You Can't Shave in a Minimart Bathroom

My Reflections on the Conference

What a rush!

I always said that I wanted to help others on this journey. Today, I had an opportunity...

I am at the Northeast LGBT Conference at the University of Buffalo. Massive campus! Some pretty phenomenal students & advisers. Some from as far away as Texas & Michigan.

The first session I went to was on spotting signs of suicide. Something every teacher really needs to hear and get a refresher course on.

The second session was on starting a GSA - Gay Straight Alliance. I picked up some great info on how to start and maintain a GSA.

The third session was where I was presenting.

I had a full classroom. With people sitting on the floor and hanging in the doorway. Even before the session started, I was telling stories with the people who arrived early. It was powerful. I had some really great questions. Told some new stories. It was like theater in the round where the desks all made a U pattern and I went up and down the space telling my stories to everyone..

Afterward, there were a few people who had some questions, so we grabbed an empty classroom and continued. Much more intimate setting. These women are just starting on their journey and they had some questions. Plus, they wanted someone safe they could talk with about transitioning.

For the rest of the evening, I was being stopped by people who were either at or heard about my presentation. I had a lot of questions come my way and a lot of people who said that they now had a better understanding of what it means to be transgendered.

Dinner was at a neighboring hotel. Instead of driving myself, I grabbed a ride with the group from Herkimer Community College. Adam escorted me in with me on his arm. That was a first - a very nice first, to be honest. Cute guy. Half my age, but cute none the less. (Please, no cougar comments! ;-D )

Once I got back to the motel, people were still coming up and commenting on my talk. One young woman was almost in tears as she spoke.

Yes, I handed out a lot of business cards & cd-roms. Several places are interested in having me come out and talk at their school.

But the best part of all was all the people I have met here at this conference! I can see where Michael & I are going to have a long friendship. (Teacher from Le Moyne) I think the same thing is true for Jane, the adviser at Herkimer. The students, both high school & college aged, have made a real incredible impression on me! Strong kids who are very comfortable with who they are. Confident kids. Kids who are going places.

What an adrenalin rush being here today!

Next year's conference is in Binghamton, NY.

Sunday morning started out with caucus sessions.  I sat with the spirituality caucus. We talked about how being LGBT has affected out spirituality. Good discussions. We are going to try and have an ecumenical service at next year's conference.

The last presentation was on how the LGBT community has been portrayed on television over the last 60 years. Watching the TV image the media presented made it crystal clear why it took so long for me to come out to myself! It also made it clear why so many people are coming out now. TV is portraying being gay or lesbian as acceptable. Trans people are still, in general, portrayed poorly. But its getting better....

On the way out to the car, I was stopped by a young woman.  Her group was from San Antonio, Texas.  She spent 50+ days living as a male - much like the book "Black Like Me" - to better understand what it means to be transgendered.  She had a LOT of flack from the trans community down there for doing this. She asked if she could email me with questions in regards to a book she is working on. I said absolutely.

The entire conference was like this. Incredibly powerful interactions.

It's hard coming back to the world. ;)