Jehan Agrama was born in Cairo, Egypt, and attended school in Rome, Italy. In 1976, she came to the United States to attend college. She earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Pomona College, Claremont, and an Honors M.B.A. from the Presidential Key Executive Program of Pepperdine University. Agrama went on to work in the entertainment industry, where she rose to the position of Chief Operating Officer of Harmony Gold, an international television production and distribution company with ancillary merchandising and music divisions.

Agrama was a founder of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Los Angeles (GLAAD/LA), serving as the first female co-president in 1989; she was re-elected in 1990 and 1991. Agrama also contributed to the creation and production of the Annual GLAAD Media Awards and served as the Co-Chair of the 10th Annual event in 1999. She represented GLAAD/LA on the Executive Committee of the Mayor's Los Angeles Coalition (formerly Coalition of 100), the Media Image Coalition of Minorities and Women, and the Racial Harmony and Discourse Task Force of Rebuild LA (RLA). Until 1994, she served on the GLAAD/LA board as Co-Chair of the Media Outreach Committee. She was elected to the first Emerita position on the board.

In 1992, the Gay & Lesbian Arab Society of Los Angeles honored Agrama with the Knights of the Middle East Award. In 1993, the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center honored her with their Community Service Award, and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund honored her with their Liberty Award. In the same year she also served as a Community Grand Marshall of the Christopher Street West (CSW) Pride. She currently (2008) lives with her spouse of over 25 years, Dwora Fried.