2019 Gender Odyssey

Every day transgender people experience high levels of stress and aggression simply by being who they are. This state of stress and hyper vigilance often makes them fearful of pursuing services often based on previous poor experiences with the care system. This workshop will examine the Macro, Meso, and Micro experience of the transgender individual in their pursuit of safe, informed, and supportive care from the medical, mental health, and social agencies in their community. We will examine the stressors that exist in the pursuit of care and how intentional and unintentional micro-aggressions influence the experience. For the second half of the workshop, practical, hands on training concepts will be shared with the focus on creating a trans aware office space that is welcoming and informed on multiple levels.

Professional

What makes a body masculine? What make a person look feminine? Aaron Spelling, a famous movie producer, stated it clearly:“[You] can’t define it, but you know it when it walks into the room”. He was talking about beauty but this applies to gender identity perfectly. Actually we will "define it" in this workshop so you can better achieve the results you want and expect. At the conclusion of this workshop, you will know the features that imply or suggest gender identity. Many of these can be achieved with makeup and clothing but often, surgery is required to achieve the results you want. The concepts presented in this workshop are critical to understanding and customizing the best treatment plan to achieve desired results.

Professional

This session is designed to provide an overview of hormonal care for transgender and non-binary adult individuals. We will discuss the preliminary and ongoing care considerations needed and offer additional variables that need addressing. This includes care for those who identify as “nonbinary”, “genderqueer”, or other gender-expansive identities.

Professional

Motivated by gender-expansive students in their community, members of the Buckingham Browne and Nichols School have undertaken a number of initiatives that focus on creating a gender-inclusive school for all of their students. There is limited focus on how to make gender a developmentally appropriate topic for elementary aged students, and we are looking to grow resources for school communities. The session will provide a framework that looks to increase one’s understanding of the basics of gender and ways to introduce gender to students in grades Pre K-8. We will take an in-depth look at the strategies and programming that have successfully allowed BBN to be more inclusive towards gender-expansive youth, faculty, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We will explore the comprehensive ways that BBN worked to develop classroom instruction, foster parent discussions, and create safer student club spaces.

Professional

This workshop will focus on key issues related to transitioning at work, including assessing current psychological, medical, legal and financial aspects, as well as how to communicate intention to transition, broader communications to coworkers and customers, best practices for supportive organizations, and how to recognize and address discrimination. Presenter will also take questions from attendees.

Professional

Transgender medical care is not a one-size-fits-all and this session will delve into some of the complexities that can and do arise. If you want to deepen your knowledge, please join this session let by Dane Elliot Menkin, CRNP as he shares some of the complex cases encountered within his practitioner career.

Professional

Our culture tends to blanket LGBTQ+ inclusion as a single silo. Gender identity is hugely nuanced; most people outside of the community struggle when talking about it. Future leaders and innovators need to see beyond a gender binary. The purpose of this session is to increase visibility and understanding of gender identity. Using a framework of ecological systems theory, we’ll discuss unique challenges and experiences faced by gender variant people in the workplace. The nuance of gender identity, attribution, and expression is critical in developing equity. Discussion includes an overview of gender identity, expression, attribution as it relates to daily practices in an organization. We’ll explore language and assumptions that act as barriers to inclusion for gender variant people.

Professional

This presentation will breakdown the definitions and concepts regarding gender, including identity, expression, binary, spectrum, and go into a brief overview of some common identities that fall within the non-binary community. Gender grammar, pronouns, and the Gender Unicorn will be used to apply the concepts.

Professional

Are you an educator in a middle or high school? Attend this workshop to gain a better understanding of your transgender and non-binary students and learn multiple ways to support them in the school environment. We will discuss protective Federal and California State laws, making name/gender marker changes, access to facilities, working with parents and working with other staff.

Professional

Access to quality health care is a fundamental right that trans and gender diverse people are often denied. For a variety of social and institutional reasons, trans people frequently experience discrimination and lower quality care in health care settings leading to poorer health and wellness. Naturopathic doctors have many tools to provide whole-spirit, preventative and quality care to trans patients. This presentation will cover how the principles of naturopathy help aid in providing the highest quality care to trans patients, including general background on trans identity and gender transitions, as well as some of the specific health concerns of the trans population. The session will provide an overview of initiation and management of hormone therapy, pre- and post-surgical care, and general best practices for working with trans patients.

Professional

What is it like to live as a trans/TGNC person or their family members on the other side of the globe? How does one explore their identity, connect with others, and find resources in an East Asia context? How do parents react when they know about their child’s TGNC identity and how do they cope with the pertinent challenges in the Hong Kong Chinese society? This workshop will give an overview of the situations for adult and adolescent trans persons in Hong Kong, and reveal parents’ struggle and coping experiences in maintaining their relationship with their trans child and other family members during gender transition of their child.

Professional

This session will describe the evaluation of adolescents for possible medical interventions, such as puberty-blocking medication and cross-sex hormone treatment. Throughout this workshop, recommendations for working sensitively with transgender children and adolescents in all medical and mental health settings will be provided. Finally, recommendations for evaluating more complex cases (e.g., co-occurring mental health issues, difficult family dynamics) will be provided.

Professional

As mental health moves toward an affirming care model, psychiatric hospitals are often lagging behind. Historically, TGNC folks are often misgendered and misunderstood in psychiatric practice. In this workshop, you will learn how to support TGNC people who are in psychiatric crisis and are hospitalized. Bringing experience from Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital in Chicago, workshop presenter will describe how the hospital has undergone a process to move away from damaging psychopathology and toward affirming practice. Presenter will share with the audience how and why Garfield Park Behavioral Hospital has created the nation's first LGBTQ inpatient psychiatric unit for adolescents. Topics that will be discussed: history of TGNC in psychiatric care, current state of mental health and TGNC people, survey results from TGNC people in inpatient care, creating change in a hospital setting, bio-psychosocial assessments, intake best practices, nursing care, and trends in evidenced-based individual, group, and family psychotherapy. Presentation is combination of lecture, small group discussion, and case study.

Professional

The dizzying pace of the news cycle combined with the Trump’s active attempts to dismantle the rights of transgender people can make it hard to figure out which legal protections are still left. Given this landscape, it is critical that providers are able identify potential legal issues and advocate for their patients. This session will provide an overview of the legal landscape, the most common legal issues, and steps providers can take to help their patients start to navigate those legal issues. Topics covered include discrimination, correcting identity documents, and family-law disputes.

Professional

According to recent studies, between 8 to 10 percent of children and adolescents seen at gender clinics around the world meet the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder while approximately 20% have autism-like traits such as impaired social-communication skills or intense focus and attention to detail. There is an increasing amount of literature on the potential connection between the two diagnoses and the possible overlapping mental health concerns. We will review the proposed guidelines for care, discuss best practices and brainstorm strategies for intervention and treatment. Participants will have an opportunity to learn the latest research, share information and discuss a clinical vignette.

Professional

One of the biggest challenges to offering competent care and support to transgender and gender-diverse children - and their families - is
society’s tendency to assume that a singular gender narrative exists. Academic research, professional association guidelines, media stories, and standards of care have too often been crafted from the individual experiences of too few. In this session, Gender Diversity’s ED, Aidan Key, will draw from over a decade’s worth of experience supporting children and parents through his organization’s family support program. The goal of this session is to encourage the provider to consider any individual child’s gender pathway within an ever-widening context of individuality, family, culture, and systems.

Professional

In this session, we will discuss the basics of puberty blockers and initiating and continuing hormones for trans, gender expansive and non-binary identifying youth. Puberty blockers are can be a life-saving option for families to pause and gather information about transgender identities and transition. We will discuss the benefits and limitations, as well as potential challenges with both blockers and hormones. We will also review basics of preventive care.

Professional

More primary care providers are treating transgender patients, yet few of us have had formal training in transgender medicine, let alone peri-operative trans care. Dr. Gromko has treated transgender patients for 20 years, and has followed her own patients as they have returned from surgeries performed all over the world. This workshop will begin with a basic review of feminizing and masculinizing surgeries. Pre-operative evaluation and patient preparation will be discussed. See patient photos of early results in feminizing and masculinizing procedures so you know how “normal” can look. Feel more confident in knowing when to reassure—and when to worry. The nonsurgical management of common postoperative problems will be included. Note: Intended for Pro attendees only.

Professional

It is very important that physician's offices are visibly affirming to the LGB and Transgender communities so that all patients feel welcome. However, many offices think that they are affirming when, in fact, they have much work to do. Quite often practitioners say that they want to be supportive of their transgender patients, but they don't know what that actually looks like. This workshop will be a presentation of how to make your office an affirming space as well as a discussion among attendees about what they are doing in their particular practices.

Professional

Nationally, LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately represented in child welfare systems, the juvenile justice system, mental health systems, and among youth experiencing homelessness/displacement. Utilizing evidence-informed strategies developed through our research project with the William's Institute, we will discuss and challenge the barriers and outcomes LGBTQ+ youth of color face in systems of care, with an emphasis on child welfare. Blending community organizing, grass-tops advocacy, and social work disciplines, participants will gain knowledge and tools needed to disrupt the intricate pipelines of rejection and negative outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth in systems of care at their local level.

Professional

Discussion of stressors for couples ranging from the coming out process through social and medical transition.

Professional

It may go without saying that a person’s gender identity exploration can be challenging. Additional variables that accompany any single person’s journey may add layers of complexity that make it difficult for providers to know what issue or area to tackle, when or even if. These variables may include multiple mental and medical health diagnoses, varying degrees of parental support, access to care and/or resources, etc. This will be a facilitated round table conversation to explore any specific cases where the course of action is unclear or complex.
Note: This session was designed for a professional audience only.

Professional

Discussion is about Genital, Chest, Gynaecologic, and Facial surgeries addressing topics below:
1. Overview of surgery options for MtF and FtM, and gender non-binary surgeries
2. Requirements for surgery (from both insurance and best-practices standpoints)
3. Preparing for surgery
4. Decision-making considerations for each type of surgery, and the consequences of each (e.g. vaginoplasty with/without a canal; phalloplasty with or without urethral lengthening or vaginal preservation; fertility preservation)
5. What to expect post-surgery
6. Surgical complications
6. Important considerations pre and post-surgery for FAMILIES
7. For CARE PROVIDERS: Potential surgery-related pitfalls in care in the pre and after surgery periods to be alert for, and suggestions for how to manage

The workshop will include a panel discussion (Q & A with: Genital Surgeon, Plastic Surgeon, Gynecologic Surgeon, ENT surgeon, and Transgender Surgery Program Nurse Practitioner)

Gender dysphoria is widely understood as the persistent emotional, psychological or physical distress experienced by individual’s whose gender does not align with their sex-at-birth. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illness outlines criteria that are too limited in scope. These create unrealistic expectations that medical and/or surgical intervention will result in the eradication of gender dysphoria. This workshop proposes to present gender dysphoria as an experience beyond a criteria checklist; demonstrate how dysphoria shows up across different developmental stages; and how this impacts the lives of transgender youth. Using case examples, this workshop will help attendees have an improved understanding of how gender dysphoria is impacting the developmental trajectories of these youth. We’ll explore the overlap of symptoms of gender dysphoria that often lead to diagnoses of ADHD, bipolar disorder, high functioning autism, and we’ll explore mechanisms to address gender dysphoria in transgender and non-binary individuals. Providers can improve care for youth if their understanding of gender dysphoria expands beyond the distress associated with the presence (or absence) of primary or secondary sex characteristics.

LGBTQ+ youth are over-represented in the foster care system. A study found that over 30% of LGBTQ+ youth reported suffering physical violence at the hands of a family member after coming out. Child welfare systems have an obligation to protect, affirm and support LGBTQ+ while in out-of-home care. San Diego county's child welfare system is implementing system-wide best practices in collaboration with the LGBTQ+ community, school districts, direct-service providers and several other stakeholders to ensure LGBTQ+ foster youth are supported by the most comprehensive continuum of care. Participants will hear from a panel about San Diego's child welfare system's journey: the lessons learned along the way and the future of a more affirming and inclusive system.

Professional

In this presentation, we will cover the provision of medical care and management from within a primary care setting. We will cover informed consent, hormones, anti-androgens, and ongoing management of trans and non-binary individuals.
We will cover some more commonly seen adverse reactions and the management of them for those practicing in the primary care setting .

Professional

Are you an educator in a middle or high school? Attend this workshop to gain a better understanding of your transgender and non-binary students and learn multiple ways to support them in the school environment. We will discuss protective Federal and California State laws, making name/gender marker changes, access to facilities, working with parents and working with other staff.

This presentation will discuss the most common surgical options and procedures available for trans males. Our multidisciplinary team will discuss top surgery, phalloplasty, metoidioplasty and other procedures available. We will focus on the individualized and multidisciplinary approach to the the treatment of dysphoria.

Professional

Dr. Marci Bowers will discuss some of the current dilemmas for FTMs. She will provide information regarding surgeries currently being offered at her Burlingame clinic. Dr. Bowers will answer specific questions after her presentation and offer mini consultations as time allows.

Most transgender/non-binary folks and their families face many roadblocks as they move through transition. This is especially true when dealing with the health care system and the often daunting insurance plans. Denials are commonplace many families don’t understand their rights. Finding the right provider can be troubling. In this session we will help participates navigate the complexes of insurance coverage and medical transition. TransFamily Support Services has assisted hundreds of families to get their insurance to cover the medically necessary treatments, we will share our tools and tricks!

Family

California Cryobank is the leading tissue bank in the industry. With over 40 years of experience, we take pride in helping numerous clients overcome personal obstacles to become parents. We welcome everyone regardless of gender identity, gender presentation and sexual orientation. This workshop will discuss the importance of fertility preservation prior to starting hormone replacement therapy. Specifically focusing on MTF transitioning clients, California Cryobank can assist with the freezing and storing of sperm tissue. At CCB we understand that the transgender community needs to be supported and would consider ourselves an ally within the LGBTQ community. We have created the PRIDE Discount, which offers tissue banking services at a significantly discounted rate. We hope that everyone who dreams of having biological children in the future, can have the opportunity to do so regardless of their gender.

One thing seems universal for families who have transgender or gender-nonconforming children and that is that we have, or have had, some level of fear and apprehension for the experience(s) our children. Of course, we have concerns for our children as we offer support and raise them in a world that may not be ready for them. We invite you to come and share your thoughts and experiences—and hear the stories of others—in a safe, understanding environment. Our goal is to offer support to each other and step out of our isolation. First time and return attendees welcome—let’s do it together!
Note: This session was designed for a family audience only.

Family

This presentation will discuss the most common procedures available for the trans woman. We will discuss facial feminization, tracheal shaving, breast augmentation, liposculpture, and vaginoplasty. It will include pre-and post-operative care, surgical technique, complications, and provide pictures of our results. The slide presentation is meant to be interactive and depending on questions and queries time will be spent in those procedures that are most interesting for the audience.

Professional

The session will examine the developmental trajectory of TGNC children. This is an interactional, interpersonal developmental theory of being gender diverse, focused on how mirroring affects perception security, attachment and shame. Furthermore, it will explore the consequences of the ways in which the mirroring of gender complicates these states for the individual. By mirroring I mean to include the active and tacit verbal and embodied attunement of caregivers to the child. Mirroring contributes to the construction of perceiving and identifying one’s internal cues. We are not subjects alone but always inter-subjectively connected. Working from this interactional model of how the core self begins to be shaped by others, I will to draw on Fotopoulou & Tsakiris’ work which proposes that the burgeoning self is created as an embodied interactional dance with primary caregivers. In the case of TGNC children, their multisensory experience of their gender will most likely not be understood or integrated for them by a caregiver. We will explore how this contributes to one's attachment, development of shame and internalized transphobia.

Professional

Many of us have role models for fatherhood, but few of us have learned how to be a father to a transgender or gender-diverse child. Fatherhood in our society comes with strong expectations, some of which can make it difficult for us to feel secure in our role. Come share your personal experiences, successes, fears, and other lessons in a confidential environment of acceptance, understanding, and support. You are not alone on this journey - let’s offer one another support and assistance. There are two parts to this workshop. You need not attend all sessions to be welcome.

Note: This workshop is for dads only.

Family

Educators have the privilege to profoundly and positively impact the lives of transgender children. However, studies have shown that even educators who support trans children feel unprepared to support them in schools; over 72% of teacher preparation programs in one survey ranked LGBTQ+ identity as “either their lowest or an absent priority in addressing issues of diversity,” and few professional development opportunities are provided to teachers to gain knowledge about students who identify as queer and trans. Based on an article submitted for press to Young Exceptional Children with the same name, this session will address strategies adults can use to support transgender children within early childhood classrooms, resources for guiding their own self-study of trans issues, and guidance for how to promote policies within their school communities that could increase the acceptance and inclusion of all children, including those who identify as transgender from a very young age. Participants will leave with the confidence to serve trans youth and their families, as well as the skills to navigate queer inclusion in early childhood settings.

PowerPoint Presentation discussing available procedures for Facial Feminization, Body Contouring and Breast Augmentation. Will discuss risks and possible complications. Will show before and after photos. Question and Answer period. Sign up for an informal visit with Dr. Meltzer to discuss questions and concerns.

Professional

Learn how to promote and embrace diversity through literature and primary sources that allow Trans and LGBQ+ students to accurately see themselves reflected in the curriculum (even when your district is in the beginning phases of implementation). One veteran teacher discusses pedagogical methods for infusing curriculum with LGBTQ+ affirming content into existing curricular frameworks.

Review and practice recognizing useful books that have Trans themes and useful books that don't, but can still be mined for framing Trans inclusion and discussion around broader themes of affirmation, advocacy, and empathy. every book is an opportunity!

Educators will examine texts during the workshop session and simulate “text-talks” in thinking-map form that examine broad topics. A great practice opportunity for educators to turn any text into a platform for discussion about Trans experience as well as the confluence of myriad identities.

Teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, and all education constituents welcome!

Professional

In this session, we will discuss the basics of puberty blockers and initiating and continuing hormones for trans, gender expansive and non-binary identifying youth. Puberty blockers are can be a life-saving option for families to pause and gather information about transgender identities and transition. We will discuss the benefits and limitations, as well as potential challenges with both blockers and hormones. We will also review basics of preventive care.

All parents of trans youth advocate for their children. Some will only ever advocate privately with the local school or the pediatrician’s office. If you choose to become more vocal to take a stand against anti-trans legislative initiatives, tell your story in the media, or file a discrimination lawsuit, you need strategies for your messaging and for your protection. In this workshop, we will cover different situations from writing blogs, posting on social media, giving interviews to reporters, lobbying efforts through letters and phone calls, giving testimony in front of legislators, and how to deal with any backlash you receive from being public.

Professional

Our school has a bullying problem (targeting but not limited to trans/GNC students). . .so “Be an upstander!” we exclaim to our students. But they never truly understand what that means and HOW TO BE an upstander. Likewise, even when they DO know a few interventions, we are patently unrealistic [verging on outright dishonest] with them about how likely WE AS ADULTS would be to choose those same interventions if we were in their place. This workshop will help educators support students in taking a deep dive into empathy, solidarity, and action. It focuses on identity-based bullying. Likewise, it equips the student participants with a menu of prevention/intervention/post-vention options that THEY THEMSELVES brainstorm and evaluate for potential risk and effectiveness. Bystanders are empowered and transformed into agents of action--Ally Action--on behalf of ALL classmates when they need it the most.

Professional

If your child had a medical condition, and a doctor recommended an intervention that could make their lives better, or potentially save your child’s life, would you put the decision on the child? Would you present the options to your child but then warn them to consider the financial implications, social implications, family implications, future implications on said intervention? Not likely! Instead of thinking of gender transition to reflect authentic gender identity as a “decision”, let’s start thinking of it as an intervention and see how the story changes. Come be empowered to take actions when it comes to your child, in order to reduce distress and encourage authentic living!

Family

This program is designed to help participants gain knowledge of Dr. Marci Bowers' current MTF techniques. She will talk about her one-stage vaginoplasty procedure and familiarize participants with her procedures, as well as show examples of recent outcomes. Participants will also be informed of auxiliary MTF surgical offerings (such as tracheal shave and labiaplasty). Dr. Bowers will answer specific questions after her presentation and offer mini consultations as time allows.

"Going Public" can look like a lot of different things for a lot of different people. Sometimes it's intentional, but sometimes it's not. When you, your child, or your family are "outed", it can feel disorienting and scary, but it doesn't need to. This workshop will offer advice to families on how best to protect your privacy and safety when/if you are ever outed, or choose to go public with your story. Don't be caught off guard! Have a plan so you can be prepared - just in case!

Family

Despite the Trump administration’s insistence to the contrary, transgender and gender nonconforming youth have rights. And, as advocates for their children, parents need to know what those rights are and how to ensure that those rights are not ignored. Drawing from the presenter’s experience, this workshop will provide an overview of common legal issues affecting transgender and gender nonconforming youth and offer practical tools parents can use to address those issues. The topics covered will include correcting ID documents, discrimination in schools and work, and transition-related care.

Family

The cumulative effects of walking through the world as trans* or non-binary, when coupled with the reality of structural and interpersonal racism, can take a heavy toll on trans* and non-binary people of color. Currently, there are few models that offer strategies for coping with these intersecting identities. This workshop, led by a trauma psychologist who identifies as a trans-masculine, non-binary Pilipinx person, will focus on ways of thinking about multiple forms of trauma, strategies for recovery, and a self-care model for queer and trans* people of color (Miller & Estrellado, 2019). The workshop may be of particular interest to trans* and non-binary people of color, as well as to service providers and family members of trans* and non-binary people of color.

In our practices, more trans individuals are coming to us with the desire to have their own biological children. For some, this is a reality: transgender women are contributing their sperm and transgender men are getting pregnant and giving birth. For those taking puberty blockers, the situation is more complex. This session will explore current and future options for transgender youth and adults making choices about puberty blockers and hormones. We focus on the process of making decisions about the timing of medical interventions from the perspective of future fertility, considering the viewpoints of youth and parents or guardians who will be giving legal consent for interventions, as well as considerations for older transgender individuals.

Professional

Nearly all youth in secondary education will study biology, the science of living things. Teaching biology presents many opportunities for authentic inclusion of gender-diversity. How can we talk about X and Y chromosomes while affirming our transgender and intersex students? How will students with same-sex parents interpret and internalize our lessons about meiosis and sexual reproduction? And how do all sexual orientations fit into the theory of evolution? In this session, we will introduce a framework for teaching and talking about biology in a gender-inclusive way. We will discuss why this is an important task for science educators and present examples of how this looks in our own high school classroom, and how it may look for educators in different subject areas and with different levels of experience with gender diversity. This session is for educators in grades 6-12 as well as for anybody who wants to talk about biology in a gender-inclusive way.

Professional

Faith communities are often integral in the lives of many trans and gender-diverse people of color. For so long, rejection of gender-diverse people by faith communities was a higher likelihood than anyone considers ideal. The challenge for many faith communities is feeling that the lives of gender-diverse people are in direct conflict to their values. In this workshop, we will hear from both clergy and church members who have navigated the presence and inclusion of trans people-of-color within their congregations. We encourage workshop participants who are people-of-color to contribute their experiences as well.

This presentation will go over gender diversity from the earliest recorded history to modern day. Prominent individuals who shaped the way in which we understand gender diversity will be highlighted to help facilitate reflection on differences through time and ways in which different cultures approach gender.

It is often a wild ride understanding your child’s gender identity journey just to get to the point of transition. But we are often surprised as parents by continuous ups and downs they may experience for years after. That could be from different levels of dysphoria, anxiety, or even severe depression. During this session, we will have an open discussion for parents to talk about emotional health issues they have seen at different ages and stages, get suggestions on how to support their kids, and to support one another.

PowerPoint presentation of Vaginoplasty and Labiaplasty Techniques, Updates, Risks and Complications.

Professional

This intimate story takes us into the lives of three high school athletes from across the US – all at different stages of their athletic seasons, each sharing their lives as transgender teens. Our main character, Mack Beggs, made headlines last year when he became the Texas State Champion in girls wrestling – as a boy. Fighting Texas State policy and drawing international media coverage, he was heralded as a hero by some while receiving hate and threats from others. The tumultuous press surrounding his success continues to pull Mack in multiple directions as he and his family navigate the media and this year’s State wrestling tournament, all while trying to graduate high school. Each story is led by the brave and individual voices of these students, allowing extremely personal and vulnerable access into their journeys. These courageous kids offer us the opportunity to see the world through their eyes – and share their struggles and successes along the way.

Director: Michael Barnett
Producer: Clare Tucker
Executive Producer: Alex Schmider

More trans children are receiving early support for living in congruence with their gender identity. A growing number are provided with a path to natal puberty suppression in preadolescence and/or cross hormones during adolescence. But, what about surgery for minors? A great percentage of providers, and even parents, will understandably want to put the brakes on...but should they? Are there times when surgery is appropriate, or even necessary for a transitioning youth? If you believe the answer is yes, does that answer change when considering genital surgery. Are there even surgeons who will do this? This session will bring together a panel of providers whose collective experience working with trans youth is unparalleled. Part of the conversation will be in the “fishbowl” format with these experts providing their own case studies, observations, and predictions, followed by time for Q&A.

This is your opportunity to hear directly from transgender-identified panelists and ask them questions. With a “what-we-want-you-to-know” approach, our goal is to provide attendees with a window into just a few trans people’s lives to highlight the multifaceted, complex paths we often travel.

Este va ser una conversacion facilitada entre familias Latinx para compartir nuestras experiencias para los propositos de conexion, apoyo, aprendizaje e empatia. Preguntas que exploraremos inluyen, “Como se si mi hijo/hija es trans o es esto solo una fase?” “Como yo e mi esposo/a llegamos a una comprension sobre este tema?” “Como es la mejor manera de comunicar con amistades e famlia sobre este tema?” “Y si mi hijo/a cambia de opinion?” “Estos ninos no son muy tiernos para estas decisiones?” Unise con otras familias con respeto e compasion para discutir sobre estas preguntas e este tema.
Attencion: Esta sesion es para una audencia de familia solamente.

Family

Physical gender transition is different for every individual, which necessitates creating tailored medical plans for each and every patient. Medical guidelines often provide little guidance on the wide range of doses and delivery mechanisms of hormones. This workshop will present information about the different safe and effective strategies practiced at our Center for Transyouth Health and Development. We will also discuss the potential benefits of low dose hormone use in combination with blockers and adjusting dosing to accommodate medical concerns and patient needs, as well as available types of testosterone and estrogen. Finally, we will have an interactive discussion with other professionals in the audience to learn new approaches that are used in other clinics.

Trump has spent the last two years attempting to dismantle the hard-fought victories of the movement for transgender rights. Those attacks have significantly affected the daily lives of transgender and gender nonconforming people and the safety net of legal protections they rely on. This workshop will cover the ways—large and small—that the Trump administration is seeking to undermine the lives of transgender and gender nonconforming people, including practical and legal significance of those efforts. It will also address how individuals can help push back against these changes.

Family

Surgery is foreign and frightening to most individuals but for trans people, surgery is often essential to achieving the gender identity. While most people have similar concerns, some of the more challenging issues are unique to People of Color (POC) such as increased scarring and varying degrees of scar and skin coloring after surgery. This lecture is not just for POC because in order to understand the after surgery journey, we need to understand the unique needs of all patients undergoing surgery. Once you’ve decided to have surgery, it is critical to understand what lies ahead so there are NO SURPRISES. While there are many different procedures that are common in the trans community this workshop will emphasize what you need to do to get ready for any procedure. We will address how to care for yourself after surgery to ensure a successful outcome. Knowing the essential details help your journey with NO SURPRISES!

The goal of the workshop is to describe the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative considerations involved in masculinizing gender affirmation surgery. This will include an in-depth discussion on 1) chest masculinization (mastectomy or "top surgery”) and 2) phalloplasties for transmale, nonbinary, gender non-conforming, and gender diverse individuals. The presentation will focus on pre-operative requirements, surgical options, working with adolescents, and will delve into expected post operative results and outcomes. The goal is to ensure that prospective patients have a thorough understanding of what the surgical journey entails.

It takes a special type of calling to become a teacher or school administrator. With this privilege comes great responsibility. For more than 30 years as a teacher, I have recognized and created a classroom environment that embraces gender diverse students and their innate expression without judgement or a desire to change them in any way. Many of these students’ parents have privately shared both their gratitude and concerns, for gender diverse students can no longer be silenced, bullied, or ignored. Instead of shying away from controversy, I have used it as an opportunity to lead by example and shared my practices with any colleague who would listen. When met with opposition, I made the conscience decision to continuously re-evaluate how I would approach these obstacles and move forward. These easy-to-use ideas are simple to implement in any classroom setting which will be offered during this interactive workshop.

Professional

The “trans community” would be better described as the collective trans communities as our life and identity experiences can vary significantly. What are some of the unique factors that affect trans and gender-diverse people of color? POC familial relationships, cultural norms, and gender expectations all play a role in someone’s experience. Join this facilitated discussion where we will dive in deeper to explore these topics and more. All are welcome. We encourage everyone to mindful of their level of participation to ensure that the greatest number of people can participate. We are grateful for your support of our facilitator in this effort.

As we embark on the journey of transition with our trans child, we may be focused solely on that child, but after the initial intensity, we become more aware of other family members, their needs and reactions, and the shift in family dynamics. How can we support our non-trans children throughout? How do we respect and make space for the other parent’s approach to supporting our child? How do we share information with grandparents and extended family? Join us as we explore these topics and share strategies for navigating these significant relationships in ways that honor your trans child and the rest of the family.

La discusión es acerca las cirugías en genitales, senos, ginecológica, y facial al discutir los siguientes temas:
1. Descripción general de las opciones para la cirugías de Hombre a Mujer (MtF) y Mujer a Hombre ( FtM), y género no binario
2. Requerimientos para la cirugía (desde los puntos de referencia del seguro médico y las mejores prácticas)
3. Preparándose para la cirugía
4.Las consideraciones para tomar al decisiones para cada tipo de cirugía, y las consecuencias de cada una (por ejemplo, vaginoplastia con/sin canal, faloplastia con o sin alargamiento de la uretra o preservación vaginal; preservación de la fertilidad)
5. Que se puede esperar después de la cirugía
6. Complicaciones quirúrgicas
6. Consideraciones importantes para las FAMILIAS antes y después de la cirugía
7. Para los PROVEEDORES DE CUIDADO: Peligros potenciales relacionados con la cirugía antes y después de la cirugía para estar alerta, y sugerencias para cómo manejarlos.

Este taller incluirá un panel de discusión (con preguntas y respuestas con: un cirujano de genitales, cirujano plástico, cirujano ginecológico, cirujano otorrinolaringólogo, y una enfermera práctica del Programa de Cirugía de Transgénero)

Professional

After a parent’s realization that their child is transgender—but often before they have had a chance to catch their breath—the question of how to navigate schools looms large and immediate. Teachers, administrators, counselors, and even other parents may put up some resistance to taking inclusive steps, often struggling to determine the school’s role in the transition process. Principals may say, “Why should we do all this for one student?” Or they may ask a bewildered parent, “Just tell us what to do.” Faith, political, cultural and geographical differences can complicate the conversations further. We will explore the origins of this resistance and some concrete steps for navigating a successful student transition. Content discussed will include: how to field the “bathroom question”; age-appropriate ways to talk to children; proactive addressing of concerns from other parents; and other ways to framing trans issues for those within a school community.
This session will provide educators and parents with important information for navigating these barriers as they work to create an inclusive school environment for all.

A full time transgender surgeon will tell you everything you need to know before, during and after gender confirming FTM bottom surgery, highlighting preparation, choosing your perfect surgery type, potential complications and their treatment. This talk features graphic intra-operative photographs and may be disturbing to some. It is designed for patients, advocates, nonmedical professionals and medical professionals alike.

Professional

Description of current procedures, risk, complications and options. A PowerPoint presentation showing procedural techniques and before and after photos. There will be time for questions and answers as well as a sign up sheet to meet with Dr. Meltzer informally one on one.

In 2016 a small group of families with transgender kids joined the fight against a wave of discriminatory anti-transgender legislation that swept the nation and Washington state. With the help of a coalition of civil rights activists and ally lawmakers, these families embarked on an uncharted journey of fighting for their children’s lives and futures in this present-day civil rights story. Vlada Knowlton’s film also profiles Gender Diversity's ground breaking work in a conservative WA state school district as they created trans inclusive policy in their district. Knowlton also shares part of her family's personal journey!

“Humble, yet deeply moving documentary...What makes “The Most Dangerous Year” so beautifully effective is its representation of these loving, proud families who choose to stand up for the humanity and humane treatment of their children — and the politicians who listen.”
— Los Angeles Times

Don’t miss the opportunity to see this amazing movie as it is not yet in wide distribution. Join in a group discussion immediately following the film.

Este va ser una conversacion facilitada entre familias para compartir nuestras experiencias para los propositos de conexion, apoyo, aprendizaje e empatia. Esta conversacion es una continuacion de la conversacion previa. Durante esta conversacion profundizamos e hablaremos sobre temas como defendiendo ninos en las escuelas, como encontrar un proveedor con experiencia con ninos trans, e crear resiliencia y fuerza en nuestros ninos increibles. Unise con otras familias con respeto e compassion para discutir sobre estos temas e mucho mas!
Attencion: Esta sesion es para una audencia de familia solamente.

Family

One of the most painful experiences for a transgender or gender nonconforming child is getting caught in the crossfire between two (or more) parents who cannot come to an agreement about what will be best for their child. Affirming parent(s) must navigate this conflict with care, merging the needs of their child and a legal strategy that will help ensure the court understands the child’s unique medical and mental health needs. Drawing from experience, the presenters will offer guidelines for handling parental disagreements over transition-related care while protecting their child.

Family

The goal of the workshop is to describe the pre-op, intra-op, and post-operative considerations in vaginoplasty, facial feminization surgery, breast augmentation, and body contouring for transwomen and gender diverse individuals who seek feminization surgery. Discussions will pay particular attention to pre-operative requirements, and will delve into expected post operative results and outcomes. The goal is to ensure that prospective patients have a thorough understanding of what the surgical journey entails.

When assessing the level of their child’s dysphoria and need for intervention (everything from understanding their child’s gender dysphoria to transition), parents are often told to “watch for signs of distress.” If the child is showing no signs of distress, and is allowed to dress/play/interact in a way that feels authentic, then there’s no need to intervene yet…right? What if intervening and acknowledging a child’s authentic gender is the compassionate, natural thing to do before the child enters a period of moderate to severe distress? In this workshop, we will be discussing the connection between distress/ gender dysphoria and being transgender, and how parents can evaluate how they approach the process of recognition and intervention in response to their child, with or without overt signs of distress.

Join us after the screening of The Most Dangerous Year for a discussion with the filmmaker, Vlada Knowlton, and members of the cast.

We know that all children benefit from a school climate that addresses gender role stereotyping and disrupts bullying around gender identity and expression. This workshop will provide participants with a brief overview of lesson plans, books and resources, as well as concrete strategies to create an environment where all students thrive. We will also review pertinent laws for our transgender and non-binary students. In this session, you will have an interactive, first-hand experience with two of Welcoming Schools’ most popular professional development modules—Creating Gender-Inclusive Schools and Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Students—which include strategies, videos and resources to better support all your students!

This workshop will be conducted primarily in Spanish (bilingual English/Spanish) for Latino families with trans or gender expansive youth. According to the 2015 National Transgender Discrimination Survey, Latino and Latina transgender and gender non-conforming people face some of the highest levels of discrimination. In addition, it is important to consider the impact of the intersection of immigration status, religion, language barriers and cultural norms and beliefs on the emotional well-being of Latinx trans* youth. This workshop will provide psychoeducation to families on the history of gender identity and identify possible psychosocial, medical and mental health concerns. In addition, participants will be able to learn the importance of gender-affirming support and discuss how to provide gender-affirming support to their youth through a culturally and linguistically sensitive lens.

Family

This session is dedicated to participant questions related to supporting transgender and gender-expansive students at school, as well as creating a school climate that addresses gender stereotyping to encourage classrooms to break out of the limits of the gender binary and to embrace the full spectrum of gender for all students. This FAQ is the equivalent of a live and in-person Google chat that you will not want to miss as each participant will be considered a valued expert in the field. Additionally, multiple “right” answers to each question will be explored for the broadest range of possibility in creating schools where students of all genders will thrive!

Professional

My child will not talk about anything transgender. She just wants to be a girl. Integrating transgender identity into the core self is an important element of development, but for transgender youth who transition when they are young, this process seems to be especially difficult. Case examples will be presented for assistance in illuminating the “just a boy, just a girl” phenomenon. We will explore the role and function “just a boy, just a girl” has for transgender youth and offer strategies on ways parents and caregivers can support their child during this time in their development.

Family

So you are supportive, using name & pronouns maybe even started medical transition - now
what? Parenting a teen can be very challenging adding the transgender experience to it can
overwhelm a parent. This workshop will give parents insight into the trans/gnc teen and many
different tools to guide the youth into adulthood. We will be working to understand the unique
needs of each youth, finding common ground between youth & parents (caregivers), and
exploring communications skills to best carry our message as parents or caregivers of love and
hope for their future.

Family

PowerPoint presentation discussing lower surgery for FtM patients. Presentation will discuss how the procedures are done, Drs. Meltzer and Ley's unique techniques, before and after photos and risks and complications. There will be time for questions and answers and a sign up sheet for those wishing to meet Dr. Meltzer one on one for questions and concerns regarding procedures.

This facilitated discussion is for parents and caregivers of gender diverse youth-of-color to share experiences, stories, questions and camaraderie. This session is exclusively for both families-of-color and mixed-race families.
This session was designed for a family audience only.

Family

What are the real-life experiences of older transgender and gender-diverse youth? During this powerful session, transgender adolescents, friends, and relatives tell their stories from the heart. Honest, emotional, and inspiring stories can help other parents and youth to believe in a better and happier future. The goal of this session is to provide parents hope by seeing that transgender youth thrive once their gender issues are addressed.

Join us for a holistic discussion on and about gender confirmation surgery from a variety of perspectives including personal, financial, and mental health topics. Guests include Dr. Ley, Dr. Garcia, and Dr. Satterwhite. Join these surgeons and Jared Harrison (Trust and Safety, GoFundMe and founder of Pride@GoFundMe) who will discuss the role of GoFundMe and available fundraising resources.

When a parent steps up to the task of supporting their transgender or gender-exploring child, they often find that the next step involves changing the environment surrounding that child. If negotiating their own personal fears weren’t enough, parents are now in the position of educating siblings, extended family, friends, co-workers, teachers, neighbors, healthcare providers, childcare providers, and many others. This awareness-raising extends not only to individuals, but also to systems such as school communities, insurance companies, after school programs, and state and federal agencies. Join us in this session as parents share the journey that begins when they tell their child “yes.”

Are trans bodies impaired or disabled in some way? This is can be a controversial subject. Disabilities studies and activism has much to teach us about how to understand differently-bodied experience? This workshop will primarily focus on the accommodations which may be needed around a person's sexual well-being. We will look at the research on how trans folks feel regarding the various options available to them. Practical interventions will be explored from prosthetics to phantom sensations to other experimentation which can be used as tools for trans folks and their partners.

Is a social transition the best thing for my child? How should I tell my family my child is transgender? What should the school be doing to protect my child? What are hormone blockers? If you have these or any other questions about your gender-diverse or transgender child who is 12 years old or younger, please join us at the workshop, dedicated entirely to you! This workshop will be 100% interactive, and provide a space for you to ask medical and mental health professionals questions you need answered.

Family

For many parents, the realization that our child is transgender or gender diverse is accompanied by soul searching about how we and our child got to this point and some challenging questions concerning how to move forward. At a time when we may most need to turn to our faith and spiritual community for loving guidance and support, we may encounter just the opposite. What happens when the belief system we've adhered to does not seem to have an accepting space for one of God's precious creations—our trans child? Share your experience with others navigating this particular journey of heart and soul.
Note: This session is limited to people from any faith or denomination who are parenting a trans or gender-diverse child.

Family

Conscious parenting is an important element in raising a happy, secure child. When raising a gender-expansive child, conscious parenting becomes even more important in order to help your child be their authentic self. This workshop will cover the basics of conscious parenting, and explore how staying conscious throughout your child's gender journey can be beneficial for all family members. Staying within and trusting yourself and your child can help immensely when dealing with others' reactions, choosing the next step in the journey, and coping with your own emotional responses all while remaining close and connected to your child.

Family

Siblings of transgender and gender-diverse youth often find themselves in a unique and sometimes very challenging role in the family. Though they are often the earliest and strongest of allies, they can also find themselves in the shadows. Embracing advocacy and balancing their own individual identities can be extremely trying and lonely at times. This sibling-led workshop explores the experiences of siblings and gives voice to these most powerful members of the family circle. Discussions and a panel will provide siblings the opportunity to share their own stories of empowerment, challenges, and how they can be supportive while finding their own voice.

There is a significant difference between the experience of older adults who transition and that of young children or teens. That said, there are many things that can be gained from hearing the perspectives of the older generations. A gender transition is never a singular, insular experience. It happens in context—with respect to family, work, community, and society as a whole. As our panelists share their respective journeys, we hope that you will gain perspective on their experiences across the timeline of transgender acceptance, and that this will ultimately place you and your own child’s experience on that very timeline as well.

Often one of the hardest parts of supporting a trans child is being rejected by family
members, the very people we expect to help us get through difficult times. In this
session, we will explore different ways we experience rejection, techniques for trying to
salvage damaged relationships, and knowing when it’s time to let go. We will also talk
about building a new “chosen family” that can provide us with the emotional
relationships we need to move forward.

Family

How can I know for sure that my teenager is transgender? How should I tell my family? What should the school be doing to protect my child? How can I pursue a name and gender change? What can I expect from hormones? How soon can my young person get surgery? If you have these or any other questions about your gender-diverse or transgender youth who is 13 years old or older, please join us at the workshop, dedicated entirely to you! This workshop will be 100% interactive, and provide a space for you to ask medical and mental health professionals questions you need answered.

Teasing is a part of the sub-culture in schools and within peer relationships. Those raising gender-expansive youth often want to protect their child from this, and prevent it from happening at all. Unfortunately this often translates to asking the child to change something about themselves. In this workshop, we will explore how to empower and support your gender-expansive child. We will be discussing specific tools parents can use to both stay connected to their children to stay informed about what is going on socially, how to build the child's ego strength, as well as how to teach their children how to respond to any teasing that may occur.

Family

Many of us have role models for fatherhood, but few of us have learned how to be a father to a transgender or gender-diverse child. Fatherhood in our society comes with strong expectations, some of which can make it difficult for us to feel secure in our role. Come share your personal experiences, successes, fears, and other lessons in a confidential environment of acceptance, understanding, and support. You are not alone on this journey - let’s offer one another support and assistance. There are two parts to this workshop. You need not attend all sessions to be welcome.

Note: This workshop is for dads only.

Family

This interactive, engaging, and experientially based workshop gives participants the framework and practice for creating their own comprehensive self-reflective practice. The presenters have developed this process over many years working with different communities and individuals to integrate personal change into their lives. As part of our own personal and professional work navigating gender identity, we have developed a framework that gently introduces ritual and practice into life. We incorporate our therapeutic experiences along with our personal learning and stories/ The facilitated discussions based on the activities will be informative and energizing and leave you wanting more!

Talking to our kids about sex and dating is daunting enough – “the gender stuff” can add a whole new spin that may leave you overwhelmed and unsure of even where to begin. How do you talk to a trans youth about this very important topic? Where’s the manual? In this collective brainstorming session, we will explore the world of dating, bodies, and sex and how to incorporate such factors such as disclosure, self-esteem and safety into the conversation. Have you had these conversations already? What were your strategies? What came up that was expected? Unexpected? Let’s share our experiences and knowledge with each other and find answers for the questions we may still have.

Family