At The Conference…

Friday I got to the True Colors Conference at UConn early so that I could sign-in at the Volunteer desk; I had signed up just to help a friend who was giving a workshop. However, as usual, once you put on a yellow tee shirt (to indicate volunteers) you are fair game so I ended up running earning. I had to bring food to the back stage for Debra Chasnoff, the director of STRAIGHTLACED and I also got stopped all the time with the question: “Do you know where…”

I meet my friends Patty and Staci who were giving workshops, I was Patty’s “Presenter’s Liaison” and we went over to the Connecticut Outreach table; where met another COS member and we laid out the handouts and pamphlets. Then I went with Patty for her workshop: “Health Care Guide for Medical, Helping Professionals for the Trans Community -- This workshop will explore a health care booklet for adult Ts (transsexuals and transgendered) that the presenter is developing as part of her Cultural Competency course at College.” [1] After the workshop as we were walking back to the Student Union where we were going to meet our friends for lunch I mentioned to Patty that in her audience was a person who had Chaired the American Medical Association’s -- Gay and Lesbian Medical Association's Trans Health Care Committee. I knew that it would shake her up if she learned that he was there before the workshop because this was her first and she didn't need that pressure.

After lunch with Patty, I went to a workshop: “Planned Obsolescence: Creating a New Paradigm of Transgender Care Beyond Gender Identity Disorder - This workshop is a presentation of Stone’s original thinking on the development of a new paradigm of transgender care. By formulating a new paradigm, and gaining support for a model of care which is non-pathologizing, flexible and inclusive, Stone proposes that Gender Identity Disorder will be rendered obsolete. There will be a discussion of his new proposed diagnosis for care with plenty of time for lively discussion.”"[1] One of the great obstacle that the Trans-community has is with the DSM IV TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is that it classifieds Gender Identity Disorder as a mental illness when it is not. It should be the same as Homosexuality.
It was an excellent workshop! I hope that the DSM V will incorporate this change, because it was developed by and for the trans-community, and not by some panel of old men using 19th Century paradigms to decide what is best for us.

After the conference, I went with Patty and Staci out to dinner.

Saturday, I didn’t get there as early because I was not volunteering that day and I went to two workshop:
New Media Activism: Using the Internet As Your Voice for Social Justice -- The two ladies who brought you Feisty Aphrodite will introduce some of the key vehicles of New Media that will allow you to share your voice and bring awareness to issues pertaining to the LGBTI community. Through podcasting, blogging, websites, vlogging, and YouTube (to name a few), we will show you how easy and effective the web can be to network groups together and begin social change. New Media has revolutionized the political, social and communication landscape, enabling the LGBTI community to bring their issues to the forefront while raising awareness to combat stereotypes and prejudice. Anyone who is interested in utilizing the vast possibilities of reaching an endless audience – whether you are a technological guru or simply technologically impaired - we have your seat. [1]
Building Bridges: The Common Thread of Social Justice Movements – Activists working for social changes may at times feel overwhelmed. They may feel that their cause is not progressing as fast as it should, or sense that other issues receive more attention and possibly detract from their efforts. If activists from different social justice groups could find ways to work together and share resources, the mutual benefits realized would help all groups involved achieve their goals. Building Bridges is an interactive discussion that explores the relationship between social justice issues. Using historical perspectives and current events, participants analyze the common traits among social justice issues. Attendees will work to develop suggestions as to how GLBT groups and individuals can create relationships and persuade activists from other social justice groups to work together to achieve their goals. [1]
The first workshop was a little too basic for me, but they did talk about a free software program for editing mp3 files. The second workshop I thought was preaching to the choir, it would be a great workshop for to teach diversity but not for a LGBT audience.

After the conference I went out to dinner with a friend who was a volunteer chaperone for the dance that evening.

[1] True Colors VX: A Global Perspective of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Conference Guide