Transgender Gathering Seattle Aug 3-7, Record Attendance of Professional, Family, Community
Seattle, WA (PRWEB) June 29, 2016 -- Contact:
Cathy Renna, cathy(at)targetcue(dot)com, 917-757-6123
RECORD ATTENDEES EXPECTED FOR 15TH ANNUAL “GENDER ODYSSEY” CONFERENCE
TO BE HELD AUGUST 3-7, 2016 IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
MULTIPLE PROGRAMS FOR PROFESSIONALS,
FAMILIES AND TRANS COMMUNITIES
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS GEENA ROCERO AND MADDIE DEUTSCH
As visibility for transgender issues and communities reaches a historic high mark, over 1000 participants will gather in Seattle, WA, for the annual Gender Odyssey Conference. This year marks the 15th year for the gathering. Gender Odyssey’s primary objective is to offer tools to navigate obstacles and provide pathways to individual and community empowerment, with conference tracks for professionals, families and trans people of all ages.
“We are looking forward to gathering at an extraordinary time of visibility and challenge for transgender communities, their families and allies,” said Aidan Key, Gender Odyssey’s founder. “Since the first Gender Odyssey conference was held in Seattle during the spring of 2001 we have seen a sea change in growth of the out populations of trans communities and allies, especially trans children and families, as well as an explosion in the need for professionals looking for accurate and culturally competent information to better serve their patients, students and other types of diverse audiences,” continued Key. “The Gender Odyssey conference has something for everyone and we cannot wait to come together to learn, grow and expand resources available to the trans community,” concluded Key.
“At a time when we see increasing visibility for transgender people that is coupled with a troubling increase in strategic attacks on the LGBT community scapegoating trans people, it is clear the community is looking for information, resources and support,” said Key. “Our registration numbers have increased dramatically and we expect nearly double – possibly more – attendees than last year,” concluded Key.
Gender Odyssey will again offer scores of workshops, films, receptions, performances and the opportunity to network, learn, and create community.
For more information about the diverse films being screened see here: http://www.genderodyssey.org/events/films
The stand-alone conference for families with gender diverse and transgender children, “Gender Odyssey Family,” will again be a cornerstone of the weekend. With three days of workshops, a day camp for kids and a complete teen program, this annual family conference is one of few places where children andteens, along with their families, can get the information and support they need to live happy, healthy and fulfilled lives.
In addition, Gender Odyssey’s recently expanded conference for professionals and students, “GO Professional,” will include sessions covering best practices for therapists, current medical protocols, legal considerations, and a full programming track for educators including model school policies for gender-variant students.
This year’s keynote speakers will be Geena Rocero and Dr. Madeline Deutsch.
Rocero is a Filipina model and founder of Gender Proud, an advocacy and aid organization that stands up for the right of transgender people worldwide to “self-identify with the fewest possible barriers.” Rocero came out as transgender while giving a TED talk, which has since received 2.8 million views. In 2015, Rocero became the executive producer of Beautiful As I Want To Be, a digital series for Logo focused on transgender youth, and recently received a GLAAD Media Award for the program.
Deutsch, an MD, MPH, is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at UCSF. She is the Director of Clinical Services at the UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, with her clinic based at UCSF Women’s Health Primary Care, in partnership with the National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health. Dr. Deutsch has been involved in a number of research and capacity building projects focused on transgender health.
For more information about these respective programs, go to:
Families & Children - http://www.genderodysseyfamily.org/
Professionals - http://www.genderdiversity.org/gopro/
Community - http://www.genderodyssey.org/
Scholarships available for those with financial need.
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Cathy Renna, Target Cue, http://targetcue.com, +1 (917) 757-6123, [email protected]
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