A record number of attendees are expected to turn out for the milestone 10th anniversary of the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference next week.
The conference, themed “Looking Back, Looking Forward” in honor of the anniversary, will run June 2-4 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 13th and Arch streets.
While the event has grown exponentially in size — going from a one-day conference the first year to a now three-day event that, last year, drew more than 1,400 guests — Nurit Shein, executive director of the Mazzoni Center, which incorporated the conference as a program several years ago, said its core mission has never wavered.
“Since it was established 10 years ago, the vision of the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference has been to address body, mind, spirit, community and well-being,” Shein said. “We are proud to mark this milestone anniversary and to note that while the conference has experienced remarkable growth and development over the years, it remains true to these original principles and to the grassroots spirit from which it was born.”
The three days will be packed full of activities, with about 200 panel discussions, workshops and lectures on everything and anything trans — the largest number of events ever. Registration for the workshops is free, and topics range from aging to youth, from surgery to safety and from homelessness to healthcare.
The conference will kick off with its opening plenary at 8:45 a.m. June 2 featuring trans pioneers Jamison Green and Earline Budd, who will be honored that night at the opening reception, 7:30 p.m. at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.
Conference organizer Chris Paige said Green and Budd will lead several events throughout the weekend, working directly with conference participants to embody the mission of the conference theme, “Looking Back, Looking Forward.”
“Instead of focusing on just one keynote speaker, we wanted to get a little creative with the 10th anniversary because we’re looking at our past, present and future,” Paige said. “So Jamison and Earline will be speaking together on Thursday, then they’re going to do a community conversation Friday and then there will be three concurrent plenaries on Saturday. So instead of elevating just one person as our expert keynote, we wanted to say that there are different ways of thinking about community and different ways we can share insight and inspiration.”
Also on Friday, the conference will welcome author Chaz Bono, who will read from and sign copies of his new book, “Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man,” at 11:45 a.m.
Following Friday’s workshops, guests are invited to the Fallen Angels Ball, held from 7-11 p.m. at the Convention Center in collaboration with the House of Blahnik.
The conference’s first-ever Book Expo will round out the weekend’s activities on Saturday, featuring transgender authors who will participate in book signings, followed by the annual Blender, from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., a full-length cabaret show featuring myriad entertainers to honor the conference’s 10 successful years.
When not attending sessions, guests can view an archival exhibition on the conference’s history at the William Way LGBT Community Center, through June 5.
For more information about the conference or to pre-register, visit www.trans-health.org.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].
© 2011 Philadelphia Gay News