Trans woman fired, Lynn Conway becomes tech legend

In 1968, Lynn Conway was terminated from IBM when she disclosed her identity as a transwoman. Despite this setback, Conway emerged as a celebrated computing pioneer, advocating for trans representation in STEM.

IBM, a company now supportive of LGBTQ+ rights, fired Conway upon learning of her transition plans. She passed away on June 9, 2024, at age 86. It wasn’t until 2020, 52 years later, that IBM formally apologized to her.

Conway quickly secured a new job at Xerox PARC under her new identity, concealing her trans status to avoid further discrimination. This allowed her to escape the negative media coverage that often targeted trans people during the 20th century but also prevented her from fully sharing her story.

Her innovative work in chip design placed her among the notable women who revolutionized computing. Conway co-invented very large-scale integration (VLSI), which maximized the number of transistors on a chip, enhancing computer speed and power. This breakthrough earned her significant recognition in the industry, albeit delayed.

The “Conway Effect,” similar to the Mathilda Effect, describes how marginalized individuals in computing, including women and people of color, are often denied proper credit for their contributions. Conway’s male co-inventor, Carver Mead, was frequently given more recognition for their joint work on VLSI. Although Mead did not intentionally overshadow her, societal biases led to him receiving more accolades.

Conway documented this disparity, noting instances where she was excluded from recognition events, such as the 2009 Computer History Museum gala, where 16 men, including Mead, were celebrated. Conway was finally acknowledged by the museum in 2014, 12 years after Mead. The naming convention of their innovation as the “Mead-Conway method” further highlights this issue.

Conway spent much of her career working quietly, making significant strides in computing while maintaining a low profile. In 1999, she publicly came out as trans, advocating for trans rights and supporting other trans individuals in tech. She maintained a detailed website sharing her experiences to help others.

Despite early career challenges, Conway’s contributions to computing and her advocacy for gender inclusivity have left a lasting impact, shaping both the tech industry and societal views on gender and computing.

RE-reported from the article originally published in She The People.