Past meetings
January 15, 2011 |
It’s a new year – goals and aspirations |
| It’s a new year, and many of us take advantage of that “fresh start” to set goals and make changes. At January’s meeting, we’ll give everyone an opportunity to reflect and share on the previous year and talk about their hopes, dreams, goals, and aspirations for 2011. Your goals/resolutions might be small or large, simple or complex, well-defined or amorphous (or maybe non-existent). They might be about gender or some other topic. Feel well-supported as you share, and find encouragement from others who will cheer you on (and even offer supportive ideas) in pursuing your goals. Come on down and help your fellow FORGE attendees get a great start in the new year! | |
February 26, 2011 |
Working While TransThe National Center on Transgender Equality (NCTE) in conjunction with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), just release “Injustice at every turn: A report of the national transgender discrimination survey.” In this detailed and compelling report, they cover employment discrimination, as well as many other forms of discrimination transgender individuals and loved ones experience. At February’s meeting, we will use the survey results as a jumping off point to compare national statistics with our local reality. Ample time will be available for discussion of issues such as on-the-job harassment, loss of chosen career, under-employment, non-consensual outing, forced bathroom choice, the role of transition (helping or hindering in maintaining or pursuing jobs), resilience, and strategies for success. FORGE staff will also reveal a new opportunity for transgender people and loved ones seeking employment in Wisconsin. |
March 26, 2011 |
Street violence, safety and dealing with the policeGuest speaker: Attorney Laura Sette Anti-transgender violence — occurring on the street, at home, at work, or anywhere else — is more prevalent than most of us like to acknowledge. We will briefly address general street safety for trans+ and SOFFA individuals (always keeping in mind that our actions are not to blame for the friction or fists initiated by others). Attorney Laura Sette will then address the challenges of if, when and how to involve the police in anti-transgender violence, recognizing that the police may be less than helpful (at best) or part of the problem (at worst). Ample time for questions and answers will allow for discussion about specific concerns and challenges. |
February 26, 2011 |
Working While Trans |
| The National Center on Transgender Equality (NCTE) in conjunction with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), just release “Injustice at every turn: A report of the national transgender discrimination survey.” In this detailed and compelling report, they cover employment discrimination, as well as many other forms of discrimination transgender individuals and loved ones experience. At February’s meeting, we will use the survey results as a jumping off point to compare national statistics with our local reality. Ample time will be available for discussion of issues such as on-the-job harassment, loss of chosen career, under-employment, non-consensual outing, forced bathroom choice, the role of transition (helping or hindering in maintaining or pursuing jobs), resilience, and strategies for success. FORGE staff will also reveal a new opportunity for transgender people and loved ones seeking employment in Wisconsin. | |
January 15, 2011 |
It’s a new year – goals and aspirations |
| It’s a new year, and many of us take advantage of that “fresh start” to set goals and make changes. At January’s meeting, we’ll give everyone an opportunity to reflect and share on the previous year and talk about their hopes, dreams, goals, and aspirations for 2011. Your goals/resolutions might be small or large, simple or complex, well-defined or amorphous (or maybe non-existent). They might be about gender or some other topic. Feel well-supported as you share, and find encouragement from others who will cheer you on (and even offer supportive ideas) in pursuing your goals. Come on down and help your fellow FORGE attendees get a great start in the new year! | |
December 4, 2010 |
Building families |
| Male pregnancy, surrogacy, adoption, fostering, mentoring…there are many, many ways to bring children and young people into our lives. Come meet some of the local resources who can help you if you are thinking about adding little (or not so little!) ones to your life. (Discussion may also include 4-legged, furry, and other non-human inclusions to create family.) | |
November 6, 2010 |
The patchwork puzzle: interconnected identities |
| One of the common things that others do to trans people is reduce us to that one characteristic; let’s make sure we don’t do that to ourselves! In this interactive, innovative meeting we’ll talk about and celebrate other aspects of our identities. Bring your whole selves! | |
October 2, 2010 |
Come out, come out, wherever you are! |
| October 11 is National Coming Out Day. Come share your Coming Out stories – the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you’re thinking of coming out somewhere new, let us help you plan! (Or even role-play!) At this meeting we’ll also discuss the many good reasons some of us don’t disclose. All strategies and experiences are welcome! | |
September 4, 2010 |
Suicide stigma stinks: don’t erase your future |
| The transgender community unfortunately has one of the highest rates of suicide, suicide attempts, and suicidal thoughts of any population. At this important meeting we’ll talk practicalities: what are the techniques people use to get through rough spots? How can we help each other hang on when the going gets tough? | |
August 7, 2010 |
Love the one you’re with |
| Is the body you live in one that you find hard to love? This meeting will focus on many angles of how we can love the one we’re with all the time – ourselves! Perhaps we struggle because we cannot afford hormones or surgery and feel uncomfortable with our bodily configuration? Maybe it’s more about disability? Possibly about size? There are hundreds of reasons why people feel uncomfortable in their bodies – join us to hear how people learn to find peace in the body they have. | |
July 3, 2010 |
Share-a-thon |
| Share-a-thon – resources. Bring a resource or idea to share. Maybe you know of a great hang out that is trans-friendly. Do you have a favorite website that has brought you invaluable information? Have you found a perfect solution for binding in the summer (without suffering from heat exhaustion)? Perhaps you have a book that has changed your life. The format of this meeting will be to have a round robin-style interaction, where everyone can share. | |
June 5, 2010 |
Trans history (w/ Brice Smith) & Trivia game |
| Summer’s the time to play, and tonight we’ll play with our history! Brice Smith will teach us about an “early” Milwaukee contribution to the national transgender movement, FTM International founder Lou Sullivan. Then we’ll see how much we know – and can learn – about the rest of our transgender history by playing a unique, FORGE-generated transgender history trivia game. | |
May 1, 2010 |
Sexing it up (w/ Laura Stuart from Tool Shed) |
| The meeting will launch with guest presenter Laura Stuart from the Tool Shed. Laura will share information about sex toys, passing devices and other products that make sex more fun and living day-to-day a bit easier. Following her presentation, we’ll discuss sexuality: How do we negotiate gender dysphoria and sensuality? How do we navigate our bodies and those we love? What kinds of sexual activities are or aren’t people engaging in – and how has that changed over time? (e.g. penetration? packing/strapping?) Is sex comfortable – emotionally or physically? Does it change if we transition? | |
April 3, 2010 |
Spirituality – Ritual (Guest: Wendy Woodruff) |
| Pastor Wendy Woodruff will guide us through an inclusive, ecumenical journey that will help us feel better connected to ourselves, each other, and All That Is.…… (Journey to Self…) | |
March 6, 2010 |
Is that legal? (w/ Laura Sette) |
| Guest speaker attorney Laura Sette will cover a wide range of legal topics, including: what are our rights; how to change name and/or gender markers through the courts; changing driver’s license name/gender; modifying birth certificates; and if/how the Real ID Act may impact transgender people. In addition to the common “how to” questions, Laura will discuss how to deal with the police, addressing some questions related to harassment and challenges caused by the police. | |
February 6, 2010 |
Gender outside the box |
| Gender doesn’t have to be contained within one of two boxes. Those of us who are part of the trans community, or who are connected with trans people already know this. However, sometimes it’s hard for us to remember that there are an infinite number of ways to “do” gender, to be engendered, to live in a two-gendered world. Not all of us can or want to fit into a binary gender system. Discussion will range from the personal to political – how we make choices about our identity, how we live our day to day lives. Discussion may include how we can celebrate the diversity of gender and support each other in developing unique gender identities that feel right to each of us. This discussion is not solely about trans people either! How does anyone (trans and non-trans) create and live their gender (or lack of gender)? | |
January 2, 2010 |
Film: Kinky Boots |
December 5, 2009 |
Open Mic Night |
November 7, 2009 |
Touching Moments: Massage Techniques |
