Edxie Betts To Speak at 4th Asterisk Trans* Conference

Edxie Betts

We are very excited to announce our closing keynote speaker: Edxie Betts!
Edxie Is a Black, Blackfoot, Filipinx, Disabled (Neuro-divergent),Trans, Queer, artist, cultural worker and autonomous organizer. They do direct support for queer and trans political prisoners. Edxie speaks at different schools and events to discuss decolonial struggle and the power of collective consent. Their art and cultural work is aimed at inspiring healing, uplift, encouraging critical thought, dialogue and direct actions.
Edxie will be closing the conference with a presentation on "Reclaiming Our Consent." This presentation is aimed at helping to broaden the scope of what consent is and how it relates to interpersonal dynamics as well as how that relates to varying forms of oppression /domination, including but not limited to Race, Class, Gender, Sex, Citizenship & Ability.

Bamby Salcedo To Speak at 4th Asterisk Trans* Conference

Bamby Salcedo

We are honored to announce our keynote speaker Bamby Salcedo!

Bamby is the founder of the Los Angeles based TransLatin@ Coalition which “is an organization formed by Trans Latin@ immigrant leaders who came together in 2009 to organize and advocate for the needs of Trans Latin@s who are immigrants residing in the US.”

Bamby Salcedo was recognized as one of the “14 Women of Color Who Rocked 2014” by ColorLines. In 2014, her documentary “Transvisible: Bamby Salcedo’s Story” was released. That same year Bamby was honored at Lambda Legal’s West Coast Liberty Awards for her work in Angels of Change, an organization that provides health care services for Trans youth.

In 2016 Bamby spoke at the White House as part of the White House United States of Women Summit.

Bamby’s work continues to be recognized and awarded locally and nationally.

We, the planning committee and Occidental College are honored to host Bamby Salcedo as our keynote speaker at this year’s conference where she will speak about Trans empowerment.

To learn more about Bamby you can go to her website: http://bambysalcedo.com/index.php

To register to attend the conference, click here.

Learn About Hormone Therapy & Gender Affirming Surgery

L.A. LGBT Center

Los Angeles LGBT Center staff members Lisa Kimsey, Senior Operations Manager and Melissa Burroughs, LCSW - Mental Health Clinician V will be presenting on hormone replacement therapy and gender affirming surgery.

“If you're interested in learning more about Hormone Therapy and gender affirming surgery please join us in a presentation where we will cover some of the basics of starting hormones and information about gender affirming surgery. We will have a Q&A to answer questions you may have as well as provide registration packets for those wanting to access services at the LA LGBT Center.”

Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed, and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond. Today the Center provides services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services, and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership and Advocacy. 

Mobility Workshop with Justin Chow at the 4th Asterisk Trans* Conference

Justin Chow

At the conference, Justin Chow, NSCA Certified Personal Trainer with EVERYBODY, will be hosting a workshop titled: Mobility for Training and Life “This hands-on workshop will focus on warm-up drills, mobility, form, and stretches to prepare for working out and relieving muscle tightness and stiffness in day-to-day life. We may discuss exercise in relation to transition, hormones, surgery, and injury if there is interest in these topics. All bodies and levels are welcome and physical participation is not required.”

EVERYBODY is devoted to providing a brave and supportive environment for all bodies to move, strengthen, and heal, making health and wellness accessible, affordable and adaptive to all people regardless of their gender, race, age, size, or ability. Housed in an 8,000 square foot space in Cypress Park, EVERYBODY includes two movement studios, a fully equipped gym floor, gender neutral locker room and bathroom, and a large outdoor area. 

Pronouns: He/Him

L.A. Gender Center Addresses Self-Care as Revolution

Theodore R. Burnes

The Los Angeles Gender Center staff Theodore R. Burnes, Ph.D will be presenting a workshop titled: “Self care as revolution: Promoting self-care as a form of transgender advocacy and liberation.”

In this interactive workshop, presenters from the Los Angeles Gender Center will facilitate dialogue about how the transgender and gender nonconforming communities can take care of themselves. Panelists will share information from a wide variety of sources on activist burnout and provide opportunities for sharing strategies that help us take care of ourselves and each other.

Learn more about the Los Angeles Gender Center at http://lagendercenter.org/about.html

Supernova Queer Self-Defense and Martial Arts To Teach at Conference

We are delighted to share that one of our workshops will be provided by Supernova Queer Self-Defense and Martial Arts.

Self-defense takes on an explosive form with Supernova/Tomoe Ryu Martial Arts. Since 2010, Supernova has trained and equipped trans and queer communities with self-defense techniques and self-discipline. Come learn basics of queer self defense and how to be safer in your day to day routines.

Presenters:
Ryka Aoki
Byron Jose
Anissa Lynn
Marian Gonzalez

Supernova/Queer Self-Defense provides regular classes. Please see this flyer for class times and information.

Gender Justice L.A. Info & Zines at Conference

Gender Justice L.A.

One of our afternoon sessions will be presented by Ezak Perez of Gender Justice Los Angeles. Ezak will also be sharing information during the Resource Fair. You can also purchase zines to benefit Gender Justice L.A.

Gender Justice Los Angeles’s vision is: “We believe in liberation. We dream of a world free from all forms of interpersonal and state violence, where our whole selves, communities, kinships, and chosen families are held in all of our complexities. This world affirms practices of collective learning, wellness, culture, and traditions that sustain us emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. Our vision is to get free!”

Adam Morello Reyes Art Featured at Conference Resource Fair

We are excited that local artist Adam Morello Reyes will be joining our resource/vendor fair to sell prints of their awesome and amazing art!

Adam can be reached at: arullfitness@gmail.com for commissions and on instagram @pinche.queer

Pronouns: He/They

If images are shared please credit Adam as the artist.

Ethan Patron To Present On Accessing Trans Health Coverage

Ethan Patron

Ethan Patron, Patient Advocate from St. John’s Transgender Health Program will be presenting on “Getting it Covered, Access to Health Coverage in Uncertain Times.”

Transgender and gender-expansive adults face many difficult questions as they map out their transition and determine what types of transition-related care to seek, if any. At no time is this more clear than when it comes to medical decisions about physical transition. Once tough decisions have been made, another challenge becomes apparent: paying for the medical services being sought. This session will explore the intricate and evolving landscape of insurance coverage for gender-related medical services. With the Affordable Care Act on the chopping block, growing awareness of the needs of transgender and gender-expansive patients, and multiple treatment options, providers must be knowledgeable about what their clients and patients can expect to encounter as they seek to cover the costs of their transition-related care.

Marcos Zamora Sanchez To Present on Trauma & Mental Health

Marcos Zamora Sanchez

Marcos Zamora Sanchez, LCSW, will be presenting the workshop “Is Trauma Affecting My Mental Health?”

Trauma impacts everyone and it can develop adverse and resilient traits in you. In the best intention to set a brave space, join us in a conversation about how it is to be a transgender/gender non-conforming individual today. Whether you have experienced a disturbing event, witnessed violence, or live in a toxic environment, symptoms of trauma are expressed in various forms of strengths and weaknesses. How do you take care of yourself in vulnerable situations? Is a therapist even an option? Explore self-awareness and ways to re-learn, as well as unlearn safety, fear, self-esteem, rejection, shame, and guilt.

Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs

Chance Ward To Present on Black Queer Femininity

Chance Ward

Chance Ward, a student at Occidental College will be presenting a workshop titled: “Bare Life: A Recentering of Black Queer Femininity”

Join Chance in their workshop that explores a collection of poetry, prose, and short stories that constitute an active queering of previously exalted conventions of art concerning sovereignty and freedom. This collection interrogates the merits of cisheteropatriarchy and demands it's beneficiaries to deconstruct its marginalizing so much of the world’s magnificence. This collection also converses with narratives of intersecting privilege to prompt empathy and engage an intertextuality that reconciles the resistance and existence of the Black Queer Femme. Lastly, the collection sublates current canons of socially provocative art in favor of conventions that create revolutionary space for the many fragmented Black Queer souls suffering in this world.

Pronouns: they/them/theirs

Joaquin Caro from Strength United To Present on Trans Survivors of Color

Joaquin Caro

We are thrilled to have Joaquin Caro from Strength United presenting an afternoon workshop!

Please join Joaquin in their workshop titled: “#MeToo: Trans Survivors of Color.”

What happens when trans people experience sexual assault? Sexual violence, abuse, and harassment affect our community in many different ways. Almost every survivor is silenced, vilified, and left without resources or justice. I hope to confront this topic in a safe space by discussing what accountability, justice, and healing looks like for our community and start to imagine beyond what systems are set up for survivors.

Pronouns: they/them/theirs

Name & Gender Change Workshops at the 4th Asterisk Trans* Conference

Luna

Curious what the process is to legally change your name or your gender marker? 

Join The LGBT Center staffLuna, Manager: TEEP Legal Services, in this workshop.
•Become familiar with the necessary forms.
•Understand which courts are available to you.
•Apply for fee waivers.
•Know your rights for undocumented/ID-less folks.
•Decide whether to file as a youth under 18 or not.
•Begin the expungement process for tickets, warrants and other misdemeanors/felonies.
•Outline your physician’s affidavit.
•Learn updates for non-binary gender marker changes in California.

Resources will be provided to partner organizations such as Bet Tzedek Legal Services.

Luna will be presenting two amazing and useful presentations at the conference (see previous post for info on their other workshop). We hope you will check out one of their workshops!

Pronouns: they/them/theirs

Typewriter Troubadour Jeremy M. Brownlove To Write Poetry for Conference Attendees

Typewriter Troubadour Jeremy M. Brownlove

We are excited to have the Typewriter Troubadour, Jeremy M. Brownlove, join us at the conference to write attendees (free!) short poems about a topic of their choice, on the spot, during breakfast and lunch!

Jeremy is a trans American poet. In 2015 he founded the improv-typewriter poetry project, Typewriter Troubadour, while traveling across America creating and performing original pieces of poetry for curious pedestrians. His first book of poetry, Angels Of The Underground, will be released in May 2018. When he is not writing, Jeremy enjoys cooking, adventures in nature, taking photographs, and playing drums. A full time traveler, he calls the open road his home.

You can see his work, and follow his travels on Instagram, (@typewritertroubadour) and of course at the conference!

Group Registration Open and Call for Programs Extended for 4th Asterisk Trans* Conference

The 4th Asterisk Trans* Conference has opened Group Registration, with a priority group registration deadline of February 16. Delegations will be charged $15/person. Individual registration is $25/person and will open soon. Because of limited venue space, please limit delegations to 10-20 people. Learn more on the Registration page.

We also invite you to submit a program proposal by Friday, February 2 at noon. Learn more on the Call for Programs page. Registration fees will be waived for workshop presenters.

Occidental College will host the 4th Asterisk Trans* Conference on Saturday, March 31, 2018. Contact asterisk@oxy.edu with any questions.

Call for Programs open until Jan 26th for 4th Asterisk Trans* Conference

In order to create the most dynamic program possible, Occidental College would like to invite YOU to submit a session proposal for the conference. Sessions will be 60 minutes long and can address a wide-variety of topics relating to the trans* experience, including but not limited to: health & well-being, education & advocacy, intersectionality, legal rights, building community, etc. Sample workshops from the 2017 conference can be viewed here.

In order to submit a workshop proposal, please complete this form between now and Friday, January 26, 2018 to tell us more about your envisioned session.

Visit the Call for Programs page for more info.