Major Transgender Conferences Attended During Your Lifetime

[Wendy]

Please share some life altering events that occurred from attending a major TG conference.  I will share a few.

................................
It only seems fitting that I discuss a positive event regarding TG on this forum.  Back on Wednesday September 12th I registered for a conference that lasted until Saturday September 15th that was life changing for me.

I remembered reading about a Southern Comfort conference in my hometown on this site. I very much wanted to attend this meeting but what if someone that knows me sees me at this conference?  The noise in my head was so great that I overcame that fear and walked into the hotel.  My goal was clearly identified and was straightforward.  Can I learn something about being TG and save my marriage of twenty-five years?

..............

I parked my car in the shopping center and walked to the hotel holding a conference for cross-dressers and transsexuals.  I am dressed in Oxford button downs, wool trousers, a blue blazer and black tassel loafers.  I walk up to an area of tables close to the entrance and am facing a number of pretty MTFs.  They say may we help you.  At this point my throat is dry and I have no voice.  They started giggling and sent me to the registration area.

This conference has over 1000 TG people.  By the end of the week I will have listened to and chatted with Dr. Ousterhout, purchased something from Ann Grogan and Rona Choy, listened to Dr. Bowers, been helped by people from Susan's forum (I always wanted to meet someone from this forum.), and chatted with Cross-dressers and Transsexuals.

I was very sad the conference ended on Saturday.  It was a safe haven for me to express myself without being judged as insane.  I have a few stories I will share at a later date.  One final note on this post is that I did not tell my wife that I attended the TG forum. (That is a separate thread.)

[Berliegh]

Zero......so far. The one's in the U.K like 'Gendys' are awful and more like ->-bleeped-<- conventions...

It's probably much better in the U.S.A.....well it definitely is if you have heavy weight technicians like Ousterhout attending...

[BeverlyAnn]

Wendy, I marked 6-10 if you mean how many years have you attended.  If you mean how many different conferences, only 1.  LOL  I remember my first Southern Comfort quite well.  I checked into the hotel, went to my room, did my makeup and dressed got everything in my purse ready to go down and register.  And I couldn't open the door!!!!!  I don't mean it was stuck, I mean I could not make myself turn the doorknob.  Finally after about 1.5 hours and umpteen attempts, I finally opened the door and (scared to death) went down and registered.  When I got back to my room I literally broke out with a case of giggles that I could not stop.  That was on Wednesday afternoon.  Thursday night, here I was getting off the bus with a group from the conference and going into the Hard Rock Cafe.  One thing is for sure; growing up in Atlanta, I never thought I would be standing on the sidewalk on Peachtree street wearing a leather skirt and lace blouse but there I was.

That was 1997.  From 1998 through 2003 I created and ran the Big Brother/Sister program so that others wouldn't have that problem of getting out of the room like I had.

By the way, did you meet Vicki Renne?

Beverly

[Wendy]

Berliegh, the Southern Conference was amazing.  I attended one seminar presented by Donna Rose (MTF) and she had everyone laughing.  Donna is probably about 6'2" and attractive. (At one time she had been a strong athletic male that was married and had children.)  She said any businessmen staying at the hotel this week never saw so many tall pretty girls!  (Actually she was correct.)  Several hundred of the 1000+ TG attendees were TS.  As you would expect most of the TS's were MTF.  It can be rather expensive to attend the convention and "out-of-towners" would spend many thousands on entertainment, rooms, airfare, and clothes.  The people seemed well educated, articulate, and professional.  The seminars were awesome!  I only had time for 12 90-minute seminars out of about 110 90-minute seminars.
..............................

BeverlyAnn if you attended the same conference for several years then each year counts.  I talked to several CD's.  If Vicki Renne was the short, heavy, energized Everready bunny CD then I met her sereral times.  She was very funny.  I had difficulty remembering names since the CD's gave me both a male and female name.  I met one CD that was very nice to me during the conference and was Bob/Michelle. He works down-town and I could not find him at the end of the conference to thank him.  I am sure you know him.  I spent about 60% of my time talking to TS folks (both genders) and 40% of my time talking to CD's (all male).  (Is there such a thing as a female cross-dresser?)   I learned a lot!

...................
The seminar presented by Dr. Ousterhout was fascinating.  He showed pictures of unattractive male faces that after FFS looked like reasonably attractive females.  In fact some were quite pretty.  He did mention that in his opinion on voice surgery is that if you take the risk you will be lucky if you have any voice at all after the surgery. (I heard that message from a number of TS folks in person and at this site.)

I wanted to ask him how he altered a long philtrum (skin between bottom of nose to upper lip) but I felt embarassed surrounded by a roomful of pretty ladies.  After his seminar I went into the atrium of the hotel and was watching a rare and sorely needed downpour out the plate glass windows by myself.  Guess who walks up to me and says, "What a wicked thunderstorm!"  I turn around and Dr. O is talking to me.  I noticed he had a long philtrum just like mine (2.0 cm or 3/4 in).  I said, "I really enjoyed your seminar but I have been wondering how you handle a long philtrum?"  He looks me square in the eyes, has a huge grin on his face and says, "That's easy.  You just show a little of the upper teeth.  It would look very attractive."  He smiled and walked away.

I guess he could make me rather passable maybe even somewhat pretty.  Go figure?

[Sheila]

I went to the one in Washington, Pacific Northwest. I forgot the name at this moment, will remember later. I went in 2000 and it was really nice, not as big as SCC though. I learned a lot and met some very nice people there. I found it was more for CD's and people just learning about TS. I could be wrong, but that was my take on it.
Sheila

[Berliegh]

Wendy.....that stuff isn't really my scene and hearing about T's that were once strong athletic males with kids.......i'm not a very 'T' oriented person...

I'd rather be at a rock concert...

[BeverlyAnn]

If Vicki Renne was the short, heavy, energized Everready bunny CD then I met her sereral times.  She was very funny. 

ROFL  That sounds like a pretty good description of Vicki.

(Is there such a thing as a female cross-dresser?)

Yes, as a matter of fact there are.  We used to have a local girl that attended SCC and would present about 50-75% of the time as male.  When she presented as female, she was quite girly, not butch as you might expect.

Beverly 

[cindybc]

Hmmmm At one time I would have loved to go to a transgender convention but I never quite made it. I wanted to go at one time but I decided it was time to get off my backside and get out there full time. Then life just got to jolly well busy for me after that and the seminars were way too far out of the away.

Cindy

[Berliegh]

Hmmmm At one time I would have loved to go to a transgender convention but I never quite made it. I wanted to go at one time but I decided it was time to get off my backside and get out there full time. Then life just got to jolly well busy for me after that and the seminars were way too far out of the away.

Cindy

The Transgender Conferences in the U.K are awful so I'd probably cause a riot or something......usually they are very insular and I don't have much in common with them or the people who attend them.....

Obviously the American one's are different..

[cindybc]

Hi Berliegh 

Sound's like me, I can start a riot just by showing up. Na that's not really true I just don't have much of an affinity for crowds of people, I get kind of skittish. I guess that was the biggest reason that kept me away from the conventions.

Well I might be right about the riots, I'll need to bring my tin umbrella if I should ever go to the UK.

Cindy 

[Wing Walker]

I have not attended any conferences.  I never felt the need to.  I believed that they were designed to reach cross dressers, ->-bleeped-<-s, and lifestylers, not those committed to changing their gender because they were truly transsexual.

I have been to meetings where I was the token transsexual.  I felt extremely uncomfortable in a crowd of CDs so I never returned to any of them.  My identity is not in my clothes, makeup, shoes, or a wig.  It is in my heart and my soul.

Perhaps this is a "wrong-headed" view according to some but it has served me well for the last 10 years.

Wing Walker

[Berliegh]

Hi Berliegh 

Sound's like me, I can start a riot just by showing up. Na that's not really true I just don't have much of an affinity for crowds of people, I get kind of skittish. I guess that was the biggest reason that kept me away from the conventions.

Well I might be right about the riots, I'll need to bring my tin umbrella if I should ever go to the UK.

Cindy 

What I meant was I don't agree with a lot of it....I wouldn't really cause a riot.....most if not all of the conventions in the U.K are ->-bleeped-<- style affairs....

I personally prefer non - T events.....

[cindybc]

HI Berliegh

I know you didn't really mean you would start a riot, not anymore then I did. I just get very uncomfortable in crowds of people and will avoid them if I can. I would not have any idea who attends them or doesn't.

Now if they were aliens from Betelgeuse!!!! Weeeeeell.

Cindy

[Suzie]

I wanted to ask him how he altered a long philtrum (skin between bottom of nose to upper lip) but I felt embarassed surrounded by a roomful of pretty ladies.  After his seminar I went into the atrium of the hotel and was watching a rare and sorely needed downpour out the plate glass windows by myself.  Guess who walks up to me and says, "What a wicked thunderstorm!"  I turn around and Dr. O is talking to me.  I noticed he had a long philtrum just like mine (2.0 cm or 3/4 in).  I said, "I really enjoyed your seminar but I have been wondering how you handle a long philtrum?"  He looks me square in the eyes, has a huge grin on his face and says, "That's easy.  You just show a little of the upper teeth.  It would look very attractive."  He smiled and walked away.

If there is one thing I took with me from my consult with Dr. Ousterhout is that he is one of the most charming men I have ever met.  Thank you for sharing, I could see him saying that.

[Wendy]

The Transgender Conferences in the U.K are awful so I'd probably cause a riot or something......usually they are very insular and I don't have much in common with them or the people who attend them.....
Obviously the American one's are different..

Berliegh my experience was one conference (SCC) in which the folks were very professional and the seminars were very informative.  I was more different than most and everyone was nice and treated me with respect.    People know I was nervous and made me feel comfortable.

..................

I have not attended any conferences.  I never felt the need to.  I believed that they were designed to reach cross dressers, ->-bleeped-<-s, and lifestylers, not those committed to changing their gender because they were truly transsexual.

I have been to meetings where I was the token transsexual.  I felt extremely uncomfortable in a crowd of CDs so I never returned to any of them.  My identity is not in my clothes, makeup, shoes, or a wig.  It is in my heart and my soul.

I was pulled into circles of CD's and introduced to all the people.  I was also pulled into circles of "true" TS's and introduced to all the people.  These groups were all highly educated and professional people.  No one cared that I was different among the different.

I met one young person (30's) that was living as female but could not take hormones and was not healthy enough for surgeries because she had self-medicated and destroyed her liver, kidneys and other internal organs.  I  met one person (65) that had a bad heart and was too ill for surgeries.  I met a number of people (40's-50's) that did not live as females because they would lose their jobs and/or a spouses.  I met one person (50's) that lived as a female, took hormones, had a female name but compromised with the spouse to not have any surgeries.

I sat in a large auditorium in which Dr. Bowers gave a presentation.  Many were very pretty and probably had FFS.  I sat by myself because I did not want to embarrass someone because I look like a male.  There were plenty of open seats but a couple of pretty ladies asked me if they could sit next to me and I smiled and pulled the seat out from under the table for them.  I would guess I was sitting in a room full of true TS people of which I was very different and yet everyone made me feel comfortable.

...............
I do want to share my corset story with you.  The second day I dressed in male shorts and a button down short sleeve shirt.  (I also shaved my legs for the first time in my life. I move at my own pace.)  At the convention were several vendors including Ann Brogan and Rona Choy.  Well folks it is now or never.

I chatted with Rona for a while and then Rona asked Ann if I could be measured.  Ann started measuring my chest and she said what size forms are you wearing.  I said I do not wear forms.  She then reached on my chest and said you have them on.  I said no I do not.  She said you are not a cross-dresser.  Then she said, "What are you?"  I told her and she said she could help.

We tried a number of the corsets and one fit.  I cinched up to 40-32-40.  The conference attendees were using interchangeable pronouns to describe me.  One finally said, "He is androgynous."

I asked Ann if she had something for the boobs.  She said go buy a bra.  I looked at her and she then told me to go to Lane and Byrant and tell the sales lady what you told me. I purchased the corset from Ann and later that night the sales lady at Lane and Byrant helped me select some sports bras. 
..........

Maybe I was lucky that the conference was only a week long.

[robinhayes]

Please share some life altering events that occurred from attending a major TG conference.  I will share a few.

When I was first coming to terms with myself, I signed up to attend the Esprit conference.  I had hardly any clothing, no makeup, and (get this) a moustache of about 15 years.  As the date approached, I shaved the 'stache, went to a local T-friendly wig place for some hair, went out to Nordstrom for a makeover (buying only a fraction of the $600 she recommended! , and roped my spouse into helping acquire some clothes.  Then I packed the car and drove up to Washington.

When I got there, I noticed several stores -- and the hotel -- had huge "Welcome Esprit" banners, as the website had mentioned.  Feeling scared, but good.  Then in the hotel parking lot, I saw a fellow unloading a rack -- yes, an entire RACK -- of clothes from a van...  "OMG what have I gotten myself into?"  Then I saw a few nice looking T-girls and thought "I should drive home now, I'm out of my league!"

I didn't.  I checked in, unpacked what I had, and started trying to do makeup.  My big sister (assigned beforehand, with whom I had spoken in E-mail) called and said "hey - we're going out to dinner, can you meet us in an hour?".

And that, mes amies, was my first time out in public -- anywhere outside my own house -- en femme.

WOW!  There were 6 of us (5 Tgirls of various types, and one GG spouse) at dinner, and they all were really nice people.  Over the next week, I met a huge range of people, all over the T spectrum and all over the place in terms of their own journeys.  The classes were great, I made new friends, had a lot of fun.  I didn't want it to end.

Esprit completely changed my life.  It helped with my self-assurance and self-acceptance; it helped with basic presentation techniques; and -- most importantly -- it helped me decide where I was on the T spectrum and where I was going, after meeting and sharing experiences with CDs, non-op TS folk, post-op TS folk, fetish folk, and everyone else.  I was so intoxicated with the experience that I joined the planning committee through the local T-group and have spent a couple years helping continue the magic that I experienced.

I've heard similar reports from other TG conferences...  Each has its own flavor.  Esprit is known for being good for first-timers (though some people have been attending for all 18 years of it!) and for being good for spouses (there's a whole SO track including stuff for people who are supportive and people who are on the edge of divorce).  It isn't so great for FTM, though that has begun to change. 

So there's my long-winded version of a TG conference and how it changed my life!  I could go on longer, but will stop here unless other people have questions I can answer.

(Esprit's homepage is www.espritconf.com, in case anyone wants to look it up.)

Regards,
Robin


Posted on: October 02, 2007, 14:53:54

I went to the one in Washington, Pacific Northwest. I forgot the name at this moment, will remember later. I went in 2000 and it was really nice, not as big as SCC though. I learned a lot and met some very nice people there. I found it was more for CD's and people just learning about TS. I could be wrong, but that was my take on it.
Sheila

This is the conference I just wrote about (Esprit, www.espritconf.com), though I wasn't there as early as you were.

Esprit is a week-long conference with different registration periods.  It tends to be heavy on the newbie/CD stuff for the first couple days, and then more of a mix for the latter part of the week (culminating with the surgeons and like matters on Saturday).  This is partly because of the mix of people -- many come from Seattle and Vancouver just for the weekend.

Regards,
Robin

[Stormy]

I've attended the Be-All in Chicago twice during transition.  It was well organized and attended and all the big names were
there: Bowers, Speigel, Zukowski, and Ousterhout, to name a few.  I would recommend this conference to anyone in a transition
as a good place to be dressed, network with others, and for the quality of presentations.

Stormy

[gothique11]

I went to some conferences when they had the (I forget what it was called, out-rights?) games/conferences here.  They had a couple of Trans thingies going on where they talked about different issues that affected us in Canada and so on.

It was expensive, so I just snuck in with my other TS friend. My girlfriend also snuck in with me for one of them. There were only a couple of talks, and I didn't have the hundreds of dollars to attend. Other friends of mine got scholarships (they were all taken up in a wink, so I didn't get one) or they were presenting something, or were on the discussion panel... or, like me, they snuck in. Although, I ran into a couple of high-profile people there and they said, "If they give you any problems for not having an ID tag, tell them to talk to me." So, it was no biggie. But it was sure fun to be ninja-like and sneak in.

I don't think that it was "life altering," but it gave me a chance to speak up for trans rights and to listen to several issues and what was the status of them, and how I could help. I had plenty of opportunity to ask questions and be engaged in the trans rights-process.


Posted on: October 03, 2007, 01:21:36 PMAlthough what I went to wasn't specifically trans -- I would like to go to an actual trans one and see what it is like. They don't really have that hear. And the games/conferences just started up, I think next year it will be in Toronto (maybe). But it was nice that it was in Calgary.

But, anyway, reading over what other people went through with the actual trans conferences it sounds pretty cool.

[cindybc]

I would rather be at a rock concert. Mais oui.. "I love rock." Being 62 doesn't mean your dead.  Actually I had *Rocking Grannie* as my user name on a couple of children's groups I use to go to.

Cindy   

[Shana A]

It's not really a "conference", however I attended Camp Trans outside MWMF in '94. A few years ago I attended First Event in the Boston area for an afternoon. Personally, I enjoyed Camp Trans a lot more

y2g