Quote from: Berliegh on October 01, 2007, 06:38:52 AM
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..

not all of them. i went to one in a major city on the west coast last summer, and it was pathetic. however, i met a nice trans girl there and we had a lot of fun dancing later that night...   

I don't know if these would be considered life altering but meeting Les Feinberg, Jenny Boylan, Sylvia Guerrero and others.  I once was sitting in a seminar next to a rather elderly TG woman and, being polite, I introduced myself.  Well honey, you could have knocked me over with a pink feather when she introduced herself as Virginia Prince!!  If you don't know who she is, look her up but let me say that she was one of the first to fight against the laws that prohibited crossdressing in public.  That may not seem important to anyone who is TS but consider how difficult RLT would be if you were not allowed to present as female full time.

One definite life altering event from attending SCC though was meeting Erin Swenson.  That led me to visit, in 2000, the church where I am now a member, a serving elder on Session and chair of the Buildings and Grounds committee.

Beverly

Quote from: Sheila on September 30, 2007, 01:24:44 PM
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

That was Esprit, Sheila, in Port Angeles, WA.  I remember meeting you there.  I've been to 6 of those and was on the committee for 4 of those years.  I've found the proportions to be about 60% crossdressers, 30- 35% transsexuals and 5 - 10 % wives - oh, and one husband. 

My husband and I went this year after having been out of state the previous 3 years.  I personally found it somewhat strange to be around so many crossdressers for many of whom whom it was a kick to get dressed and go drinking.  For those 3 years, I had only had contact with transsexuals: online, in our home, at local gatherings, or lobbying Congress.  It was a good reminder that we don't all change gender/sex.

Gender Odyssey is an annual FTM conference in Seattle.  I like that because it is more educational, more political, and has a sizeable androgenous component.  That's really my husband's conference, but he always wonders why I know more people there than he does.   I remind him it's because I work as a national level transactivist and bump into these national leaders in other venues.

There have been two Transgender American Veterans Association 'Marches to the Wall' in DC, and I was fortunate enough to be at both.  My husband was there for one.  I was honored to have the opportunity to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns with three other transsexual veterans. 

I've only made one IFGE conference and one NGLTF Creating Change conference so far.  Location and timing and budget don't always align.  In 2004, I joined the NTAC Lobby Day group in DC and walked the halls of Congress.  If you ever do so, wear flats. 

A life changing event?  I came home from my first Esprit in 1998 and went full time.  Two years later, I had SRS.  The events were definitely linked.  After I had SRS, it was time to give back to the community.  That's when I became a ListMom and a transactivist/transadvocate.  I'll never be as eleoquent as Donna Rose and some of our other leaders, but I'll always try to be here for those who have questions or need help.

Robyn

Robyn,
   You are more than eloquent and a very informed person. I did remember the name of the place about two hours later, while on my route.
   I also had a very enlighting time there, as did my wife. She still remembers the both of you. I too, started on hormones when I got back and was maybe 50% living as female from then on and went full time about a year later and had GRS in 04. I thought is was very nice and met a lot of people, who I still run into every once in a while. I would love to get involved more, but Pat says that I'm a woman now and I shouldn't be advertising my TS as much as I all ready do. Compromise is what keeps us going.
   I met a lot of doctors too. They got me going in the right direction and I urge anyone who is just starting out to start there or anyone of the conferences. You will meet a lot of people who do have some answers.
Sheila

Every time I've looked at going to one, I decided it was too expensive for someone who is paying for transition.

Quote from: BeverlyAnn on October 04, 2007, 09:26:10 PM
I once was sitting in a seminar next to a rather elderly TG woman and, being polite, I introduced myself.  Well honey, you could have knocked me over with a pink feather when she introduced herself as Virginia Prince!!  If you don't know who she is, look her up but let me say that she was one of the first to fight against the laws that prohibited crossdressing in public.  That may not seem important to anyone who is TS but consider how difficult RLT would be if you were not allowed to present as female full time.

I've met her too.  It was a rather historic event.  It was the only time she had ever been talked into speaking at a SPICE conference.  The reason it was so historic is that the rules of attending SPICE include no crossdressing, so she attended in "Charles" mode.  The reason I was there was that I tended the hospitality suite all day every day.

Quote from: Lisbeth on October 05, 2007, 07:27:23 PM
Every time I've looked at going to one, I decided it was too expensive for someone who is paying for transition.

That's always a concern, especially if significant travel is involved.  Esprit offers need-based scholarships, and I'm pretty sure Southern Comfort does as well.

Regards,
Robin

Quote from: Lisbeth on October 05, 2007, 07:27:23 PM
Every time I've looked at going to one, I decided it was too expensive for someone who is paying for transition.

That's not a good excuse.  You know I could have gotten you a scholarship when I was on the SCC committee and since, as a staff member, my hotel room was supplied by the conference you could have stayed with me.  All you would have needed to do was get here and I could even have gotten you a buddy pass for that!!!!   

Beverly

Quote from: BeverlyAnn on October 05, 2007, 08:11:53 PM
That's not a good excuse.  You know I could have gotten you a scholarship when I was on the SCC committee and since, as a staff member, my hotel room was supplied by the conference you could have stayed with me.  All you would have needed to do was get here and I could even have gotten you a buddy pass for that!!!!   

Beverly

mm hmm. i just entered you on my buddy pass list.

so, how are you my dear? have i mentioned how nice your hair is looking today?

-ell

Zero for me. I'm with those who say they're not into the trans scene per se. From what I've seen, it tends to be dominated by crossdressers. "Not that there's anything wrong with that!" Their concerns are different from mine, that's all.

I'm all about women. The point of me being trans is not to be trans, but to be a woman among women. I have been to one conference of an LGBT social justice organization, which turned out to be a highly significant life-changing event for me, because I participated in a women's circle for the first time. The gathering of trans people in a separate room was much smaller, I looked in and said hi to them and apologized for not joining them... I spent all my time in women-only space, and was very glad I did.

As for information about transition, yes, F2F networking would be an awesome way to gain helpful information, but I think I'm doing well enough with information on the internet and the personal contacts I've already made. Glad to hear you ladies are having such a great time at these dos.

Quote from: Ell on October 05, 2007, 08:47:06 PM
mm hmm. i just entered you on my buddy pass list.

so, how are you my dear? have i mentioned how nice your hair is looking today?

-ell

ROFL

Beverly

Hi Hypatia
I agree with what you have said. I never bothered with the conferences, for one thing they were to far away for me to attend. My real goal back then was, as you so well put it to be F2F. That kept me fairly busy enough and now that I have achieved that goal I spent much time working along side other women as a Social worker. Those were good years with much learning from the prose themselves about freely giving and caring for others in need.

Working at helping those in need was my priority before and after coming out full time, and I was kept busy until I was retired two years ago. I found myself very much restless and lonely being out of circulation. So I got into doing networking with others on the web, Working as women working with women, fellow sisters, giving of themselves unselfishly in caring support for others. Now don't get me wrong, I probably would have loved to go to such events, no mater who attends them, or not, I had never gave it a thought until I came back to this group.

I am very much of a loner and I chose it to be that way, as long as I can still be in a service capacity for others like I have listed above. I have signed up here in Vancouver to do volunteer work at a center for transsexuals. After all these years I had pretty well forgotten about my roots as a transsexual. But if this is one way I can show my appreciation for the trans-folks that have trudged along, fighting and blazing new trails for us to follow, Then I am humbled and respectfully take my hat with the long plume off,  and with hat in hand I bow to them ever so slightly in their honor. Well the volunteer job was simply a spontaneous decision anyway. The opportunity came up and I jumped for it.   
     
Cindy

Attended the 2007 Transgeder Leadership Conference coordinated by the Transgender Law Center at USC in Los Angeles.

I don't know if it was life changing but I walked away very impressed with the diverse range of issues being addressed by trans activist working to improve things for trans people.  I have become more active and have been lobbying for passage of an all inclusive ENDA bill now in Congress.  I don't think I would be doing this if it wasn't for attending this conference.

Maya

Quote from: Hypatia on October 06, 2007, 06:00:34 AM
Zero for me. I'm with those who say they're not into the trans scene per se. From what I've seen, it tends to be dominated by crossdressers. "Not that there's anything wrong with that!" Their concerns are different from mine, that's all.

I'm all about women. The point of me being trans is not to be trans, but to be a woman among women. I have been to one conference of an LGBT social justice organization, which turned out to be a highly significant life-changing event for me, because I participated in a women's circle for the first time. The gathering of trans people in a separate room was much smaller, I looked in and said hi to them and apologized for not joining them... I spent all my time in women-only space, and was very glad I did.

As for information about transition, yes, F2F networking would be an awesome way to gain helpful information, but I think I'm doing well enough with information on the internet and the personal contacts I've already made. Glad to hear you ladies are having such a great time at these dos.

What a brilliant post Hypatia ........I couldn't have put it better myself and I agree with all your comments totally....That is exactely the way I feel about it too...

Interesting posts.  I love opposing viewpoints it makes you think.  Last week my wife handed me the book entitled "Opposing Viewpoints Male/Female Roles" edited by Auriana Ojeda.  Next week I will hand her Renee Richards' latest book "No Way Renee: The Second Half of My Notorious Life".  (My wife loves tennis and is a fan of Renee Richards.)  The conference helped me repair a bridge that I destroyed with my best friend.

............................
I learned that CD's also have their own spectrum of TG.  The first person I introduced myself to was a 70 year old retired commercial airline pilot.  We had a fascinating conversation in which this person loved dressing in female clothes but was "totally" male in their mind. 

Later I met another CD (early 60's) in which this person shared that they had no plans for any surgeries but they wished they had been a female.

.........................
A CD (mid-50's) even explained to me that child abuse can lead to schoolyard abuse.

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

Oh I also learned there seemed to be no bounds on sexuality at the TG conference.  You flirt with whoever you fancy and vice versa.  That was neat.

Zero Transgender conferences.  I have attended many trade conferences both before and after transition.

Now I just don't have the money to go to any conferences.

Sarah L.

Quote from: Wendy on October 11, 2007, 01:59:21 PM
Oh I also learned there seemed to be no bounds on sexuality at the TG conference.  You flirt with whoever you fancy and vice versa.  That was neat.

Wait until you been flirted with by a gay FtM (he prefers men and CDs).  Now if that doesn't confuse a person, I don't know what will.

Beverly

Honey, gay men flirt with me all the time and I love it. I feel safe and comfortable with them because there's no real sexual attraction, just play. Whereas to flirt with a hetero man is running a risk he might come to take it seriously and put the moves on me. I've been groped and chased by hetero men, and I find that treatment demeaning and disrespectful--sometimes even scary. Other times I've been hit on in a nice way, and I sure enjoy the compliments, but I'm still aware there's a risk.

I also flirt with certain special hetero men who I feel are trustworthy, and they give me a sexual frisson that's absent in my friendships with gay men. I feel free to flirt with gay men because there's no danger. Sexuality is thrilling... and it's also risky. Gay men are like my brothers, cuddly and safe.