Tools for Inspiration: Lion + Owl founder, Jeff Bender

When you’ve been working on a novel for years, it’s hard to stay motivated. This is the case for me, and I made a decision to attend “The Writers Toolbox: A Full Day Conference for Authors and Self-Publishers” late last month at The Heights in Richmond Heights, Missouri for inspiration. I knew almost nothing about the co-sponsors—The Missouri Writers Guild and The St. Louis Publisher’s Association, and it cost me $75—not being a member of either organization—but it was money and time well-spent.

The title of the first panel, “Telling My Story Can Hurt: Transforming Your Personal Experience into a Relatable Story” did not sound super fun to me, but I was blown away by the three panelists and the insights they shared. The first one was Jeff Bender.

That's me on the left, Jeff, and a sign promoting the products of Lion + Owl. 

Jeff Bender is the Founder of Lion + Owl, an ALLkids+ Apparel Company whose mission is to break gender barriers in children’s apparel. He has written two books, Apparel Has No Gender and Oh, I Just Didn’t Know, which support his mission. Unlike most authors, promoting his books is not his top priority, and in fact, to protect his transgender teenager he’s working on staying out the mainstream limelight. He described being yelled at by a Missouri legislator for his beliefs, and about how important the remaining group of parents of transgender children in the state is to him and his family. He said that nine families of this tightknit community have moved out of the state this year. When I asked him why he stays, he said, “That’s what they want, for people like us to leave so they can do what they want and forget about us. I’m not okay with that.”

Jeff Bender describing Lion + Owl books and apparel to a conference attendee.

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