Johanna Saoirse Browne

Johanna Saoirse Browne (born John Andrew Brown on 14 September 1970) is an Australian intersex individual who experienced a complex upbringing and faced various challenges related to her gender identity. Browne belongs to the Palawa nation Tasmania with Irish heritage, and she is actively working as a human rights defender and atheist activist, particularly referring to Ex-Muslims and LGBT equality. She oversees Social Media Art Direction, Social Media live streams and video editing, as well as the monthly Newsletter for Faithless Hijabi Inc as Vice President a registered Australian charity supporting ex-Muslims facing persecution.

She is also a roofer and owner at Shingle Roofing Company.

Johanna Saoirse Browne
Born	September 14, 1970 (1970-09-14) Hobart, Tasmania
Nationality	Australian
Education	Durham College, Oshawa
Occupation	Roofer
Known for	Human rights defender & secular atheist activist
Website
https://www.faithlesshijabi.org/

Early Life and Education

Browne was born on 14 September 1970 in Hobart, Tasmania; her intersex condition, specifically Klinefelter syndrome worsened by fetal onset hypogonadism, resulted in a mix of female and male puberty. In 1971, Browne was adopted by a Canadian woman and an Australian man. Tasmanian Family court had changed her name from John Andrew Brown, to Tavis Malcolm Lamprell. She was brought up in a strict Catholic family. Due to her intersex condition and transgender identity, Browne’s mother asked for the help of the Catholic Church, and, with the advice of Father Canning, she signed over her parental rights in family court in Oshawa, Ontario. Initially, Browne was placed in a foster home run by the Catholic church, The Fairbanks Home for Girls. In the foster home, Browne took therapy sessions with CAMH's Family Gender Identity Clinic and attended regular one on one conversion therapy & group meetings throughout her youth. Browne nearing her 18th birthday had to leave the foster home and was placed in her mother's house, sharing a room with her younger brother.

Immigration

In 1991, Browne faced a traumatic, life-threatening incident when she was assaulted by four men in Toronto's Gay district. She was saved by bystanders, but she spent more than a week in Toronto General Hospital undergoing surgeries to repair her cheekbone, orbital eye socket, and dental surgery.

After the traumatic event, Browne dropped out of Durham College Oshawa, where she was studying Human Physiology and Biology. Later she used help from The United Pentecostal Church in Oshawa, where she briefly identified as “Tavis” again after joining the church. In 1992, she eventually resumed testosterone therapy, and there she met her future wife through the church's Bible study program, marrying on April 18, 1992. In 1999, Browne was separated from her wife, and in November 2005, Browne received a notice of inadmissibility from Canadian Customs and Immigration due to overstaying her visa. She was deported in April 2006. Browne was a permanent resident of Canada before the notice, as her parents, who had adopted her, were Canadian-born. Later, the deportation was suppressed in a Canadian immigration court .

Career

Browne came out as an atheist in 2010 and found hope and support through the Atheist Republic live stream, which prevented her from taking her own life in 2017. She has credited Allie Jackson, co-founder and the CEO of Atheist Republic at the time, for saving her life, and they both have become close friends. Browne has been actively involved in secular activism, collaborating with organizations such as the Atheist Foundation of Australia and the Rationalist Society of Australia, Council of Ex Muslims Britain and Ex Muslims of Toronto. She is a known human rights defender and has been working as Vice President on the board of Directors for Faithless Hijabi, a registered Australian charity supporting ex-Muslims facing persecution and providing mental health support through their mental health program since November 2021. Browne works alongside Zara Kay and  the Faithless Hijabi team, managing social media, organizing fundraisers, submitting grant applications, and assisting with asylum applications for individuals in danger due to their apostasy from Islam through secular rescue.

Browne is also the owner of a Shingle Roofing company and works as a roofer in the construction industry as a subcontractor on a freelance system servicing the Entire country.

Controversy

In late 2020, Browne faced social media attacks and had her Twitter account suspended after being targeted by Hindutva supporters during the “Sexy Kali” incident started by Atheist Republic’s founder, Armin Navabi.

Browne also played a crucial role in advocating for the release of Zara Kay, an activist arrested in Tanzania, by petitioning Australian politicians and authorities to intervene on Zara’s behalf.

Recognition

Following is the list of Browne’s achievements and recognition over his career and activism activities.

• Prominent Atheist Activist for a secular government in Australia.
• Human rights defender for apostates of all religions, particularly ex-Muslims, and LGBTI equality.
• Worked for secular rescue part-time, an offshoot program of CFI and The Richard Dawkins Foundation, helping get ex-Muslims asylum in secular countries
• Vice President of Faithless Hijabi Incorporated

Personal Life

Browne met her wife in a Bible study program, and they were married on April 18, 1992. Seven years later, in 1999, Browne separated from her wife.