About FORGE

FORGE (For Ourselves: Reworking Gender Expression) is a national education, advocacy and support umbrella organization supporting FTM+s⁽¹⁾ (female-to-male transsexuals and transgenderists, and others who were assigned female at birth but who have some level of masculine identification) and SOFFAs (Significant Others, Family, Friends and Allies).FORGE’s components and services include:

• A social support group, meeting monthly in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for trans-masculine individuals and SOFFAs
• Transgender Sexual Violence Project, serving transgender and SOFFA survivors of sexual violence and the providers who serve them
• FORGE Forward 2007 Conference, the largest gathering of trans-masculine, SOFFA and providers in the Midwest
• TAN, an international network of people who serve, do research, training, or advocacy about, and/or are otherwise interested in transgender aging issues.
• Multiple listserves, including ElderTG, SV-support, FORGE announcements, Conference announcements, and more.
• Connectivity newsletter - devoted to exploring one topic in depth each issue and reporting on developments of interest to the trans+/SOFFA community
• Fact sheets and other publications
• Training and consultation on issues of concern to the trans+/SOFFA communities

(1) FTM+ or a "+" next to any word, is the way FORGE chooses to show respect and inclusion for people who step outside of the box, or who identify in ways that are not overtly listed or addressed in this publication. People are much more complex than a set of words and labels. "+" indicates an expansiveness that words cannot capture, recognizing and welcoming the beautiful diversity within our community.