Presenters

Keynote Presenter Bear Bergman

S. Bear Bergman, Symposium Keynote Speaker
-Sing If You’re Glad To Be Trans

This year, our keynote speaker is writer, theater artist, instigator and gender-jammer, S. Bear Bergman.  Bear is also a good example of what happens when you overeducate a contrarian. Ze is also the author of The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2009) and Butch Is a Noun (Suspect Thoughts Press, 2006) and three award-winning solo performances, as well as a frequent contributor to anthologies on all manner of topics. Bear is also a frequent lecturer and at colleges and universities, regarding issues relating to gender and sexuality, and has advised the staff of numerous institutions on their policies regarding transgendered and transsexual students. An observant Jew, Bear also speaks extensively about how hir religious and cultural lives have shaped one another, and the intersection of identities, especially as it relates to being both Jewish and queer.

A longtime activist on behalf of anyone who wants to learn and be different at the same time (particularly queer/trans youth and students), Bear continues to tour and lecture about topics close to hir heart, pausing frequently to encourage and admire youth activists. Less recently, ze was also one of the five original founders of the first Gay/Straight Alliances, a frequent lecturer at high schools and colleges on the subject of making schools safe for GLBT students, and a founding commission member of the Massachusetts Safe Schools Project. Bear also considers hir recent mastery of East Coast Swing a notable achievement, but is aware that probably not everyone agrees.

For more information about Bear, visit his website: www.sbearbergman.com

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Paula Ison

Paula Ison, Provider’s Day Keynote Speaker
-Getting it Right the First Time
Paula Ison’s non-traditional journey to becoming a licensed social worker began as a claims adjuster handling social work professional liability claims. Partly to improve her claim adjusting skills Paula went back to school, took numerous psychology classes; then obtained her MSW from the University of Kentucky.  Paula has studied extensively in the area of gender identity expression and has presented numerous times at major universities and national conferences on this topic.

Paula also volunteers for GLSEN, a school based anti-bullying group, and for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a social justice organization.

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Melissa Alexander

Melissa Alexander
- Practical Legal Applications
Melissa M. Alexander is a transgendered woman enjoying life in Columbus OH. Melissa has completed her transition undergoing her Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS) in May of 2009. Melissa works as a meeting and event planning where she has obtained the CMP (certified meeting professional) designation which is only held by about twenty percent of her industry. She is currently also teaching as an Adjunct faculty instructor for several community and technical colleges. Prior to her work in this field and her teaching, Melissa practiced employment and labor law for twenty years in West Virginia and she has been admitted to practice in West Virginia and Kentucky as well as several federal courts. Melissa obtained her B.A. degree at Northern Kentucky University in 1982 in Political Science (cum laude) and graduated 22nd of 140 in her law class at West Virginia University in 1985. She is in a committed relationship with her partner Paula K. Prichard and she has two adult children from her previous marriage. Melissa is active with NCTE as well as Equality Ohio in addition to her work with TransOhio including involvement with the TransOhio Speaker’s Bureau.

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Tara Allison

Tara McKenzie Allison, Esq.
- Transgender Employment Protections
Tara Allison, P.E., Esq., Legal Counsel, is a male-to-female (MTF), transgendered woman, who resides in Columbus, Ohio. After graduating from high school in 1981, Tara enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was trained as a nuclear reactor operator. After serving in the enlisted ranks for 2 years, she entered the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, graduated in 1987 with an engineering degree, and was commissioned as a Naval Officer. According to the Naval Academy Alumni Association, she is only the second MTF transgender – to their knowledge – that has graduated from the Naval Academy. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy, Tara pursued a career as a nuclear engineer for over a decade. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in Virginia and Ohio. Tara made the decision to transition over eight years ago. As part of her “transition plan,” she attended law school to change her career path. Tara has always been interested in the law; she felt that the legal community would provide a more accommodating career environment in which to transition. In 2005, Tara graduated from Capital University Law School, passed the Ohio Bar Exam, and was admitted to the Ohio Bar. In 2008, she transitioned on-the-job, while serving as General Counsel/Contracts Manager for a mid-sized, company, in Lexington, KY. She recently relocated back to Columbus, with her partner Stephanie, in order to start her own law practice. Tara serves as a Board Member and legal counsel for TransOhio. She is also active in a number of other GLBT organizations.
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Ariel Baumwell
- Partners’ Experience: Limited Disclosure and Stealth
Ariel is a co-moderator for the TransOhio Partners’ Discussion group. She received one B.A. in Japanese and one B.A. in Women’s Studies from OSU. In the fall she will start her M.A. in Gender and Women’s Studies with a focus on studying discrimination against queer and trans people in the health care industry.
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Jason Bernstein
- Community Discussion: What to do about GID
Jason began his activist career early. As a teenager he founded the gay straight alliance in his conservative high school in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. He has been a key activist in the queer community at the University of Cincinnati, leading students in a fight for an LGBTQ office and staff person as well as working for trans specific rights in the university and in the city of Cincinnati. Jason is studying psychology at the University of Cincinnati with plans to go into sexology and sex therapy. Jason also loves butterflies.

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Dale Bogucki
- Binders & Packies: A Do-It-Yourself Session!
- FTM Success in the Leather Community
- Gay and FTM: How to Relax and Meet the People You are Attracted To
Dale Bogucki is a self employed artist, and leather crafter. He is also a tireless volunteer in the transgender, leather, queer, and kink communities. Prior to transition Dale volunteered with the Chicago Lesbian Avengers during which the group brought the Dyke March to Chicago. After coming out as FTM and beginning his transition, Dale, began volunteering with the transgender community of Chicago. He started the “chicago ftm group” in yahoo groups, and a few year prior to leaving Chicago helped form La Fraternitie du Loup-Garou with Jake Arthur, and Ethan Young. La Garou is the first Levi/Leather club established for trans male/masculine people. Dale is currently the Road Captain for La Garou. Dale also volunteers on the organizing committee for CampOUT, a trans focused kinky camping event that happens every July. CampOUT is heading into it’s seventh year, and has formally separated from the club La Garou. Dale has stayed on through the separation, and is working on the On Site Coordinating Committee, and the Financial Committees. Dale has presented at the True Spirirt conference, Leather Leadership Conference, and has spoken about being FTM on many panels for groups and universities. Dale is active in his local LGBT community in Toledo, OH where he has lived for the last five years. He especially enjoys spending time with his cats, and dogs, and his boyfriend Miles Newman.
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Elder A. Vickie Boisseau
- Intersex 101: Similarities & Differences Between Intersex and Trans People
Elder A. Vickie Boisseau AIS is an intersex activist/speaker, and is co-founder of the Intersex Day of Awareness started at the University of Montana in 2003. The event has now gone national on herms birthday on Oct 26. Herm works with Mass Transgender Political Coalition to end discrimination of all transgendered people. Herm has written a chapter about herms life in “Hermaphrodeities 2nd Edition” by Raven Kaldera. Herm is currently going for a degree in human services. Herm is also on the steering committee of Trans Pride United.
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David Brandebura
- Perils of Black Market Hormones
David Brandebura earned his pharmacy degree from University of Pittsburgh where he served as the Vice President of the Phi Delta Chi Fraternity. He has more than 17 years of pharmacy experience.  In September 2006, David joined The Apothecary Shops, and opened the company’s second out-of-state pharmacy. Prior to joining the company, he was a pharmacist at New Albany Surgical Hospital.  David’s areas of expertise include ophthalmology, women’s health and diabetes. Through the American College of Apothecaries (ACA), he is certified in compounding and aseptic compounding techniques. David is a registered pharmacist in Ohio, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Tennessee and Arkansas.

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Joni Christian

Joni Christian
- Our Stories & YouTube
Joni Christian has created a place — The Open Door Cafe — to welcome and embrace all people in such a way as to find their inner (child) voice. It is from this point of restoring the passion we become who we really are. Open Door is now in its seventh year. Joni is a community educator for Working for a Hate Free Society/All the People. She is also a video artist, musical soloist for religious worship, theater and public performer.
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Shannon Zee Cross

Shannon Zee Cross
- Laughter Transcends
My first word was “Hi” when I was 18 months old. My grandfather practiced it with me for hours one day, the story goes. Then my mom and grandmother walk in the door, and I say “Hi!”. I’m sure everyone laughed. So yeah, I’ve always been happy to say “Hi” and put smiles on peoples faces. Years ago, I decided to take my game up a notch and I became a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader. You may have seen it on Oprah, you laugh for no reason and you feel great doing it. I was trained in the holy Hindu ashram in… Yogaville, VA. I kind you not, you can find it on the web. I think we could all use a little goofiness and random humor in our lives – takes the edge off. As for me now, I am a professional, suit wearing queer during the day, and a silly laugher yogi, well, anytime really.
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Riley Folds
- TRANSitioning from Academia to the Workplace
Riley is the Founder and Director of OUT for Work, the only national nonprofit dedicated to educating, preparing, and empowering LGBTQ college students for the transiton from academia to the workplace.
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Mel Fuhrmann

Mellissia Fuhrmann
- Crime Victims Rights in Ohio
Mellissia Fuhrmann has extensive experience working with crime victims. Before joining the Justice League of Ohio as its legal clinic director, she served as a prosecutor for the City of Columbus and also as an Assistant Attorney General in the Crime Victims Services Section of the Attorney General’s Office. A native of Northeastern Ohio, Mellissia is also President of the Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio and serves as a trustee with the Ohio Women’s Bar Association.

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Elle G.

Elle G.

Dedicated to the beauty and fashion industry for 20 years, Elle G. has been involved as a stylist & makeup artist for runway, photography, movies & television. Her career began as a stylist & educator for hair color companies, including Framesi, Goldwell & ARTec, gaining comprehensive knowledge in application methods as well as chemical compositions. In 2007, Elle launched Spell Cosmetics, a full range cosmetics company that is built upon her method of making faces, yet without controversial ingredients that have been linked to cancer and other physical concerns. Spell Cosmetics bridges the gap between “traditional” cosmetics & mineral makeup, without the use of parabens, phthalates, talc, or petro bases, while remaining the leading choice for photography & hi-defination imagery. Elle has considerable experience working in the transgender community, believing that every person has a unique & dynamic beauty that is without regard to gender, race, or age. Being beautiful is a birthright, and it should be attainable to everyone. Her full range of products are available at www.spellcosmetics.com, and she can be reach for consultative services at ellefromspell@yahoo.com.
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Cara Sande Greenberg
- Words Matter: Exploring Definitions in the Broader Trans Community
- Trans Women Now
Cara Sande Greenberg is a trans woman and of Columbus, Ohio. She has been apart of the trans community in Ohio for over three years. She currently organizes the Ohio Peer Group For Young Trans Women – a support and discussion group for trans women, ages 18 to 35. More info can be found at YTransW.com.
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David Hagelin
- The Conversation: Church and the Transgender Individual
David Hagelin has been an active member of North Congregational United Church of Christ in northwest Columbus for more than 10 years.  He was led to North because of its “open and affirming” status and became a member, in large part, because of the warm welcome he received.  David is moderator of the congregation this year and has been very involved with the Evangelism Board, music ministry and other activities.  He was privileged to coordinate the planning of “Called to Be: An Affirming Dialogue with the Transgender Community” hosted by North Church in 2008 and is thrilled to be taking part in the TransOhio Symposium for the second year.
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Rev. Margaret Hawk
- The Conversation: Church and the Transgender Individual
Rev. Margaret Hawk is pastor of New Creation Metropolitan Community Church. Metropolitan Community Churches serve the LGBT community and allies, friends, and straight family members in over 25 countries around the world.  In many places, religious intolerance is the foundation for political injustice, and MCC is a Christian voice confronting the misconceptions and prejudices that lead to both.
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Lyn Herron

Lyn Herron

- The Conversation: Church and the Transgender Individual
Lyn Herron is a straight ally living in Westerville, Ohio. As a member of the North Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Lewis Center, Ohio, Lyn was a member of the Welcoming Congregation Committee and helped facilitate the workshops presented to the congregation on their journey to being designated as a “Welcoming Congregation” by the Unitarian Universalist Association this year. Being vocal about LGBT advocacy, she has participated in Equality Ohio’s Lobby Day for the past two years. Lyn’s “non-advocacy” work is with Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities, where she’s been a training specialist since 1987.
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Kat Holtz
- Latex and Polyurethane for Everyone! How to Protect Yourself
Kat Holtz provides HIV prevention and testing in her position at Townhall II in Kent, Ohio. She presents trainings on sexuality, transgender, and gay, lesbian and bisexual topics. She deals with adults, adolescents, community groups, congregations and people in recovery. She is the district trainer for the Unitarian Universalist Our Whole Lives sexuality program. She believes that humor is important (if you can’t laugh at sex, then what’s the point?) and that chocolate is critical.
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Travis Jackson
- Health Reform for the Transgendered Community
Travis is an attorney, and the co-chair of the Columbus Bar Association’s LGBT Committee. He concentrates his practice in health care and tax-exempt organizations law. His practice covers all aspects of the state and federal regulation of the health care industry as well as tax and corporate planning for tax-exempt organizations.
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Holly Jedlicka, MSW, LISW
- Equine Assisted Psychotherapy: The Benefits for All Family Structures
Holly Jedlicka, MSW, LISW is the Program Director and primary therapist for PBJ Connections.  She has been an equine professional for 15 years and spent her childhood learning, competing, and playing with her horses.  Holly is a NARHA-registered instructor and holds an EAGALA Certification. She spent six years coaching the equestrian teams at Otterbein College and two years as the program director at a therapeutic riding center in Central Ohio. Holly graduated from The Ohio State University with her Masters in Social Work and spent a year and a half working at The Buckeye Ranch. Her goal is to serve youth and families from all walks of life.
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Lisa Katona
- THInC – Trans Hormones, Informed Consent
As the Director of the Lesbian Community Care Project, a program of the Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago, IL, Lisa works to develop program, and provide education, outreach and resources to all Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex individuals.  Additionally, as an LCSW, Lisa works as a psychotherapist, primarily seeking LBTQI individuals in need to support around a variety of health and wellness issues.
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Mara Keisling

Mara Keisling
- State of the Trans Movement
Mara is the founding Executive Director of NCTE. A Pennsylvania native, Mara came to Washington after co-chairing the Pennsylvania Gender Rights Coalition. Mara is a transgender-identified woman who also identifies as a parent and a Pennsylvanian. She is a graduate of Penn State University and did her graduate work at Harvard University in American Government. She has served on the board of Directors of Common Roads, an LGBTQ Youth Group, and on the steering committee of the Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition. Mara has almost twenty-five years of professional experience in social marketing and opinion research.
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Brooke Kroto

Brooke Kroto, LISW
- The Top 10 Lessons in What NOT to do When Counseling Gender Variant Clients
Brooke Kroto, LISW of Cleveland, is trained and specializes in the treatment of trauma disorders. It was this specialization which led a Vietnam vet with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and survivor of a recent suicide attempt to her practice in 1997. This client was also transsexual. This began a challenging, fascinating, and deeply rewarding journey into the world of helping those with gender related issues.

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Deb Kuzawa

Deb Kuzawa
- Queering the Archive: Queer Representation in the Digital Archive of Literacy Narratives
Deb Kuzawa is a PhD student in Rhetoric, Composition and Literacy at The Ohio State University.  Her research is primarily focused on the composition classroom, community literacies, and digital media studies – as seen through feminist and queer lenses. She is especially interested in the exploring how and when community literacy practices, values and identities manifest in the composition classroom. Each year, she organizes Ginger’s Birthday Mystery Box, a variety show that benefits local LGBT and feminist nonprofits; this year’s event is at Wall Street Nightclub on January 29, 2011 and benefits Equality Ohio. Above all, Deb loves a hearty laugh, a good debate, great food, and most importantly, spending time with her lady.

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J.J. Lara, Jr.

José Juan “J.J.” Lara Jr.
- LGBT Latin@s Victims of Inter-personal Violence: A Minority within a Minority
José Juan “J.J.” Lara Jr. is a graduate of the University of Texas at Brownsville where he earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology and his Masters in Sociology. He recently earned a Masters of Science in Public Safety specializing in Criminal Justice.  J.J. has been involved in the movement against gender violence for ten years, providing legal advocacy to victims of these particular crimes. He has facilitated workshops at state and local conferences on crisis intervention, legal advocacy for victims of family and sexual violence (including immigrant battered women) and other specialized gender violence issues.  J.J.’s extensive professional experience includes work as Legal Advocate Program Coordinator for Friendship of Women, Inc., Case Manager Supervisor/Volunteer Coordinator for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Cameron and Willacy Counties, Director of Legal Services for the Family Crisis Center, Inc. in Harlingen, and most recently, as Director of Advocacy and Training at Texas Advocacy Project, Inc. in Austin.
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Nelli LaValle
- Allies and Accountability
Nelli is a student at The Ohio State University pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Women’s Studies and Sexuality Studies. She hopes to continue her education be achieving a Master’s Degree in social work and dedicating her time to the LGBT movement. Nelli is a member of the TransOhio partners group and a volunteer at the Kaleidoscope Youth Center. Additionally, she interested in radical queer identities and activism and has been involved with Camp Trans the past two years.
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Dr. Sherman Leis, MD
- FFS: Options and Results
- An Introduction to Transgender Surgery
- MTF Top and Bottom Surgery: How It’s Done at the Philadelphia Center for Trangsgender Surgery
- FTM Top and Bottom Surgery: How It’s Done at the Philadelphia Center for Trangsgender Surgery
Sherman N. Leis, D.O., F.A.C.O.S. is Professor and Chairman of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Residency Program Director in Plastic Surgery at The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.  He is also Director and Chief Surgeon at The Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery.  The Center represents a team of more than thirty professionals who have expertise in servicing the surgical and non-surgical needs of transgender individuals.  It is one of the few comprehensive centers of its type in the United States.  He is a founding member and Past President of the Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and a member of the Board of Governors of The American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.
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El McKaigh
- Safer Sex 101
- Tantra for Beginners (age 18+ only)
El McKaigh has been a student of spirituality and meditation for over 10 years.  A practicing Pagan, she performs energy work, reiki, divination, and Tantric meditation and yoga.   El has studied both white and red Tantra as well as the Kama Sutra and Hatha yoga.  She has been promoting safe sex practices throughout her career as an educator both in the public schools as well as in her sacred sexuality workshops.   She believes strongly  that information is the key to prevention and works tirelessly to this end.
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K.D. Miller

K.D. Miller
- Genderqueer Caucus (closed session)
K.D. Miller originally from Kenton Ohio, is a University of Cincinnati student majoring in special education.  Ze is an active member of several UC organizations including GenderBloc, Student Government, and CECH Ambassadors.  K.D. also serves on the Board of Directors for Equality Ohio. Nome, K.D.’s co-presenter, is a student at the University of Iowa. Ze is active in a sex positive group and zan local gay group, and manages the blog “That’s What Ze Said” on wordpress. Ze loves glitter, giggling and consent-cuddles.

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Madsen Minax

Madsen Minax
- Riot Acts: Flaunting Gender Deviance in Music Performance (film screening)
Madsen Minax is a filmmaker, musician and multi-media artist come hell-raiser currently living and working in Chicago, IL. After studying quartet composition in Utrecht, The Netherlands, tattoo apprenticing in San Francisco, and Earning his BFA in film and sound at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he survives in the real world, and supplements his film-making and songwriting obsessions by editing educational films, serving coffee drinks and giving mediocre tattoos out of his basement. Madsen co-curates a quarterly screening series called Threat Level Queer Shorts, recently starred in and co-directed the Chicago based hit homo short, Queer Teen Romance (2009), as well as the experimental animation Their Body Is (2005), and consistently tours nationally with the performance duet Actor Slash Model (2006-present) and the band The Homoticons (2009-present). Minax’s films have screened in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berlin, Germany, Copenhagen, Denmark, Sydney and Perth, Australia and he has presented at Universities throughout the USA. He loves to deconstruct, smash, and blow-up boundaries before rebuilding them from scratch, and likes his films the way he likes his sex – edgy, rambunctious, and unsettling.
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Lana Moore

Lana Moore
- New Possibilities: The Ps & Qs of Getting to the Top of YOUR Mountain
Captain Moore is a 29 year veteran of the fire service where she transitioned on the job in Dec 2008. She has been active in her community as a co-facilitator of a local peer-lead TG support group and was recently voted in as Moderator-Elect at North Congregational United Church of Christ where she is an active member. She has presented this workshop at First Event 2010 & Colorado Gold Rush 2010. Lana resides in Westerville, OH, and has two teenage children.

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Shane Morgan

Shane Morgan
- Forget the Polite Conversation: Getting Real about FTM Transition (closed session)
- Building Your Coalitions: Playing Well with Others

Founder & Chair of TransOhio, Shane has been an Ohio resident for 12 years. He can often can be found facilitating transgender support groups in Central Ohio and speaking at conferences around the nation.  Shane is a member of FTM-International, Stonewall Columbus, Equality Ohio and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE). Shane’s presented at The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Creating Change Conference; Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio; Southern Comfort Conference; IDKE X; and other national and local conferences. Shane is a Board Trustee at Stonewall Columbus,  serves as a Steering Committee member at the United Way of Central Ohio, a member of the Equality Ohio Public Policy Committee and as a Local Action Team leader. Shane is currently a Fellow of the Center for Progressive Leadership. The Ohio Political Leaders Fellowship is a 9-month, part-time program that focuses on providing the long-term resources and skills necessary for emerging leaders to become powerful political advocates for their communities. Through training, coaching, project-based work and mentoring, the program gives up-and-coming leaders the skills and networks they need to advance progressive political change in their communities.
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michael munson

michael munson
- Soothing the Soul through Words, Images and Experiential Learning
- Services Outside the Box: Helping Your Clients Navigate Sex-Segregated Services
michael munson is the founding Executive Director of FORGE, a Milwaukee-based national education, service, and research organization focused on transgender and SOFFA individuals, with an emphasis on both trauma/violence and aging. For over 20 years, he has been a political activist combating social injustice — within the trans+/SOFFA community and as well as beyond it. He is deeply committed to bridging fragmented communities and shining light on the possibilities of harmony and hope.

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Jacob Nash

Jacob Nash
- Transgender: Basics and Beyond for Social Workers
Jacob Nash is currently in the Masters in Psychology, Diversity Management Specialization program at Cleveland State University in Cleveland Ohio, set to graduate in May 2010. He is currently an independent trainer and consultant specializing in transgender and diversity issues. He has been working to educate others about the struggles of transgender individuals throughout the nation. He has worked with Children’s Social Service agencies as well as foster parents who care for them, to help them understand transsexuality and how they can help transgender youth. He has trained social workers, medical professionals, politicians and many others on the importance of treating transgender individuals with respect and care. Most recently he was the Executive Director for Transfamily of Cleveland. Prior to being the ED of TransFamily, he worked for the Law Office of SmithBernabei & Co., L.P.A. as their legal assistant. He has traveled extensively throughout Ohio and neighboring States to speak with legislators about the importance of inclusive language in bills where Civil Rights are concerned. He has been working directly with Cleveland City Council to include gender identity into the cities non-discrimination policy as well as incorporating the domestic partner registry in Cleveland in 2009. Jacob is a board member for the GLSEN-NEO Chapter as well as actively involved with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Greater Cleveland and People of All Colors Together. He has worked with other LGBT organizations to help them become more transgender inclusive. He remains active with many other organizations including Equality Ohio, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, The National Center for Transgender Equality, PFLAG T-Net and the Human Rights Campaign to name a few.
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New Leaf Columbus
- Race, Gender, and Sexuality
New Leaf Columbus is a social network for Columbus’ GLBT people of color and our allies. The purpose of this social network is to build and uplift Columbus’ GLBT people of color. We are dedicated to building a sense of community by providing a dialogue about careers, culture, politics, religion and other issues.

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Miles Newman
- FTM Success in the Leather Community
- Gay and FTM: How to Relax and Meet the People You are Attracted To

My name is Miles Newman, and I am FTM.  I was a hospital corpsman in the Navy for eight years, and now I am a disabled veteran.  I have had four years experience organizing campOUT with La Garou, and prior to that, I had three years experience on the speaker’s bureau for Transfamily of Cleveland.  I have done a few speaking engagements in Toledo, and I am interested in joining Equality Toledo’s speaker’s bureau.  I went to my first Lobby Day in Columbus this year, and plan to go next year.  I have also had experience fund raising with our leather club for several years.  When not out being an activist for trans and leather causes, I enjoy being at home with our pets and reading as many books as I can get my hands on.

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Asaf Orr
- Utilizing Existing Federal Law to Protect Your  Gender Variant/ Transgender Youth in School
Asaf is a staff attorney at the Learning Rights Law Center in Los Angeles, California.  Asaf directs the Learning Rights Law Center’s Rainbow Rights Project, a legal services project that provides representation to youth in education-related matters who are being denied their right to an education on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or that of their parents, whether it is actual or perceived.  Asaf graduated magna cum laude from Rutgers School of Law in Newark, New Jersey in 2008.  Upon graduation, Asaf clerked for The Honorable Virginia A. Long on the Supreme Court of New Jersey.  Asaf received the prestigious Tom Steel Fellowship as well as funding from the Stanford and Columbia Public Interest Law Foundations to start the Rainbow Rights Project in September 2009.

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Michael C. Owens, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
- Successful Significant Other Partnering in Transgender Relationships
Transgender man. Transitioned in 2003. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, WPATH certified therapist and provider of standards of care. Member of Transgender Foudation of American, Houston Texas. Work as a psychotherapist in public and private settings with youth, families, and individuals. Involved in legislative advocacy for hate crime bills, bullying bills, and ENDA in Texas. Provided previous workshops on being transgender in sobriety and having a transgender partnered relationship in sobriety (November 2009). Play guitar and I am a lead singer in a transgender band called Transition. I have been the foster parent of a transgender teenage youth MTF that I parented while she transitioned in high school. My partner is her foster mother. This was historical. The first youth legally transitioned in CPS custody in Texas.
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Kim Pearson
- Creating Positive Media Experiences
- Utilizing Existing Federal Law to Protect Your Gender Variant/ Transgender Youth in School
- Allies Supporting ‘T’ Youth and Their Families
- Minimizing the Top Ten Fears of Raising a Gender Variant Child
Kim Pearson is Executive Director/Co-Founder of TransYouth Family Allies (TYFA) and National Board President of PFLAG-TNET. She first directed her energy into GLBT support, advocacy and education as the founder and president of her local PFLAG Chapter when the youngest of her three children came out as lesbian in 2005. Eighteen months later she found herself facilitating that same child’s transition to living life as a young man. Fueled by her passion for ensuring respect and equal rights for children like hers she co-founded TYFA, the first and only national organization that supports, educates and advocates exclusively for gender variant and transgender children. In its short history TYFA has provided support to over 100 families, and training to hundreds of GLBT organizations, service professionals and government officials all over the United States. TYFA and their families have been featured on several local/national radio programs, national/regional television and numerous print articles. In February 2010, Kim received the Melissa Chapman Award For individual effort affecting social Change by the Gender Identity Center of Colorado.
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Rev. Dr. Susan Ritchie
- The Conversation: Church and the Transgender Individual
The Rev. Dr. Susan Ritchie has served as the minister of the North Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Lewis Center, Ohio since September of 1996.  Since 2008, she has also served as Visiting Professor of Unitarian Universalist Heritage and Ministry at the Starr King School for the Ministry.  She also serves on the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Board of Trustees.
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Donna Rose
- TRANSitioning from Academia to the Workplace
Donna Rose is a nationally recognized speaker, educator, and advocate on transgender and transsexual issues.  She is active in the leadership of several national GLBT Advocacy organizations, is the author of an award-winning memoir, is heavily involved in national corporate diversity efforts.  Her website (www.donnarose.com) remains an active source of information and support for/about the transgender community.  She is invited to share her inspirational, uplifting and fascinating journey with audiences around the country.
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Jamie Royce

Jamie Royce
- Social Networking and Your Activism
- Femmetastic: Fierce Femmes Fighting Back
Jamie Royce is a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati studying journalism and women’s studies. While at UC, she was the opinion editor of The News Record and a member of GenderBloc, a radical queer group, organizing the GenderF*ck drag show and The Queer Canon zine. She hosts Alternating Currents, the second-longest-running LGBT radio show in America; organizes Cincinnati Guerrilla Queer Bar; and blogs at http://stuffqueerpeopleneedtoknow.wordpress.com.

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Ebba (left) and Michelle (right)

Ebba Schmid
- Other Men Project: The (In)visbility of Transmen
Ebba started the Other Men Project in 2008. Being a part of the LGBTQ Community, Ebba wanted to help raise awareness of the underrepresentation of Transmen. Ebba plans to continue to exhibit, photograph and speak about the Project and representation issues over the next few years. The Project’s NYC-based curator, Michelle Halabura, will also be present to discuss her involvement and answer questions.
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Briden Schueren

Briden Cole Schueren
- Finger Painting Expression
- Health & Fitness
I am a 22-year-old crazy fun playful ftm artist that loves to express myself in the most colorful crazy way possible. I am an fine art and photography student looking to build my career being able to enjoy myself with my art work. I have recently started to create a clothing line, where I have started with hand painted ties. Along with painting, photography, my clothing line I also enjoy sculpting and making multimedia pieces. I am also involved with a high school rowing team, where I am the Head Novice Women’s Coach. I get to help teens grow and make responsible choices, while growing to be young adults. It forces me to learn how to have a healthy strong diet so I can teach other how to achieve being a strong and healthy athlete.
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Skylar Seward
- The Conversation: Church and the Transgender Individual
Skylar Seward became an active member of North Congregational United Church of Christ after helping to plan the “Called to Be: An Affirming Dialogue with the Transgender Community” weekend that was held at North Congregational. Skylar is a co-founder and co-leader of the church’s OnA (Open and Affirming) Outreach Team which seeks to help other churches and faith communities update their ONA statements to include sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. His wife Angie is also an active member of North Congregational and also co- facilitates a spouses support group not associated with the church.
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Ellen Seigel

Ellen Seigel
- Living the Sacred Moments in Everyday Life
Ellen Seigel LISW-S, ACHT is a licensed clinical social worker and clinical hypnotherapist, T/B/L/G/ activist, teacher and public speaker. She offers private therapy sessions and spiritual mentoring as well as workshops in which she teaches meditation, communication skills, using the mind to relieve pain, setting emotional boundaries, parenting skills and much more. Ellen has additional certifications in Spirituality and Social Work Practice, Trauma Memory Resolution, EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Phoenix Vibrational Healing, Reiki and other subtle energy healing techniques.
Prior  to  becoming  an  inspirational  life  coach  and  public speaker,  Ellen  co-created  and  presented  a  16  hour  course “Sensitivity  Training  –  Lesbian,  Gay,  Bisexual  and Transgender  students,  parents  and  staff”  to  hundreds  of  public  school  professionals  on  Long  Island,  in  NY.    Her achievements in this area have been recognized by the NYS Legislature  as well  as GLSEN,  The Gay,  Lesbian,  Straight, Education Network, New York City.

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Dr. Jeff Spiegel, MD
- Facial Feminization Surgery: Maximizing Results
Dr. Jeffrey Spiegel is Chief of the Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Boston Medical Center and holds academic appointments in the Departments of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery and Plastic Surgery at the Boston University School of Medicine.  His practice specializes in Facial Feminization Surgery. He sees head and neck surgery and facial cosmetic surgery patients at Boston Medical Center in Boston’s historic and vibrant South End.
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Jac Stringer

JAC Stringer
- Community Discussion: What to do about GID
- GenderQueer Panel Discussion
JAC Stringer is a genderfucking femme boy born and raised in the Midwest. A radical genderqueer trans-activist, JAC is the founding director of The Queer Wellness Initiative and The GenderQueer Coalition, co-founder and Community Action Director of GIDOut.com, and is an avid transqueer blogger on MidwestGenderQueer.com. He works as a national lobbyist for sex education reform with Advocates for Youth, is a member of the International Drag King Extravaganza board, and presents at schools, conferences, and symposia across the country on trans, genderqueer, and activist topics. JAC’s alter-ego is the genderfuckingly fabulous JAC McFaggin’; a pleather and feather wearing euro-star who has performed across the country both as a solo performer and as a co-managing member of internationally recognized drag troupe The Black Mondays. In addition to his activist work and performing, JAC is pursuing research in sexology and gender studies focusing on non-pathologized gender variance, GID reform, and queer sexualities.
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j wallace
- Seahorse Papas, Bearing Fathers and Birth Dads; navigating pregnancy, conception and birth
j wallace  is an educator, activist, and writer based in Burlington Ontario. His work focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, transsexual, 2-spirited, intersexed, queer and questioning (LGBTT2IQQ) individuals, their communities and related issues – with a particular focus on youth.  He brings deep experience in needs assessment, teaching (especially about gender and/or sexuality issues), policy creation, training team members on policy issues, program development, and large and small group facilitation. Much of j’s professional work at this point is on behalf of queer and trans people in education and in health care.  Outside of work, these days he’s a very busy Abba (dad in Hebrew) to a four month old.

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Roberta Zenker

Roberta Zenker
- TransMontana
I am the first and only transgender (MTF 3 years post-op)lawyer in Montana, History. I am the only out trans person ever elected to public office in Montana, and probably a lot of other places too.  I transition in Helena, MT while working as an attorney in state bar with only 3,000 members.  Stealth was not a possibility.  I am 52 years old and now work as a discrimination and civil rights lawyer.  I have written my memoir and am currently looking for a publisher. I am involved in LGBT rights and advocacy with my partner, also a transwoman.  As she says, we are transbians.