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Trailblazer: Lighting the Path for Transgender Equality in Corporate America
“This is a great book about an amazing journey of a woman who went through hell to become the person she is today.” - Monica Helms, creator of the transgender flag.
To have invented the email attachment is one thing. To have done so while transitioning from male to female and paving the way for Trans rights in the workplace is quite another. Trailblazer is a brave and powerful memoir that is both touching and thought-provoking and absolutely worth the read for those who care about equality.
As a child, Mark Horton loved wearing women’s clothes. Short denim skirts, high heels, anything that made him feel like a woman. As he grew, he hid his proclivities in favor of a more traditional home and work life. But soon the question “who am I, really” was too loud and Mark began to make room for Mary Ann.
In her debut memoir, Mary Ann Horton recounts her search for her true self and reveals the intimate details, both professional and personal, of her transition from male to female. From navigating the dissolution of her marriage to parenting young boys, to “coming out” to coworkers, Mary Ann balanced both her responsibilities and staying true to herself. But not without struggle. She would quickly learn the challenges and heartbreak that came with navigating the maze of social, medical and legal rights afforded, or rather not afforded to the Trans community.
As Mary Ann fully became Mary Ann, her voice grew and with it a commitment to advocacy and activism. Aided by her indomitable spirit, Mary Ann became a powerful force for the acceptance of transgender benefits and rights, first at Lucent Technologies, blazing the trail for corporate America to follow.
To have invented the email attachment is one thing. To have done so while transitioning from male to female and paving the way for Trans rights in the workplace is quite another. Trailblazer is a brave and powerful memoir that is both touching and thought-provoking and absolutely worth the read for those who care about equality.
As a child, Mark Horton loved wearing women’s clothes. Short denim skirts, high heels, anything that made him feel like a woman. As he grew, he hid his proclivities in favor of a more traditional home and work life. But soon the question “who am I, really” was too loud and Mark began to make room for Mary Ann.
In her debut memoir, Mary Ann Horton recounts her search for her true self and reveals the intimate details, both professional and personal, of her transition from male to female. From navigating the dissolution of her marriage to parenting young boys, to “coming out” to coworkers, Mary Ann balanced both her responsibilities and staying true to herself. But not without struggle. She would quickly learn the challenges and heartbreak that came with navigating the maze of social, medical and legal rights afforded, or rather not afforded to the Trans community.
As Mary Ann fully became Mary Ann, her voice grew and with it a commitment to advocacy and activism. Aided by her indomitable spirit, Mary Ann became a powerful force for the acceptance of transgender benefits and rights, first at Lucent Technologies, blazing the trail for corporate America to follow.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2022
6 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Mary Ann Horton
2 books1 followerMary Ann Horton, PhD, is a transgender activist, computer systems architect, Internet pioneer, entrepreneur, author, and speaker. In 1997, she persuaded Lucent Technologies to become the first Fortune 500 company to add transgender-inclusive language to its nondiscrimination policy, and to add coverage for transition care and surgery. Her work, which was soon replicated at Apple and Avaya, led Out & Equal Workplace Associates to present her with the 2001 Trailblazer Outie Award.
Mary Ann founded several transgender social and activist groups. She conducted a research study that proved the addition of transgender medical coverage would cost companies virtually nothing. She has been featured in the Daily Beast, Out Magazine, Google Arts and Culture, Salon, Diversity Factor, SHRM, L-Mag, Nokia, Faces of Open Source, and Out TV.
Mary Ann earned her PhD in Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1981, where she created the first binary email attachment tool and led Usenet, an early social media network. At Bell Labs, she made email easier to use, brought user@domain.com email to the have-nots, and published Internet standards for email and Usenet.
She is the author of technical reference books including Portable C Software, and of the viral Internet parody, “How the Grinch Stole Marriage.”
Trailblazer is her debut memoir. Visit her website maryannhorton.com.
Mary Ann founded several transgender social and activist groups. She conducted a research study that proved the addition of transgender medical coverage would cost companies virtually nothing. She has been featured in the Daily Beast, Out Magazine, Google Arts and Culture, Salon, Diversity Factor, SHRM, L-Mag, Nokia, Faces of Open Source, and Out TV.
Mary Ann earned her PhD in Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1981, where she created the first binary email attachment tool and led Usenet, an early social media network. At Bell Labs, she made email easier to use, brought user@domain.com email to the have-nots, and published Internet standards for email and Usenet.
She is the author of technical reference books including Portable C Software, and of the viral Internet parody, “How the Grinch Stole Marriage.”
Trailblazer is her debut memoir. Visit her website maryannhorton.com.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 23, 2022
Brave and Important - Don’t miss this wonderful book!
I was fortunate to read an advance reader pdf by Mary Ann Horton and was immediately smitten with her story. What a life Mary Ann has led and what an incredible person she is. This exceptional read deals with the fortitude, joy, and often the loneliness of a strong and resilient person going through personal challenges and identity issues. Throughout her story Mary Ann searches for who she really is, and readers walk along side of her as life knocks her down and she pushes forward. All the while, this truly amazing book shines so much light regarding the early history of computers and what it took to achieve the ease of navigating our online world today. Mary Ann, who is quite brilliant, was on the front lines for all the changes that we take for granted and she is responsible for the email attachment and much more.
While searching for her true self, she brilliantly achieves much in her career as she grows into a formidable advocate and activist for human rights and LBGT rights. She relentlessly with compassion and care spearheaded companies and corporations recognizing the LBGT community with equality for all. During all her successes and failures, Mary Ann grew as person, navigating single parenthood, fighting the good fight for LBGT individuals, and all the while going through an amazing transition herself.
Readers will cheer Mary Ann on and rally for the causes of this caring woman as she learns through trial and error how to become the woman her soul demands and deserves.
I was fortunate to read an advance reader pdf by Mary Ann Horton and was immediately smitten with her story. What a life Mary Ann has led and what an incredible person she is. This exceptional read deals with the fortitude, joy, and often the loneliness of a strong and resilient person going through personal challenges and identity issues. Throughout her story Mary Ann searches for who she really is, and readers walk along side of her as life knocks her down and she pushes forward. All the while, this truly amazing book shines so much light regarding the early history of computers and what it took to achieve the ease of navigating our online world today. Mary Ann, who is quite brilliant, was on the front lines for all the changes that we take for granted and she is responsible for the email attachment and much more.
While searching for her true self, she brilliantly achieves much in her career as she grows into a formidable advocate and activist for human rights and LBGT rights. She relentlessly with compassion and care spearheaded companies and corporations recognizing the LBGT community with equality for all. During all her successes and failures, Mary Ann grew as person, navigating single parenthood, fighting the good fight for LBGT individuals, and all the while going through an amazing transition herself.
Readers will cheer Mary Ann on and rally for the causes of this caring woman as she learns through trial and error how to become the woman her soul demands and deserves.
January 3, 2023
This book is so important to help an ally like myself understand more about the trans experience in both the work place and in more personal settings. I especially appreciated all of the work Mary Ann did to educate people, especially in the corporate world, about transgender employees. She helped to establish inclusive wording so that all employees would gain equal opportunity, regardless of gender identity, gender expression, sex, or sexual orientation. She helped explain the differences in labels about transexuals, cross-dressers, drag queens, and many other labels in the LGTBQIA alphabet. She enlightened me on the many phases of transitioning and how a person determines what is right for them. I have it marked up like a textbook and am grateful that I live in the same city and have been able to meet this amazing author and advocate.
January 27, 2023
Serendipity caused me to read this book. On a Sunday after church I learned that a trans author would be giving a talk about her book that afternoon and I decided to attend. I'm a cis woman who is a budding ally to the LGBTQ+ community and I want to gain appreciation for the experiences of others.
Mary Ann's book (I use the author's first name because to read the book is to know her!) was so personal and it enlightened me on the work of activism. Though Mary Ann's activism focused sharply on Trans issues, I got the idea of what activists do. I also gained insights into the way corporate employees live out their corporate lives over the decades of their careers.
This book took my outside of my limited purview. I really loved it.
Thank you Mary Ann Horton!
Mary Ann's book (I use the author's first name because to read the book is to know her!) was so personal and it enlightened me on the work of activism. Though Mary Ann's activism focused sharply on Trans issues, I got the idea of what activists do. I also gained insights into the way corporate employees live out their corporate lives over the decades of their careers.
This book took my outside of my limited purview. I really loved it.
Thank you Mary Ann Horton!
June 26, 2024
I loved this book for its honesty and straightforward writing style. I think everyone should read it because it sheds light on humanity and on the ways we may fail to see others for their truth. The author is bold and brave and so intelligent, and I feel so happy that we I’ve in a world where everyone can share their stories about who they are and about their suffering. It makes the world a better place when we can learn to love others for who they are instead of for who we think they should be. Books like this help people shed preconceived notions and fears, encouraging a more accepting and colorful existence.
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February 16, 2024Mary Ann Horton MS’77
Author
From the author:
“Who am I, really?” Mary Ann Horton’s search for her true self is revealed in this intimate memoir that details her transition from male to female. Aided by her indomitable spirit, she struggles through a maze of social, medical, and legal rights. As she peels back the layers and redefines her relationships, she becomes a powerful force for the acceptance of transgender benefits and rights at Lucent Technologies, blazing the trail for corporate America to follow.
Author
From the author:
“Who am I, really?” Mary Ann Horton’s search for her true self is revealed in this intimate memoir that details her transition from male to female. Aided by her indomitable spirit, she struggles through a maze of social, medical, and legal rights. As she peels back the layers and redefines her relationships, she becomes a powerful force for the acceptance of transgender benefits and rights at Lucent Technologies, blazing the trail for corporate America to follow.
February 2, 2023
Trailblazing Memoir
I rarely read memoirs and this is the first memoir that I’ve read which I would call a page turner. Mary Ann invites you into her world and takes you along for her amazing ride. I met Mary Ann at the Leadership Development Program that she mentions in the book. We’ve exchanged Holiday letters but that was high level information on her life. I so enjoyed reading about how she kept moving forward to have the life that she wanted while paving the way for others in the transgender community. Her story shows him her bravery, her indomitable spirit and her kindness. And, yes, I teared up at her happy ending. If you want to learn more about this fearless woman, read the book.
I rarely read memoirs and this is the first memoir that I’ve read which I would call a page turner. Mary Ann invites you into her world and takes you along for her amazing ride. I met Mary Ann at the Leadership Development Program that she mentions in the book. We’ve exchanged Holiday letters but that was high level information on her life. I so enjoyed reading about how she kept moving forward to have the life that she wanted while paving the way for others in the transgender community. Her story shows him her bravery, her indomitable spirit and her kindness. And, yes, I teared up at her happy ending. If you want to learn more about this fearless woman, read the book.
November 23, 2022
Enlightening Memoir
Mary Ann openly shares her life with readers. It has been her desire to educate others about the struggle a trans goes through. She even has battled to be recognized within the LGBTQ+ community. She has played an important role in fighting for rights and respect from society in general.
Mary Ann openly shares her life with readers. It has been her desire to educate others about the struggle a trans goes through. She even has battled to be recognized within the LGBTQ+ community. She has played an important role in fighting for rights and respect from society in general.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews