Trans Conferences

[JamieInHeels]

Hi Everyone,

I am interested in hearing what trans conferences people have attended. I'd love to find out what people liked about the conferences they attended, what they did not like, what topics they are interested in, who they would recommend as presenters, what makes each conference special.

-Jamie

[Sometimes Steffi]

My first conference was Keystone 2012, and then I went back for Keystone 2013. I thought it was great. I knew a bunch of girls going, and I met a bunch more there. They have seminars during the day, and t night you can go to the Casino, restaurants, and a dance club/bar. Saturday night is a formal dinner and dance. I like Keystone because it is not overly large and it it close enough that I can drive. With all the stuff I've taken, I couldn't afford the baggage surcharges if I was flying. Plus I knew aqbout 20 girls that were going. The other one I've always thought about is Fantasia in Provincetown, Mass. Provincetown is a great place to be gender varient.

[Stark]

I just went to my first one this past June - the Philly Trans Health Conference. One of the moments I remember most is sitting in the lobby just people-watching between workshops. There were so many people dressed/presenting however they wanted - no one seemed to need to "pass." There were people with beards in dresses, people with obvious bosoms in masculine garb, etc. It was so nice to see a small microcosm of my perfect fantasy world where there are no gender roles/strictures.

When you register, you literally get a BOOK of the course offerings (although a lot of it is bios, ads, etc.). There were a ton of workshops and there was always something of interest in every slot. They ranged from workshops about transitioning at work to living with an aging trans person to drumming to how to disclose when dating. Really awesome stuff.

That's the only one I've been to and plan to go back next year. I also really want to go to Southern Comfort but can't this year. Maybe next year...

[Jorja]

workshops about living with an aging trans person

Careful now, I resemble this! :)

[Veronica27]

I have attended the Gals Spring Fling in Gananoque Ontario most years since its inception, missing only the first one and this past year. I also attended the Erie Gala in Erie Pa. several years ago. Both of these events are about the same size with about 75 to 80 people attending. The things I like best about the Gals event are:

1) You can opt for any one of several packages covering 2, 3 or more days, or simply select which of the dinners or other activities you wish to enjoy. This latter aspect has helped us greatly because we always seem to be tied down with other commitments during that week. Since we live within a 1 to 2 hour drive away, this has enabled us to make an appearance once or twice during the week some years.
2) The venue, which was in Kingston Ont. the first few years is now in Gananoque at a great Ramada Inn that is in a scenic setting, and is basically a large motel complex. You park right by your unit, and can walk around the grounds being en femme in the great outdoors. There is a large outdoor pool, and the weather has usually been accommodating.
3) We have been able to meet and enjoy chatting with some wonderful people from the mostly closeted to some who are in transition or already there.

The only downside for me is that the seminars have been increasingly slanted toward topics that are of interest primarily to those who are in or contemplating transition. This is the case with many events however.

The Erie event was enjoyable for most of the same reasons, i.e. a chance to get out among others while crossdressed and enjoy a good banquet, meet nice people and have some interesting discussions. The only downside was the fact it was in November, and we drove through some terrible early winter snowstorms to get there. I feel sorry for those who live in Oswego New York. We get nothing like that kind of snow on the north side of Lake Ontario.

Veronica

[JamieInHeels]

My first conference was Keystone 2012, and then I went back for Keystone 2013. I thought it was great. I knew a bunch of girls going, and I met a bunch more there. They have seminars during the day, and t night you can go to the Casino, restaurants, and a dance club/bar. Saturday night is a formal dinner and dance. I like Keystone because it is not overly large and it it close enough that I can drive. With all the stuff I've taken, I couldn't afford the baggage surcharges if I was flying. Plus I knew aqbout 20 girls that were going. The other one I've always thought about is Fantasia in Provincetown, Mass. Provincetown is a great place to be gender varient.

I have been to Fantasia Fair many times - everyone since 1998 - and I can highly recommend it. Each conference has their own personality and Fantasia Fair is no different. Fantasia Fair does not take place in some huge high-rise hotel where you spend day-after-day in the same building. The activities and events of the Fair take place in many small inns, restaurants and various locations within walking distance from the center of town. Fairgoers walk from location to location and since both the residents and vacationers in town are so used to the LGBT community that they hardly give a trans person a second glance. This combination of intimacy and public exposure gives you an experience that many describe as “the closest thing to living full time without actually going full time.”

Fantasia Fair is intimate. You will not get lost in the crowd and, with it lasting a whole week, you can actually meet and build friendships with almost everyone attending. Plus, there is no waiting for elevators! I recall going to my first "Night of a 1000 Gowns" and, because I hardly knew anyone, I felt very much alone even thought there was many hundreds of people there. I am not a bashful person and I did introduce myself but it was kind of hard to establish friendships in such a short time. At the Fair, I can get to know a lot of people fairly well over the course of a week.

Considering what you get, Fantasia Fair is a bargain. With seven lunches and brunches, three dinners, three shows, six keynotes, wine tasting, and other events all included in the price, you end up getting more bang for your buck than any other trans event. Plus, October is at the end of the tourist season on Cape Cod, so everything is on sale! When you consider what it would normally cost to take a vacation in such places as New York, Chicago, or the Caribbean, attending Fantasia Fair is an exceptional value. This is especially true when you consider that the Fair provides a safe and accepting place for you to live en femme for a whole week.

[PretzelGirl]

I am surprised at the low amount of replies, especially nothing about SCC, so I will jump in with one.

I have only been to Diva Las Vegas. SCC would be nice, but there are only so many vacation days and funds to go around and with family in all four corners of the US.... well, they want to see me too.

But Diva Las Vegas is more of a mass vacation than a conference. There is no central hotel or fee. Volunteers setup all the "events" and those who want to attend sign up. This is mostly so the volunteers can make the right reservations and the location can be ready. A few require advance payments, but those are generally the exception. So on two nights, the opening and closing, the dinner is pretty much one location so everyone can say hi and bye. The other nights will have 3-4 different restaurant choices.

Outside of eating (a popular event :D) there are things like makeovers, limo rides, museums, pole dancing, bar crawls, dancing.... you name it. If someone wants to volunteer to set it up, it can happen. The group is very driven to make as many events be pay as you go and the meals to be straight from the menu instead of what we call the rubber chicken meals where the restaurant gives you one or two choices to pick from. We are on vacation, not a business trip!

So all in all, it is a mass vacation and quite a blast. I am told that Pinkfest follows the same model and it is in Chicago October 16-20.