Though personal experiences, Merf will explore what the world looks like if an “F” or an “M” is not quite the right fit and how this assignment at birth impacts us throughout our lifetime.

In this talk, Merf will share what is possible if we think outside the binary model of gender and how in doing so, it can make us all a little freer.

Merf Ehman is the executive director of Columbia Legal Services (CLS) leading organization-wide efforts to prioritize advocacy that supports community-led social justice movements that transform racialized systems and eradicate racism. More than 25 years ago, Merf was a client in a welfare-to-work program at a local legal aid office, and now leads a legal aid organization working to change the world for the better. Merf’s life experience has been informed by other people believing that Merf could be more, and do more, than the limited options that felt available. People and institutions supported Merf in moving beyond the challenges of poverty, mental illness, and substance abuse to an unimaginably wonderful life. Additionally, Merf prefers to be as pronoun free as possible.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx