Workshops 2009
Gender Odyssey is a collaborative effort and community generated
event. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our past, present,
and future presenters and facilitators for bringing their skills,
experience, and knowledge to hundreds of Gender Odyssey attendees.
People from all over the world invest their time and passion in
these three amazing days of interactive and community building workshops. We
believe that those who are part of the community should be the ones
to define and shape that community and thereby create our
own unique paths to empowerment.
Exclusive Programming Tracks
2009 Workshop Session Sampling
We'd like to share with you a sampling of Gender Odyssey sessions.
This list is not comprehensive but gives you a sense of what to expect.
Privileges and Challenges: The Race/Gender Balancing Act
A gender transition can result in new experiences of privilege -
both lost and gained - but that experience may be no where near
the same for trans people of color as it is for white trans people.
Has your relationship to race transitioned along with your gender?
What was expected and what has taken you by surprise? Come share
your experience and hear the stories of others as we explore the
inextricable relationship between our gender and skin color.
7 Year Itch
Many years may have passed since you physically transitioned, and
the impact it had on job, family, relationship, medical issues,
and the like has faded into the past. What's going on in your world
now? Are you back in the dating pool with no idea how to begin?
Re-entering school, and the financial aid administrator wants to
know why you aren't registered for selective service? Are you living
stealth, or out? Where do you disclose your gender, and where do
you find it to be irrelevant?
What's the Rush?
How can I transition now, I'm 65? I love living in the middle of
gender, why can't people be okay with me being the way I am? My
family will NOT accept this--it's completely outside of our culture
and how can I risk losing them? I don't think my education or career
will survive a gender transition. If you have these or other thoughts
about a physical transition, come share them in a supportive and
non-judgmental environment. This is a panel discussion dealing
with the imperfect process and experience of a physical transition.
We'll think outside the box of Should I... or Shouldn't I...?
Buddy Up!
Is this your first time at Gender Odyssey? Perhaps you are a seasoned
veteran wanting to meet new people? If one of your goals for the
weekend is to make some solid connections, this is your chance
to get started. Get a jump on meeting folks in this session designed
for just that purpose, and find buddies to hang with for the weekend,
or perhaps even a lifetime friend.
Stepping Up
There can be much discussion on how to best support someone through
a gender transition and often very little discussion addressing
the ways a person in transition can support their allies. Gender
exploration can be overwhelming and the commonly resulting tunnel-vision
can be extremely difficult on those around us, even at times, ending
these once stable relationships. In this workshop, we will discuss
ways of providing empathic responses to our partners, families,
and allies so that we may be pro-active in preserving our relationships
through these challenging times.
The Rules of Attraction
Homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, ... transsexual? There is no
word for people who are specifically attracted to trans people.
For trans people, how does this affect our ability to feel sexy
and desirable? How do we know if someone's attraction to us is
based on a gender fetish? Do we ourselves fetishize non-trans bodies?
For non-trans people, are our motives questioned when we prefer
to date trans people? How do we deal with language that assumes
we'd rather date non-trans people? Let's talk about getting confident
in our own sexiness, and making room for trans-specific desire.
Claiming the Feminine: Femininity Within
Trans-Masculine Community
All too often, well-intentioned people promote a trans narrative
that does not ring true for all trans-masculine folks. The medical
and mental health fields - even some trans-specific spaces - assume
that the only way to be "trans enough" is to have identified
as male since an early age and to reject all femininity that may
be within us. What does it look like to hold strong to the femininity
that is a part of our own individual gender presentations? This workshop
will create a safe space for discussing and exploring femininity
within the trans-masculine spectrum.
Celebrating Masculinity: No Apology Necessary
Many of us living as male for several years experience unjustifiable
targeting for being the embodiment of patriarchal culture. This
shows up in accusations of misogyny, in demands that we become
the model man, apologize for our masculinity, or deny any claim
to manhood at all. How do we come to terms with our own maleness
in light of feminist messages that men are the enemy? Having overcome
many hurdles to live authentic lives, often at great personal expense,
how do we deal with being criticized and objectified yet again?
Come share your thoughts and experiences with other transmen.
Transparent Love & Family
When a person discloses to their family that they are transgender,
a wide array or responses are possible. The ideal outcome is that
your family members will respond in a loving, open and affirming
way. This is not always the case. It can be very beneficial to
understand these possibilities and, more importantly, to be prepared
for them. During this session, you'll hear one family's experience
and what they learned along the way. Gain tips and insights on
how to reconnect to family members whom may have been initially
rejecting. There are many paths to the road of acceptance--let's
share and learn them from each other.
Food, Weight, and Body Image
This workshop picks up where last year's session, Phat Cat, left
off. Last year's workshop focused on fat. What we found was that
many participants of varying body types and sizes could relate
to the issue of being fat, either because they had once been fat
themselves, were hurting their bodies in order not to be fat, or
believed they were fat even if no one else perceived them that
way. The focus of the workshop this year is not so much on someone's
present or past body size - although this will still be a crucial
part of the discussion - but on their personal relationship with
food and weight and how this intersects with their masculinity.
Are You 'Read' as a Man, but...?
Many trans guys have experienced identifying as masculine, but being
read as female. Seldom do we hear discussions of the flip side:
those of us who are often assumed to identify as male, but don't.
The assumptions and reality of male privilege can be complicated,
especially when they conflict with our self-identification. Do
people refuse to take your identity seriously, because of how you
look? How do others' perceptions of you affect your feeling of
fitting in, either with butch/genderqueer people, or with non-trans
guys? This session will explore these questions and more.
How Flexible Are You? Intersections of Sex, Gender
and Sexuality
Does my trans identity mean that my gender inside changed or just
that I changed my physical sex? Does my _____ gender expression make
me more trans or less? Is my sexuality more queer or less because
I'm with a trans person? If I had the sexed body that aligned with
my gender inside, then would my current sexuality be different? This
interactive session will help you to visualize/re-organize your thoughts
on how sex, gender and sexuality interact and intersect with each
other.
Creating a Gender Tool Kit
What can I get for you ladies? ... Hey, this is the men's room ...
Are you a drag queen? Many of us have been misread and/or challenged
based on the false assumptions of others, and then had to stumble
or stutter our way out of it. The perfect response or comeback
usually arrives ... but hours or days too late. Educating others
can be exhausting, and sometimes having the right thing to say
worked out in advance can bypass an awkward moment and/or be more
effective than an off-the-cuff response. In this workshop, we will
examine ways to effect positive change by responding in gentle,
humorous, or matter-of-fact ways rather than pushing back.
Father Stories
Is your father your biggest hero? Was he absent, or unsupportive?
How has your gender identity affected your relationship to fathering?
Let's share our experiences of having a father, not having one,
wanting to be a father, choosing not to be one, regretting not
being able to be a biological father, learning to be a father to
the children we birthed, or to those we adopted.
Head to Toe Health
What are the common health concerns you need to keep in mind during
and after transition? Let's discuss guidelines for staying healthy,
including monitoring hormone levels and changes in blood values,
important screening tests and exams, protecting your liver, screening
exams and post surgery care. Bring your questions, and empower
yourself to take charge of your health care.
What's Up With Intersex?
Within pop culture, the media, and gender studies, transgenderism
and intersex have become the cause celebre. Despite this new found
interest, many people have little understanding or misconstrued
ideas about transgenderism and intersex, sometimes confusing one
for the other. This session will help participants better understand
the needs of intersexed people by deepening understanding of the
two categories, the institutional issues of each, where the commonalities
lie, and where they diverge. You'll hear about the history of the
intersex movement, acquire relevant vocabulary, and learn about
the health care, political, and legal issues intersexed people
face.
The Impact of Family Relations on the Well Being of Transsexuals
of Color
This research project set out with two basic initial questions for
trans people of color:
- Where have you experienced the most discrimination in your life--for
being a person of color or for being transgender?
- Which form of discrimination has had the most impact on your
well-being--being trans or being a person of color?
The outcome of this ongoing research has inspired some thought-provoking
results. To some, the results may sound contradictory. To others,
it makes complete sense. Join this session and have a direct influence
on this ongoing research.
Digital Storytelling for Social Change
The internet is a valuable tool for activism as evidenced over the
past few years. During this session you'll hear about one way this
activism has taken place. An exciting new online community was
created for make a space for people to share their stories. No
Dumb Questions: Story Hub, is designed for folks to share their
stories regarding their gender identity and sexual orientation
in an effort to open minds and spark dialog within families and
communities. In this workshop, you'll have a hands-on opportunity
to learn about digital storytelling.
12 Step Meeting
We'll have three open meetings for all conference attendees currently
working a 12 step program. Meet with others to find support and
make connections for the conference weekend.
Sex & Intimacy
Many of us may have issues that diminish our capacity for sexual
intimacy. Occasionally, we'll talk about some of these privately
or, on rare occasions, publicly. Often they remain our secrets,
hidden even from our partners. Do our challenges with intimacy
come with the territory of being transgender? As we define or re-define
our gender identity, we may find this has major implications for
our sex lives. In what ways have you redefined your own sexuality?
Is the image of your physical body incongruent with your conceptual
body image? Do you have adverse sexual experiences from my past
that hinder your present day ability to be intimate in the way
you desire? If you have made physical changes, how do you feel
about your new body? What do you celebrate? What do you mourn?
And what the heck do you call the bits now?
Peach Fuzz and the Road to Passing:
The Highs and Lows of the First Year on T
You've jumped through the hoops after making the decision to take
testosterone. Now what? Is it what you expected it to be? This workshop
is geared towards transmen who are in their first year of taking
T, and who are still going through most of the major physical, social,
and emotional changes. What are our experiences so far? What are
the body changes we appreciate? The ones we don't? While everyone's
experience is unique, there is also common ground.
Standing Room Only
Join us for this hands-on interactive workshop held at the urinals.
This closed workshop is for FTMs who want more confidence, comfort
and control in the men's room. Come to this demonstration on how
to piss at the urinal using a STP (stand to pee) device. Participants
will have an opportunity to discuss the behavior and conduct expected
in the john. Participants are encouraged to showcase their own
STP devices and techniques.
GID & the DSM: Academics to Advocacy
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is undergoing a revision
of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
The DSM-V will be published in May of 2012. Many members of the
transgender community are concerned about how the selected "experts" will
make decisions and whether the voices of the transgender community
will be part of the process. This session will educate participants
about the current state of the DSM-V revision process and to provide
tools for activist responses to the APA.
Winning Transgender Rights!
We have all sorts of wins this year with the passage of state laws
and the adoption of new trans-friendly policies. But, in addition
to the state and local victories, we also have the ability to move
federal laws as well! The transgender movement is winning our battle
for equality. Join both national and state level activists for
a discussion on transgender rights, hear from trans and allied
activists throughout the nation about what is happening, and come
to see how you can get more involved with making the world a safer
place to be trans.
Fundraising 101: Let's Talk About Money
Do you work or volunteer at a non-profit organization? Are you starting
one, or do you hope to do so? Let's talk about what is often the
scariest and most mysterious of all topics in the non-profit world:
fundraising. Identifying the mission and programs are the easy
part - keeping them going is where it gets harder. So many of us
working, either professionally or outside of our day job, on behalf
of the trans community are doing so much good work with so little
funding. Imagine what we could do with even a little more? Come
learn about some fundraising basics, and take part in a discussion
about the obstacles and roadblocks to raising the money you need.
Kokua and Aloha - Caring and Sharing with Mahuwahine: the
Transgender Women of Hawai'i
Mahuwahine, native Hawaiian transgender women and girls, are affected
by the loss of their place within their traditional culture as well
as the negative effects of Western influence on families, communities,
and culture. Many have begun to claim a closer identity and knowledge
of their heritage and homeland, even when living "off island." Mahuwahine
who lack support and acceptance from their biological ohana (family)
may have an even greater need to have strong and loving support from
gay and transgender community - yet Hawaiian values are likely to
be lacking. Kokua and Aloha weaves the presenter's personal, as well
as professional, journey into the culture of the Mahuwahine.
Hysto Stories
Hysterectomies are common but information about these procedures
as they relate to transmen is difficult to find. Are there unique
considerations to know about? Are there factors that change depending
on whether you've been on testosterone for 5 years? 10 or 20? What
about sex and orgasm - does that change after surgery? Was it difficult
to find a surgeon who would perform the surgery for you? If you
had insurance, was it covered? What was your recovery like? Hear
the experiences of others and share your own in the session.
Hormones 101
This workshop presents a general overview of hormonal therapy. Testosterone,
an anabolic steroid, is a powerful drug that can give desired masculinizing
effects while estrogen has feminizing effects. It is important
that you know details about the types of hormones, timing, dosing
amount, adverse side effects, etc. to protect your health and maximize
the desired effects. Come to this informative workshop and learn
more about hormones and their administration.
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