Conference Presentations

2022: World Professional Association for Transgender Health, Montreal — “Advancing equity and inclusivity for trans and Two-Spirit blood donors” (Poster)
2022: WPATH Montreal — “Preparing patients for phalloplasty and metoidioplasty” (Poster)
2021: CPATH — “Implications of Ethical Guidelines for Trans Research” (Online)
2019: Queering Memory Conference, Berlin — “Founding and Growth of the Transgender Archives”
2018: WPATH Buenos Aires — “Chair in Transgender Studies and Trans Archives” (Poster)
2017: Gender Summit 11, Montreal — “CPATH Ethical Guidelines for Research” (Poster)
2017: CPATH, Vancouver — “Ethical Guidelines for Research Involving Trans People”
2016: WPATH, Amsterdam — “Generating National Guidelines for Trans Research”
2014: WPATH, Bangkok — “The World’s Largest Transgender Archives” (Poster)
2014: Association of Canadian Archivists, Victoria — “Moving Trans* History Forward”
2012: CPATH, Winnipeg — “Saving Transgender History”
2012: International Academy of Sex Research, Estoril — “Building a Trans Archives” (Poster)
2011: WPATH, Atlanta — “Transgender Archives: Building Visibility”
2011: We Demand Conference, Vancouver — “Building the Transgender Archives”
2005: HBIGDA, Bologna — “Reed Erickson and the EEF” & “Fourteen-Stage Identity Model”
2002: European Federation of Sexology, Cyprus — “Model of Trans Identity Formation”
2001: American Psychiatric Association, New Orleans — “FTM Identity Stages”
2001: Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Ed, St. John’s — “Inclusion in Teaching”
1999: HBIGDA, London — “Reed Erickson and the HBIGDA” (Poster)
1997: International Academy of Sex Research, Baton Rouge — “EEF Influence on Trans Studies” (Poster)
1997: International Congress on Sex and Gender Issues — “Reed Erickson’s Impact”
1995: SSSS, San Francisco — “FTMs and Lesbian Identity Rejection”
1995: International Academy of Sex Research, Provincetown — “FTMs and Lesbian Identity” (Poster)
1995: First International Congress on Gender and Sex Issues, LA — “FTMs and Lesbian Identity”
1993: HBIGDA, New York — “Sexual Orientations of FTMs”
1993: World Congress on Sexology, Brazil — “Child Abuse and FTMs”
1992: SSSS, San Diego — “Sequelae of Child Abuse in FTMs”
1991: SSSS, New Orleans — “Taxonomy of Gendered Sexuality”
1991: World Congress on Sexology, Amsterdam — “Notes on Gendered Sexuality”
1990: International Interdisciplinary Congress on Women, New York — “Gender Blending” & “Teaching Feminism to Offenders”
1990: CSA & CWSA, Victoria — “Gendered Sexuality in Canadian Sociology”
1989: Canadian Women’s Studies Association, Quebec — “Sexual Behaviour Patterns of FTMs”
1988: CRIAW Conference, Quebec — “Teaching WS to Convicted Offenders”
1988: Canadian Women’s Studies Association, Windsor — “Convicted Sex Offenders & WS”
1987: Correctional Education Association, Portland — “Teaching Women’s Studies”
1987: New Gender Scholarship Conference, USC — “Gender Blending: Theory”
1986: CRIAW, Moncton — “Inmate Education and Feminism”
1986: Correctional Ed Conference, Banff — “Feminist Instruction Behind Bars”
1986: CWSA, Winnipeg — “Gender Blending: Binary Critique”
1985: Sex and the State Conference, Toronto — “Gender Blending Females”
1984: NW Women’s Studies Association, Bellingham — “Women Take Power”
Presented at over 60 national and international meetings on trans health, sociology, ethics, and education.

Conference Chairing and Workshops

2023: Chair & convener, Moving Trans History Forward Conference, Victoria, BC
2023: Chair, WPATH Journal Club Webinar
2022: Chair, “Word of Mouth” panel event and exhibit launch (online)
2022: Chair, FTM Newsletter panel (online)
2022: Chair, Trans Day of Visibility, Government House, Victoria
2022: Chair in Transgender Studies Visiting Lecturers Series (5x)
2021: Chair & convener, Moving Trans History Forward Conference, Victoria
2021: Chair, Disclosure panel discussion (online)
2021: Chair in Transgender Studies Visiting Lecturers Series (2x)
2020: Chair in Transgender Studies Visiting Lecturers Series (5x)
2019: Chair in Transgender Studies Visiting Lecturers Series (13x)
2019: Fireside Chat with Martine Rothblatt, UVic
2018: Chair, “Trans Identities Across Cultures,” WPATH, Buenos Aires
2018: Chair & convener, Moving Trans History Forward Conference, Victoria
2018: Chair in Transgender Studies Visiting Lecturers Series (9x)
2018: Chair in Transgender Studies Grad Student Colloquium Series (4x)
2018: Chair, Movie Monday screening & discussion, Victoria
2017–2024: Organizer, Chair in Transgender Studies Nachos Nights (monthly)
2017: Chair in Transgender Studies Grad Student Colloquium Series (4x)
2017: Chair, “Misogyny for All Genders” Panel, Victoria
2017: Chair, Movie Monday screening & discussion, Victoria
2017: Chair in Transgender Studies Visiting Lecturers Series (July–Nov)
2016: Chair & convener, Moving Trans History Forward Symposium, Victoria
2015: WordThaw Literary Symposium Panel Chair, Victoria
2014: Chair & convener, Moving Trans* History Forward Symposium, Victoria
2014: Chair, WPATH Symposium Bangkok – panels on trans masculine health and cross-cultural theory
2013: Chair, Gender Odyssey Workshop “Transitioning in Elder Years,” Seattle
2011: Chair, Canada–EU Governance Conference panel, Victoria
2011: Chair, WPATH Symposium, Public Health and STIs panel, Atlanta
2011: Chair, UVic Grad Advisor Orientation
2008: Chair, UVic Diversity Forum, gender and sexuality workshop
2004: Chair, UVic TA Day opening sessions (2x)
2003: Chair, UVic Senate & Board Retreat
2003: Chair, UVic TA Day opening session
2002–2012: Chair, Annual Grad Faculty Presentations at UVic
2002–2007: Chair, UVic Grad Advisor Orientations
2001: Chair, UVic New Faculty Workshop & Grant Writing Workshop
2000: Chair, UVic New Faculty and Grant Workshops
1998: Chair, Western Canadian Sexual Health Conf., FTM Workshop
1997: Chair, UVic Teaching Assistant Day Workshop
1992: Chair, Esprit ’92 Workshop, Port Angeles, WA
1992: Chair, IFGE Workshop, Houston, TX
1990: Chair, Congress on Women: Gender Consciousness & Women’s Victimization panels
1990: Chair, CSA Women’s Marxism critique panel Founder of Moving Trans History Forward. Chaired over 50 panels, sessions, and workshops including international symposia.

Public Engagement and Media

CBC: Radio, TV, Online (On the Island, All Points West, Daybreak North, The Early Edition, etc.)
CNN Online, USA (2022)
CHEK News Television, Victoria (Multiple years)
Vanity Fair Magazine, INTL (2019)
People Magazine, Online (2022)
The Atlantic Monthly, Online (2019)
The Advocate, Online (2016)
CBC Doc Zone: Transforming Gender (2015)
CBC Podcasts: They & Us, Secret Life of Canada, The World, The Tortoise
Real Pride Documentary: Transforming Gender (2022)
Audible UK: Tan France’s Queer Icons (2021)
CBC GEM TV: The Big Sex Talk (2022)
Talking Radical Radio (2022)
Vancouver Art Book Fair: Trans Memory (2021)
EGALE Rainbow Table Talk Show (2020)
Queer View Mirror Podcast (2022)
JQT BC Oral History Project (2023)
NFB Documentary: Unarchived (2022)
BC Jewish News and multiple Jewish Pride panels (2021–2024)
Times-Colonist Newspaper, Victoria, BC (multiple years)
Saanich News, Sooke News Mirror, Victoria News, Goldstream Gazette (multiple years)
Global News Online, CTV, CFAX Radio (multiple years)
CBC Radio Canada, CBC Online News BC, CBC All Points West
The Martlet Newspaper, UVic (multiple years)
Vanity Fair Magazine, Monday Magazine, Comox Valley Echo
The Tyee, Capital Daily, Education News Canada, BC Govt News
Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, University Affairs, American Libraries
KMUZ FM, Salem, OR; Roundhouse Radio; CFUV UVic; KQED Radio
Trans-related coverage in American Conservative, Tablet Magazine, CBS58, Inverse.com
Provincial media features in: Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, Nanaimo, Langley, Terrace, Campbell River
Online presence through 150+ media mentions from North America, UK, EU, Australia, and Israel about the Transgender Archives and Chair in Transgender StudiesFeatured on CBC, CNN, CHEK, Vanity Fair, People, The Atlantic, and over 100 other media platforms. Key figure in public conversations on trans rights, inclusion, and education.

Community and Institutional Leadership

President, Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island (2013–2016)
Past-President, Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island (2016–2020)
Secretary, Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island (2022–present)
Board Member, Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island (2011–present)
Board of Directors, Hillel BC (2007–2018, 2024–present)
Advisor, Statistics Canada (2022)
Advisor, Google (2022)
Advisor, UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab (2022–present)
Expert Consultant, Correctional Services Canada (2021–2025)
Advisor, Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (2020–2021)
Advisor, Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (2019–2021)
Invited Witness, Senate Committee on Human Rights (2018)
Consultant, Canada LGBTQ2 Secretariat (2018)
Advisor, Victoria Native Friendship Centre (2018)
Advisor, BC Human Rights Commission re-establishment (2017)
Advisor, BC Corrections Trans Inclusion (2016–2018)
Member, Trans Inclusion Advisory Committee, City of Victoria (2016–2018)
Expert Panelist, Angus Reid Survey on Trans Issues (2016)
Global Expert, The Conversation panel on Gender and Sexuality (2016)
Advisor, EQT2 Health Forum, BC (2015)
Expert Consultant, Hillary Clinton U.S. Presidential Campaign (2015)
Advisor, Registrar General of Ontario (2014)
Consultant, BC School District 57 (2014)
Script Consultant, Two for One film (2013)
Advisor, Canadian Teachers’ Federation (2011–2012)
Member, Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee (2005–2010)
Leadership roles in Congregation Emanu-El, Victoria: President (2000–2001), Past-President (2001–2002), Vice-President (1999–2000), Board Member (2002–2003)
Member, BC Ministry of Attorney General Equality Division (1997)
Consultant for multiple national news outlets including CBC, CTV, and Canadian PressPresident and Secretary, Jewish Federation of Victoria. Board Member, Hillel BC. Advisor to StatsCan, Google, UNESCO, and provincial and federal agencies.

Professional Credentials

WPATH Standards of Care Certification (v6, v7, v8)
Harvard and University of Manitoba leadership programs
Indigenous Cultural Safety Training

Quote

“Trans people have always been here. Our stories have been kept alive in whispers, in families, in activism, and now, in archives.”

Legacy and Impact
Dr. Devor is a global leader in trans scholarship, archive-building, and community engagement. His work combines rigorous research, public service, and lasting institutional transformation.

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