For Parents and Their Transgender Children

Transgender, gender variant, and intersex children, and their families, can have a tough time finding situations where they can gather, relax, and be themselves. For those who don't know about it, the Gender Spectrum Family Conference, taking place at the Berkeley Doubletree Marina Hotel from July 13-15, provides a rare setting of peace, safety, and goodwill as well as an array of informative workshops, family support centers, and other programs for adults, teens, tweens and younger children. Camps for children add to the fun. 

The associated professional conference, which takes place July 13, is also excellent. Psychologists, therapists, social workers, attorneys and other helping professionals are encouraged to attend. (Some professionals will be able to earn six continuing education units.)

I am looking forward to attending the Gender Spectrum Conference, both as a parent and as a professional. During one of the lunch sessions I'll be offering an informal workshop to parents and children on self-hypnosis and other easy, self-help skills designed to help beat the stress of living in a hostile, transphobic world. The rest of the time I'll be happily overwhelmed by the weekend's many excellent learning opportunities. 

Other than attending the Gender Spectrum conference, isolation has been a problem for me. Though my oldest kid attends college now, I'd like to meet other families like mine. I'm in the process of organizing a Meet Up group for families of transgender and gender variant kids, and hope to meet other Albany and East Bay families who are going through this unique challenge. If you are interested, please get in touch.

Finally, as one of the contributors to Rachel Pepper's anthology, Transitions of the Heart - Stories of Love, Struggle and Acceptance by Mothers of Transgender and Gender Variant Children, I'll be reading at the book party on Wednesday, June 6, 7 p.m., at , along with some of the other moms. Please come support the book and say hello. 

I'm hoping that such events bring more awareness, visibility, welcome and acceptance of this issue to our "Little Town of Albany."