Hanne Blank All This And Cute Shoes Too: Femme Beyond Binaries Hanne Blank's work, including such titles as Virgin: The Untouched History (Bloomsbury USA, 2007) and Unruly Appetites (Seal Press, 2003), "does for sex what feminism does for women: it gives us context." Publishers Weekly lauds Blank as "informative, funny and provocative," with "a pleasing, highly readable style that allows her to convey large amounts of information with wit and agility." A classically-trained musician who continued on to doctoral studies as a historian, Blank's work has been featured in periodicals as diverse as Penthouse, In These Times, Lilith, Bitch, and the Boston Phoenix. She and her work have been featured and reviewed in The Village Voice, Utne Reader, OUT, Salon.com, and many other periodicals online and off. Ms. Blank has been widely interviewed on radio and television in the US, UK, and Canada, including features for National Public Radio, BBC 4, and the acclaimed Canadian program SexTV. As a public speaker, Ms. Blank has appeared on the campuses of many universities and colleges, including Brandeis University, Johns Hopkins University, Tufts University, University of Delaware, and the University of Minnesota as well as at numerous national and regional conferences. She was the 2004-2005 Scholar of the Institute for Teaching and Research on Women, Towson University, Towson, Maryland.

Eli Clare Breaking Isolation, Building Community: A Gathering for Disabled and Deaf Trans People and Our Allies Genderqueer poet and essayist Eli Clare has a B.A. in Women's Studies, a M.F.A. in Creative Writing, and most importantly a penchant for rabble-rousing. Among other things, he has walked across the United States for peace, coordinated a rape prevention program in Ann Arbor , Michigan , and helped organize the first ever Queerness and Disability Conference in 2002. He has spoken all over the country at conferences, community events, and colleges about disability, LGBT identities, and other social justice issues. Eli is the author of "Exile and Pride: Disability, Queerness, and Liberation." (South End Press, 1999) More recent work can be found in "GLQ: Desiring Disability--Queer Theory Meets Disability Studies," "From the Inside Out: Radical Gender Transformation, FTM and Beyond," and "Dangerous Families: Queer Writing on Surviving." He lives in Vermont and works at the University of Vermont 's LGBTQA Services. When not otherwise occupied, you can find Eli having fun adventures with his sweetie, riding his trike, and hanging out with his dog.

Brenda Coley HIV Prevention/Safer Sex for FTMs+ and Mental Health Providers Brenda Coley is the Director of Adult Services at Diverse and Resilient, formerly Associate Executive Director at the Milwaukee LGBT Center . Brenda has done numerous presentations on subjects related to cross cultural literacy, cultural competency, and cultural diversity related to health and social justice issues. Coley has over 15 years experience in HIV prevention methods. She has assisted organizations in implementations of work plans, trained on HIV prevention and science based intervention models, conducted safer sex trainings and focus groups targeting marginalized populations. Coley is a member of a statewide HIV prevention work group addressing Transgender populations. She is currently facilitating a transgender 101 training piloted by the statewide transgender work group. This training has been provided to community organizations and agencies that serve the Transgender population in Milwaukee.

Diana Courvant Survivor Centered Advocacy for Trans Survivors of Violence Diana Courvant began work for intersex and trans survivors of violence in 1992 and is a leader in this special field. In 1997 she co-founded the Survivor Project, the only organization nationwide to focus specifically on aiding trans and intersex survivors. Her multi-issue approach to the work has earned praise and awards in every corner of the United States and beyond. Her writing has been included in acclaimed and award-winning anthologies including "Adios Barbie," "This is What Lesbian Looks Like," and "This Bridge We Call Home". She recently married her long-time partner, Francie Nevill and the two are hoping for their first child to arrive healthy and soon.

Heather Davies, LMSW Beyond the Binary: Language, Longing, and Legitimacy Heather Davies, LMSW, is a therapist, artist, and writer who combines her love of artistry and creativity with the transformative process to help others move forward along their individual healing paths. Heather currently works as a therapist and community outreach trainer for a GLBTQ-focused community counseling center in Austin, TX. She received her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and her Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy.

lore m. dickey, MA. PhD Student Understanding the FTM Experience: 101 for Providers lore m. dickey is a 45 year old FTM. He began his transition in 1999 in Seattle, WA. He is currently located in Grand Forks, ND where he has completed the first year of the Counseling Psychology PhD program at the University of North Dakota. lore has a strong research background including a recent study on the effectiveness of support groups for the FTM community. lore will be working at Bemidji State University in Minnesota during the 2006-2007 school year as a Student Counselor. Upon graduation (2010) he hopes to work as a college professor and continue his research on the FTM experience. lore was raised in Phoenix, AZ and graduated from high school in Seattle, WA. He worked for over ten years in the field of Recreation. He holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Development from the Leadership Institute of Seattle at Bastyr University. He has presented at numerous conferences including FTM 2001, 2005, and 2006: A Gender Odyssey and the 2006 American Psychological Association convention.

Andrew Forshee Supporting Gender-Variant Children, Youth and Their Families Andrew S. Forsh ée, PhD is a SOFFA, ally, educator, scholar, and human service practitioner. Dr. Forshée is engaged in a variety of projects about diversity among men, including issues of masculinity, sexuality, queerness, gender, and identity. His current research focuses on experiences of masculinity, access to social and health services, and personal narratives among transmen. He is a member of various professional associations, including the WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health, formerly the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association (HBIGDA), the American Public Health Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Association of Social Workers. In July 2006, Dr. Forshée’s doctoral dissertation, Perceptions of Masculinity among Transgender Men, was accepted into the collections of the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction ( Bloomington, Indiana).

Laura Gutnecht HIV Prevention/Safer Sex for FTMs+ and Mental Health Providers Bio coming soon.

Molly Herrmann HIV Prevention/Safer Sex for FTMs+ and Mental Health Providers Molly Herrmann , MS, is the Community Planning Coordinator for the state AIDS/HIV Program, a lead trainer of providers, and the contract monitor for several LGBT and AIDS service organizations. Molly also coordinates a transgender HIV prevention provider group. Prior to her position at the state, Molly provided direct HIV prevention services to women, and incarcerated populations. As a consultant, Molly provides training to providers on inclusive services for LGBT survivors of intimate partner violence and on oppression and privilege across populations. Molly has interviewed FTM transgender individuals and lesbian and bisexual women about their experiences with intimate partner violence.

Gary Hollander, Ph.D. HIV Prevention/Safer Sex for FTMs+ and Mental Health Providers Gary Hollander is a psychologist who serves as the Executive Director of Diverse and Resilient, Inc., a capacity-building organization committed to the healthy development of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Wisconsin . Dr. Hollander earned his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee after having taught in Milwaukee Public Schools for more than a decade. He as had leadership positions in several area health and educational organizations and, for the past 20 years, he has been active in the area of HIV prevention and public health promotion for LGBT people. In 2006, Gary was instrumental in the publication of two white papers on the health of LGBT people in Wisconsin, one on youth the other on adults. The little balance he has between work and leisure is focused on his partner of 23 years, their dogs and their extensive gardens.

Jessica Eve Humphrey All This And Cute Shoes Too: Femme Beyond Binaries Jessica Eve Humphrey is a fat, femme, feminist, generally loudmouthed graduate student, teacher, and activist from a working class Italian-American family. A native Washingtonian and California transplant, she enjoys writing about and giving workshops on gender, sexuality, political activism, size, identity, and drag; but truly loves Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Jessica is writing her dissertation on identity and memory in contemporary American popular culture and literature. She's a huge fan of science fiction and is currently a member of Ethel and the Pantyraids, a fat-positive burlesque troupe.

Raven Kaldera Creative Spirituality for the Third Gender Tribe Raven Kaldera is a shaman, an astrologer, a farmer and homesteader, and an FTM transgendered intersexual activist. He is the author of too many books to list, including "Hermaphrodeities: The Transgender Spirituality Workbook", and is the co-editor of "Best Transgender Erotica". 'Tis an ill wind that blows no minds.

Sebastian Margaret Breaking Isolation, Building Community: A Gathering for Disabled and Deaf Trans People and Our Allies Sebastian Margaret’s involvement with Disability Culture, oppression and Community spans some 20 years. In both England and in North America he has presented Disability Rights and self-advocacy as a social justice and cross disability issue. Born and raised in the North of England, Sebastian is a cognitively disabled Trans man and a parent of young children. He currently lives in New Mexico, where he works presenting child sexual abuse prevention programs in public schools He trains, and consults locally and nationally on Disability Rights and inclusion. Greatly informed by an analysis of power and privilege, the necessity of community driven provision and the prerequisite of culturally competent services, Sebastian is active in the Disability Rights Movement as an advocate, activist, educator and trainer. A trained advocate and experienced anti-violence provider, his involvement in service provision is from a client centered, and harm reduction model. Currently Sebastian is working on the development of self-empowerment curriculum to educate, inspire and equip kids with disabilities to acquire greater self-advocacy and participation.

Dean Spade Building Anti-Racist Organizations, Coalitions and Movements Dean Spade is a trans attorney and activist, and founder of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP). SRLP is a collective legal organization providing free legal services to low-income people and people of color facing gender identity discrimination, and engaging in public education, policy reform, and community organizing support focused on issues relevant to trans, intersex and gender non-conforming people. Dean's writing has appeared in the Berkeley Women's Law Journal, the Howard Scroll, GLQ, the Harvard Lesbian and Gay Review, the Chicano-Latino Law Review and other publications. His essays have appeared in the recent books, "Without a Net" edited by Michelle Tea, and "That's Revolting: Queer Strategies for Resisting Assimilation" edited by Mattilda Sycamore. Dean is also co-editor of the online journal makezine.org, and adjunct teaches law classes focusing on sexuality and gender and law at Columbia Law School and Harvard Law School.

Hector Torres, Ph.D. HIV Prevention/Safer Sex for FTMs+ and Mental Health Providers Hector L. Torres, Psy.D. has been involved in HIV prevention since 1996 when he started working for the AIDS Foundation of Puerto Rico. In 1999, he moved to Miami , where he was hired by Care Resource to design, implement, and coordinate an adolescent HIV prevention program. In 2004, he completed his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a sub-specialization in Forensic Psychology at Carlos Albizu University in Miami . After completing his doctoral degree, he accepted a postdoctoral fellowship position in the HIV Prevention Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Center for AIDS Intervention Research (CAIR). During his fellowship he collaborated with faculty at CAIR on research projects of shared interest and conducted his own developmental research project. Also as part of his fellowship, he conducted psychotherapy at Milwaukee Health Services and AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. Currently, he has been hired to work as a psychologist by Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and continues teaching at Marquette University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on a part-time basis.

Reid Vanderburgh, MA, LMFT Understanding the FTM Experience: 101 for Providers & Supporting Gender-Variant Children, Youth and Their Families Reid Vanderburgh is a 50-year-old FTM who began his physical transition in 1997 in Portland, Oregon, where he continues to make his home. He has an MA in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University’s Graduate School for Holistic Studies (2001), and recently received his license as a Marriage and Family Therapist through the state of Oregon. Reid maintains a private practice in downtown Portland; approximately 90% of his clients are trans-identified in some way. In addition to his work as a therapist, Reid volunteers through the Trans/Identity Resource Center, helping trans individuals change the gender on their Oregon driver’s license or ID card. Reid teaches Continuing Education classes on various aspects of gender identity, through Portland State University. He has also led workshops and classroom discussions about trans issues, in a wide variety of educational settings. Reid is the author of the forthcoming book, “Transition and Beyond: Observations on Gender Identity” (Q Press, 2007).

Shane Whalley, LMSW Beyond the Binary: Language, Longing, and Legitimacy Shane Whalley, LMSW, has spent the last 10 years as a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activist and educator. Ze received hir Master’s in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin. Currently, Shane is a therapist working with the GLBT population and a Lecturer at the School of Social Work at UT, where ze was recently named Adjunct Lecturer of the Year. Hir passion is to make space for those who live in the “gender gray.” Ze is currently located in Austin, Texas.