Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Transgender Lives:The Intersection of Health and Law Conference, Saturday April 18, 2009

The third annual Transgender Lives: The Intersection of Health and Law Conference is being held on Saturday, April 18th, 2009 at the UConn Health Center from 8:00 AM till 5 PM. This year we will be featuring as our keynote speaker Michael D. Silverman, Esq the Executive Director of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Due to the growth of the conference we have over 30 workshops that cover such topics as the Taboo's of Our Bodies, the Debate over GID Reform, Making your Provider Office more Trans Friendly and Community Discussion on Surgeries. Jennifer Levi, Esq, Dr. Stanton Honig, Dru Levausser, Esq and Aleah Nesteby, RN, MSN are just a small sampling of the highly qualified and experienced people we have presenting workshops; and of course the most experienced presenters are you!

This all day conference is geared towards Service Providers, Medical and Legal Professionals, Trans and Gender non-conforming individuals, allies and all those interested in the Health and Law issues facing the Trans and gender non-conforming communities. Visit TransgenderLives.org for a full listing of workshops, presenters, sponsors, directions, etc. And most importantly Register Today!

High Level Conference Timeline

* 08:00 - 09:00 AM - Registration and Continental Breakfast
* 09:15 - 11:30 AM - Morning Workshops
* 11:45 - 12:45 PM - Lunch
* 01:00 - 03:15 PM - Afternoon Workshops
* 03:30 - 04:30 PM - Keynote Speaker and Q&A - Michael D. Silverman, Esq., Exec Dir of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, Inc.
* 04:30 - 05:15 PM - Conference Reception

2009 Transgender Lives Conference sponsored by:


* CT Outreach Society ~ Organizing Sponsor
* CT TransAdvocacy Coalition ~ Organizing Sponsor
* CT Women's Education and Legal Fund ~ Organizing Sponsor
* Debra Parlato ~ Silver Sponsor
* City of Hartford LGBT Issues commision ~ Silver Sponsor
* Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective ~ GOLD Sponsor
* Holly McHaelen - Life Coach/True Colors - Silver Sponsor
* IFGE Winslow Street Fund ~ Gold Sponsor
* Lambda Legal ~ Silver Sponsor
* Love Makes a Family ~ Gold Sponsor
* Planned Parenthood of CT ~ Organizing Sponsor
* Susan Nagle ~ Silver Sponsor
* Twenty Club ~ Organizing Sponsor
* University of Connecticut Berdon Fund ~ Silver Sponsor
* University of Connecticut Health Center ~ Organizing Sponsor
* University of Connecticut Rainbow Center ~ Silver Sponsor
* University of Connecticut School of Law ~ Gold Sponsor

2009 Transgender Lives Conference Workshop Titles

* Transgender Legal Protections: Federal and State
* Blended families, Ct Courts and Custody
* Community panel on Sexuality
* Take a seat on the SOFFA
* Intersex 101
* Bringing your employment discrimination claim ~ How it really works
* Mental Health needs for transgender individuals
* Parenting and your Trans child
* Taboo's of Our Bodies: Masculine spectrum
* Taboo's of Our Bodies: Feminine spectrum
* Community panel on planning transitioning costs
* The Debate Over GID Reform: How does it play out in the courts?
* Working with Trans Sexual Assault (SA) clients
* Working with Trans Domestic Violence (DV) clients
* Creating a Trans-affirming Practice: Real Life Lessons
* Hot and Sexy Safer Sex for everyone
* The Paperchase
* What the Patient and Health Professional Needs to Know about Gender Reassignment Surgery
* Passing Gender Identity/Expression legislation in Connecticut
* Counseling and sex therapy with Gender non-conforming clients
* Housing issues facing your trans clients
* Considering Educational Tools for Providers
* Roadblocks to transitioning
* Community Advocacy and Organizing
* Transitioning at work
* Spiritual Mediation and Mindfullness


I am on the organizing committee that has worked on the conference these past nine months. There is a lot of work that has to go into planning and organizing a conference like this and it seems like everything ends up having to done at the last minutes. No matter when we start planning it all boils down to a mad rush the last week. In addition, I am facilitating a panel discussion on "Community Engagement in Trans Legislation" from 1:00 to 2:00.

I had the honor of attending a Master's Defense yesterday of a friend thesis. She organized the first conference as part of her Master's Program in Public Health and what she leaned while she organized the conference. Her research into the health and legal issues filled four 3" looseleaf notebooks.

No comments:

Post a Comment