Conference Schedule

This is a tentative schedule. It will be updated as we receive titles and descriptions from workshop presenters. You will receive a finalized schedule complete with room assignments, workshop descriptions, and presenter info when you check in on the day of the conference. (Last updated 2/10/10)

8:00-9:00 - Registration

Location: TBA

9:00-9:30 - Welcome and Opening Remarks - Frank Brooks, Ph.D., LCSW

Creating a Transgender Welcoming Practice
What does it take to create and develop a transgender welcoming practice? This presentation will explore the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to ably serve this diverse and resilient population. Drawing from biopsychosocial perspectives, Dr. Brooks will discuss how to address and assess the complex biological, psychological, and emotional issues that confront transgender youth and adults.

9:45-11:00 - Session 1

Gender Identity: When G.I. Joe and Barbie Trade Places (Jean Vermette)
The objective of this workshop is to introduce attendees to the concept of transgenderism and give them an overview of its expression in our culture. We will: (a) provide the vocabulary needed to understand the issue, (b) explain the differences between sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, (c) explore the inter-relationship between those three aspects of personality, (d) explain why and how transgenderism usually expresses itself, (e) explore and dispel some of the myths about transgender people, and (f) engage in Q&A to validate knowledge and understanding.

Video: Gender Outside the Box (Alex Roan, LCPC-c)
This video is a collection of interviews revealing the diverse experiences and viewpoints of individuals in Maine who transcend the traditional boundaries of male and female. Originally begun as a project to educate mental health and social service professionals about trans issues, this video may appeal to any person interested in learning more about the transgender and gender variant community of Maine. This video is divided into two sections: Part 1 focuses on people's experiences and discussion of general issues related to gender identity; Part 2 was made for a target audience of mental health professionals--however, both sections may be of interest to anyone. (Read a review from USM's The Free Press here.)

Tipping Points: Transitioning Issues and Decisions Discussion (Branden Parker, BSW)
What does it mean to "transition"? Does every trans person choose to transition and why/why not? What factors come into play when deciding whether or not to take steps towards transitioning? Once the decision is made, then what? What factors should be considered? This is an open discussion designed to share experiences and address these questions.

"Ask a Provider" Panel (Christopher Bartlett, M.D.; Frank Brooks, LCSW, Ph.D.; other panelists TBA)
This is an opportunity for members of the trans community to pose questions regarding any aspect of healthcare to a panel of knowledgeable providers with extensive experience working with our community. Bring your questions!

11:15-12:45 - Session 2

Serving Emerging Populations: Transgender Care in Family Practice (Christopher T. Bartlett, M.D.)
Join Chris Bartlett, MD and learn how one family physician has integrated transgender care into his practice. The session will reflect on the joys and challenges of caring for transgender people. He will also present a brief review of current treatment protocols for starting and maintaining transgender hormone therapy. Bring your questions and your own experiences and we'll have a lively and informative conversation.

Overview of the Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counseling's "Competencies for Working with Transgender Clients" (Denise Pickering, Ph.D. and Sean Moundas, Psy.D.)
The presenters will provide an overview of the Association for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues in Counseling Transgender Committee's Competencies for Counseling with Transgender Clients. The presenters will emphasize the importance of the strength-based, multicultural, feminist, and social justiceframeworks of the competencies and will highlight the practice areas addressed with the competencies (i.e., human growth and development; social and cultural foundations; helping relationships; group work; professional orientation; career and lifestyle development; appraisal; and research). Practical applications of the competencies will be discussed as well.

OR, choose from the following Session 2 "mini-workshops"

Butch/Femme Identites (Anna Schwartz) (11:15-11:55)
Details coming soon

Homelessness in the Trans Youth Community (working title) (Cheryl Daly, LCSW) (11:15-11:55)
Details coming soon

Genderqueer Discussion (Anna Schwartz) (12:05-12:45)
Details coming soon

Know Your Legal Rights Workshop (Sally F. Curran, Esq. of Seacoast Law & Title and Zack M. Paakkonen, Esq. of West End Legal) (12:05-12:45)
This workshop will briefly touch upon several of the legal issues that Trans people may encounter, including seeking a name change, changing your gender marker on your identification, Maine prison policies towards Trans people, and marrying in Maine. We'll also discuss how the Maine Human Rights Act protects Trans people from discrimination, and how to pursue a discrimination complaint.

12:45-1:45 - Lunch on your own (the USM cafeteria will be available for participants)

1:45-3:00 - Session 3

Bridging the Gap: An open topic Q&A between providers and members of the transgender community (moderated by Branden Parker, BSW)
Providers: Do you have questions you've been afraid to ask? Or have never had the opportunity? Do you want to know more about the needs and experiences of members of the trans community? Here's your opportunity to ask. This is an open topic question and answer session with a panel of people of diverse gender identities and experiences.

Who Wouldn't Be Anxious? Treating Co-occurring Mental Illness in Transgender Clients (Wayne Bachner, LCSW)
This workshop will discuss several commonly seen co-occurring mental illness diagnoses and explore how these may result from, interface with, or be entirely separate from a diagnosis of "gender identity disorder." Issues to be discussed include what symptoms might preclude or delay moving forward with various gender reassignment treatments, which need to be aggressively treated concurrently, and which are likely not to require separate treatment.

Discussion: Talking about Gender with Family (moderated by Alex Roan, LCPC-c)
Coming out to family members or discussing trans-related issues can sometimes be stressful and intimidating. This workshop is for anyone who wants to receive or give support around communicating about gender with family. We will address the specific situations that participants wish to share, as well as strategies for effective communication.

Open Discussion for Parents and Family Members of Trans Individuals (Joan and Tom Roan)
This workshop, led by the parents of an adult transgender child, is an opportunity for parents or other family members to share experiences and the "joys and concerns" of having a transgender loved one. The journey family members take from first learning that a child or family member is transgender to a place of understanding and acceptance is often complex. With the understanding that every person's family situation is different, we come together to support and learn from one another.

Exploring Weight Diversity and Size Acceptance in the Transgender Community (Joelle Ruby Ryan, Ph.D.)
In this workshop, we will take on one of our culture's biggest "F words": FAT! We will discuss weight and size diversity, the burgeoning fat acceptance movement and the problem of fatphobia in U.S. society. We will also discuss the particular challenges of being a person of size in the queer and trans communities, and the importance of building bridges between the fat and LGBT movements. We also will discuss Health at Every Size (HAES) and the need to counter myths about fat people in our culture.

3:15-4:15 - Session 4

Case Discussions Q&A (moderated by Frank Brooks, LCSW, Ph.D. - other panelists TBA)
This is an opportunity for providers to ask questions or get peer consultation on specific cases involving trans-related matters. In order to promote conditions of confidentiality, this workshop is limited to providers only.

Transitioning Education: Gender Diverse Youth in School...or Not (Joanna Testa and Sarah Holmes)
From schoolyard bullies, to gym locker rooms, to using student loan money to pay for transition, the focus on learning can take a backseat for transgender and gender variant students. Understanding gender identity exploration and development can contribute to greater student success from kindergarten through college.

Relationships in Transition: A Panel Discussion (moderated by Branden Parker)
"Does this make me gay?" "Does this mean I'm straight now?" "What will my wife/husband/partner say?" "Can our relationship endure?" These questions are often asked by the partners of trans individuals, as well as by trans people themselves. How does being transgender affect current or future intimate relationships? This is an open panel discussion of trans-related relationship issues.

Spirituality Discussion (Rosemary Ananis and Marilyn Pukkila - possible other panelists TBA)
This panel will consist of religious "practitioners" who live their lives as openly GLBT people or allies. Panelists will share how they have reconciled their sexuality and their spirituality and how engaging in religious practices within their respective religions has enriched their lives. Questions and discussion will be encouraged.

4:30-5:45 - A Reading by Jennifer Finney Boylan

Jenny Boylan, professor of English at Colby College, and author of SHE'S NOT THERE: A LIFE IN TWO GENDERS, reads from her work.  She will perform excerpts from both her fiction and nonfiction work, recent opinion pieces published in the New York Times, and give a preview of her new young adult book, FALCON QUINN AND THE BLACK MIRROR.  Jenny, a four-time guest of the Oprah Winfrey Show, is a national spokeswoman for civil rights and gender issues. She has appeared on Larry King Live, the Today Show, CBS News' 48 Hours, NPR's Marketplace and Talk of the Nation,  and been the subject of a documentary on the History Channel. An author of eleven books, Jenny is also an ongoing contributor to the New York Times as well as Conde Nast Traveler magazine.  Since 2008 she has been on the judging committee of the Fulbright Scholarships, administered by the U.S. Department of State.

 

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