LGBTQ: The Philadelphia Trans Health Conferece kicks off today

If the rainbow street signs in the Gayborhood don't give it away, Philadelphia is home to a large lesbian and gay community. But while an entire neighborhood plays home to many who identify as lesbian, gay or bi, the last letter of LGBT is largely left without a specific home.

options

LGBTQ: The Philadelphia Trans Health Conferece kicks off today

POSTED: Thursday, June 2, 2011, 2:00 PM

Filed Under: LGBTQ

Joe Ippolito

If the rainbow street signs in the Gayborhood don’t give it away, Philadelphia is home to a large lesbian and gay community. But while an entire neighborhood plays home to many who identify as lesbian, gay or bi, the last letter of LGBT is largely left without a specific home. With the help of Philadelphia's Trans Health Conference (PTHC), however, that's all about to change.

Now in its tenth year, PTHC is the largest trans-specific conference in the U.S. — welcoming folks from across the globe. Generally, conferences aren’t something people flock to unless they include adult video stars or storm trooper costumes, so why does this health conference have such a following? Surprisingly, it’s not the medical advice or free food, but the sense of community that these spaces provide. Joe Ippolito, an FTM psychologist who has been on the conference's event committee for eight years, is interested in the way the event functions as a community space for the trans-identified. “The trans community as a whole is dispersed compared to the L[esbian] and G[ay] communities. The conference provides a place to meet, talk and share experiences for three days, providing reliable connections after you leave. It’s a community.” When asked what made Philly such a perfect spot for this large event, it was clear it was more than just the central location. The group who has been putting the event on since the early days is committed to providing a diverse conference that is free and accessible to attendees. Ippolito noted how important it was to keep everything free as the trans population is generally lower on the socioeconomic ladder, and sometimes homeless. The conference provides free meals to those who need them as well as several outreach groups. Few events this large could sustain this level of aid, but this Philadelphia-based group, along with Mazzoni Center, is committed to the cause.

You don’t have to be trans-identified to partake in the event, however. The conference lineup is varied and caters to the friends, family, social workers and allies of the trans population. Chris Paige, this year’s committee chair, has done wonders to make the workshop schedule diverse. Lecture and workshop topics include how to parent a trans-identified child, trans aging, medical options, gender and disability, parenting as a trans-identified individual, and many more. The conference, keeping with the community feel, will also offer several social events such as the 2011 Blender at World Café Live, featuring a number of gender-queer performers. So whether you are trans-identified, a friend of someone who is, work with the trans community, or are simply interested in getting to know a little bit more about the T in LBGT, the Trans Health Conference is the perfect event to get a foot in the door.

Posted by Meg Augustin @ 2:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Comments (0)

Q&A with SHARI SOLANIS: "The goal isn't pornography"
What we're trying to do this weekend
SEXY TIME Q&A: I've never had an orgasm during sex with a man — and I'm 30!
NOW SEE THIS: Transit cop arrests marijuana activist for alleged disorderly conduct.
CONCERT REVIEW: Primus (3D & quadraphonic sound) @ The Tower 10/17
Q&A with Tony Goldwyn: "Life is gray, and relationships are, too"
ICE CUBE: In Memoriam: Joe Tartaglia
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: The Archbishop meets the Geator, the Mayor goes suit shopping, Le Bec Fin fin.
Coming soon to Philly: Two cockamamie movie promotion schemes
NOW SEE THIS: Tim and Eric direct Terry Crews for Old Spice

About this blog

Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

Follow Critical Mass editors Patrick Rapa and Emily Guendelsberger on Twitter:

@mission2denmark | @emilygee

Search this blog:

Topics:

Blog archives:

May
April
March

February
January

Past Archives: