Participants in the 13th annual Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference will have a new opportunity to learn about the event and its offerings before diving in.
The event will launch June 12 at Pennsylvania Convention Center with a welcoming orientation at 8:45 a.m.
“Usually first thing in the morning, we start our workshops and then have the keynote speaker present but this time we wanted to keep the morning free,” said conference coordinator Samantha Jo Dato. “We’ll have Mayor Michael Nutter there and myself, going through the conference, telling people where things are, what new stuff is happening. This is for anyone, first-timers or repeat attendees.”
The conference, a program of Mazzoni Center, welcomes more than 3,200 transgender individuals and allies every year to attend workshops on a myriad of topics including education, health care, employment, safety, housing and social support.
This year’s event will include participation by more than 500 speakers and panelists during the three-day conference.
Keynote speakers are writer and advocate Janet Mock and National Center for Transgender Equality director of policy Harper Jean Tobin, who will speak at 1 p.m. June 12 and 1 p.m. June 13, respectively.
Dato said individuals of all backgrounds can draw inspiration from Mock.
“Janet Mock is an amazing activist in the trans community,” she said. “The Planning Committee put together their top picks and we voted and she was the person who would have had an impact and leave the audience feeling empowered and wanting more.”
In addition to the multitude of daytime workshops and discussions, the conference will also include nighttime events like Blender Trans* Performance Showcase from 8-11 p.m. June 14 in Room 103C, and youth open-mic night Applause from 7:30-10 p.m. June 14 in Room 103A.
Dato said she hopes the conference leaves attendees feeling empowered and supported.
“I believe when people attend, they are looking for something different than basic 101 Hormones,” she said. “People find out that allies are in all shapes, colors and forms and under the trans umbrella, they see so many different things. I want people to walk away feeling amazing and educated and with a new support system.”
For more information, visit www.trans-health.org.