Thea PeachState Conference 2016 Seminar Presentation Schedule
Abigail Forlenza
Integrating as a woman (the post-transition closet)
Saturday 9:00 - 10:30 AM
We've all been there, that intense desire to become
our true selves. So intense is this desire that we
never give a thought to what happens afterwards.
Come chat with Abigail as she unravels the mysteries
of post-transitional life as a woman. This is a
structured discussion on integrating into society as a
post-operative transgender woman. Abigail will
discuss her experiences on managing new and old
relationships, dating, fears, workplace, and various
social situations. The audience is encouraged to
participate in discussions and ask questions within
the format of the discussions. Men and women, CIS
or trans are welcome to participate however
Abigail's experiences are from the perspective of a
trans-woman.
Abigail is a post-operative trans-woman living life as
a woman since 2012. She is divorced and has two
daughters in high school. Though she started crossdressing as a teen she did not transition until later in
life. Abigail holds a degree in Mathematical
Computer Sciences and currently works as a
consultant in the IT industry for various customers.
She had published a technical book as well as many
technical papers as a he. She also published a blog
documenting her life story as it relates to being
transgender and her transition. Abigail is a runner,
plays wallyball and participates on a woman's
volleyball league. She is active on the dating scene
and explores various forms of alternative lifestyles.
She enjoys entertaining, cooking, and spending time
on the beach.
Barbara J. Rubin, Psy.D.
"""Have You Got A Minute?"" How a Simple Question
Can Be a Game Changer:
Why is Peer Support So Important-and What Forms
of Peer Support Do We Need?"
Saturday 9:00 - 10:30 AM
"Psychologist Barbara J. Rubin Dr. Rubin received her
doctoral degree in counseling psychology in 1987
after which she had a successful ten-year career in
psychiatric hospital administration and program
development overseeing the inpatient clinical
programming for adolescents, adults, and older
adults in two Florida hospitals. In the early 1990s,
she designed, planned, and implemented the first
inpatient dual diagnosis treatment program in the
country serving LGBT individuals. Upon relocating to
Atlanta, Georgia in 1997, Dr. Rubin opened a private
practice providing individual and couples counseling.
She simultaneously completed eleven-year tenure as
the full-time in-house psychologist for Fulton County
(Georgia) Superior Court’s Family Division where she
provided court-ordered custody evaluations and coparenting counseling in high conflict divorce cases.
Currently, in her Atlanta private practice, Dr. Rubin
specializes in providing clinical services to
transgender individuals and their families. She also
provides consultation services to attorneys working
to promote the legal rights of their transgender
clients.
Kylee Ann
Informed Consent the WPATH alternative.
Saturday 9:00 - 10:30 AM
What is Informed Consent, who should use it and
how can it be used to access HRT. How do you find
an Informed Consent Provider?
I am a 41 year old trans woman and advocate for
informed consent, and PReP advocate.
Laura E. Ellis, MD
Wellness: What You Need to Know When You See
Your Provider
Saturday 9:00 - 10:30 AM
This is a discussion of the current guidelines for living
a long and healthy life, based on the current
recommendations. We will address some specific
recommendations with reference to the transgender
population. The seminar will be tailored to the needs
of the attendees. Dr Ellis is a board-certified family
physician for 35 years. She currently practices in
Orlando, Florida at Two Spirit, a GLBT-centered
office.
Nyk Robertson
Developmental Disabilities and Affirmation of
Identities
Saturday 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Investigates the continued lack of conversation with
persons with disabilities around their sexualities and
gender identities. By utilizing queer theory and
disability theory, this workshop will examine the
detachment from one's own body and the effect of
this detachment on transgender and GNC individuals
who also have developmental and cognitive
disabilities.
Nyk has received a Bachelor’s in English and Minor in
Creative Writing from Emporia State University in
Emporia, KS and Master’s in Gender Studies from
Simmons College in Boston, MA. They were recently
published in Damaged Goods, Dirty Chai, Diverse
Voices, Glitterwolf, Iris Brown Lit Mag, Sidelines,
Sinister Wisdom, and Skin to Skin.
Thea PeachState Conference 2016 Seminar Presentation Schedule
Ames Simmons
Safer Sex for Trans Bodies: A Community Resource
Saturday 10:30 AM - NOON
The Safer Sex for Trans Bodies resource was jointly
developed by the Human Rights Campaign
Foundation and Whitman Walker Health. We
convened a multidisciplinary working group made up
of clinicians, public policy advocates, writers and
transgender community volunteers to determine
how it could best be designed in order to meet
advocacy and public health interests related to HIV
prevention and improvement of transgender health
outcomes. A focus group session was also held with
transgender patients. What we learned from direct
community input was the importance of using
vocabulary that resonates with the transgender
community. It was important that the resource have
as its foundation an expression of behavior and
attitudes that currently exist within trans
populations and to use those as a springboard for a
description of safer sex resources with an eye toward
harm reduction and optimizing positive health
outcomes for transgender people.
Ames identifies as a transgender man. He attended
Agnes Scott College in Decatur where he obtained a
bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Spanish,
then went on to Emory University Law School in
Atlanta where he obtained a juris doctor degree. He
currently serves as Assistant General Counsel for a
healthcare consulting company. Prior to this job,
Ames was a police officer in DeKalb County. Ames’s
involvement in HRC goes back to his first volunteer
experience with the Atlanta Steering Committee in
2004, where he rose to the level of Steering
Committee Co-Chair and joined the Board of
Governors in 2007. Ames was named to the
Healthcare Equality Index National Advisory Council
in 2010. He was elected national Board of Governors
Co-Chair in 2010, and he was appointed to HRC’s
Board of Directors in 2014, where he now co-chairs
the national Finance Committee. Ames’s policy
activism emphasizes diversity and inclusion with
focus on transgender justice.
Amir Jones
The Affordable Care Act: Key Points of Consideration
Saturday 10:30 AM - NOON
This workshop session will be about the affordable
care act (aca) most recent changes. The final rule,
section 1557, has implications for the trans*
community. We will share an overview of the aca
and talk about section 1557 specifically. There will be
time for questions from the audience, to ensure that
all matters are addressed.
Amir has served the Health Initiative through his
work with the Community Health Fund and is
passionate about providing access to care to the
LGBTQ community. Amir is well versed on disparities
faced by our community within health related areas,
including those experienced by transgender and
gender nonconforming individuals. Amir is a certified
application counselor (cac) and has been working on
aca matters with the Health Initiative, since the first
year of open enrollment for the aca.
Blake Alford
FTM "Matters" Interactive Forum
Saturday 10:30 - Noon
Transmen discuss all topics of interest in this open
session (ex: health, education, relationships, building
a strong FTM community). Anything that matters to
FTM's is open for discussion.
Blake Alford is the co-founder and President of the
Transgender Health and Education Alliance (THEA).
Through his personal stories, organizing educational
conferences, and his untiring efforts to promote
quality of life and access to transgender health care,
Blake is integral to the southern transgender
community.
Dr. Ellie Zara Ley
Male to Female Surgical Options: Genital, Facial
Feminization, Breast Augmentation,
Revisions/Repairs and Body Contouring
Saturday 10:30 AM – NOON
A PowerPoint Presentation discussing current
surgical techniques, a discussion of procedures, risks,
and complications, before and after photos with
time for questions and answers. He is available for
brief individual one on one visits. You may contact
our office at 866-876-6329 if you wish to schedule a
one on one visit. Formal or longer consultations
need to be scheduled at our Scottsdale office at 866876-6329.
Dr. Ellie Zara Ley is a Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgeon. She is Board Certified by The American
Board of Plastic Surgery. She left her private practice
to join the office of Dr. Toby Meltzer in December of
2015. She brings with her extensive training and a
passion for working with the community; performing
Gender Confirmation Surgery in addition to other
plastic surgery procedures. Dr. Ley graduated from
Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara and New York
Medical College. She did her residency in General
Surgery at the University of Arizona. She completed
the following fellowships: Craniofacial/Pediatric
surgery at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt
Lake, Hand and Microsurgery at the University of
Southern California, Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgery at the University of Utah. Dr. Ley is currently
licensed and in good standing with Arizona,
California and Utah Medical Boards. She is published
in multiple journals and has co-written a book
chapter on abdominal flaps. She is tri-lingual in
Spanish, Cantonese (conversational) and English. Dr.
Ley will be performing both MtF and FtM procedures
and has privileges at Greenbaum Specialty Hospital,
Honor Health in Scottsdale, AZ.
Dr. Sherman Leis
A Positive Body Image with FTM Top and Bottom
Surgery: Superior Aesthetic Results in a One-Stage
Procedure – Keeping it Simple and Safe
Saturday 10:30 AM - NOON
Options for FTM Top Surgery will be presented and
variety of cases will demonstrate excellent results in
masculinization of the chest. Options for Phalloplasty
will also be discussed. Dr. Leis will utilize multiple
case presentations to demonstrate superior
aesthetic results obtainable utilizing abdominal or
groin flaps for Phalloplasty, labial deconstruction for
Scrotoplasty and the options of testicular and penile
implants. This surgery is done in one stage and
results in a sensate penis via clitoral transposition, no
grossly deformed donor site and the ability to have
sexual intercourse with erotic sensation.
Sherman N. Leis, D.O., F.A.C.O.S. is Professor and
Chairman of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
He is Board Certified in General Surgery and Plastic
and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in all
types of transgender surgery. He is Director and
Chief Surgeon at The Philadelphia Center for
Transgender Surgery. In addition to surgical services,
The Center provides referrals to a team of
professionals who have expertise in servicing the
surgical and non-surgical needs of transgender
individuals and is one of the few comprehensive
centers of its type in the United States. Dr. Leis is the
Founder of a Residency Training Program in
Philadelphia and over the past thirty years has
trained many plastic surgeons and gender
reassignment surgeons practicing across the United
States.
Thea PeachState Conference 2016 Seminar Presentation Schedule
Anna Baxter, LAPC
Non-Binary: Fact or Fallacy?
Saturday 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Increasingly more people, especially youth, are
coming out and identifying as non-binary genders.
Anna will discuss what the difference between
binary and non-binary is and whether it's real or
fiction. Most importantly, Anna will show parents,
loved ones, friends, and peers how you can help
non-binary people feel more accepted and safe in a
binary world.
Anna Baxter, LAPC is a sex-positive counselor at
Wellspring Counseling Center in Roswell, GA. She is
passionate about providing a safe space for clients to
find internal and external peace by living and loving
more authentically. She particularly loves working
with transgender and gender non-conforming youth
(13-25) and their families as they shed cultural
expectations around gender and sexuality.
two submarines. In 1980, she got married and had
two sons. She has written six books, four of them are
Science Fiction, one is a collection of short stories
and one about her experience on one of the subs. In
1997, she began her transition, created the
Transgender Pride Flag in 1999 and donated the
original to the Smithsonian in 2014. She co-founded
the Transgender American Veterans Association in
2003 to work for better treatment of trans people in
the VA. In 2004, she was elected as a delegate to the
Democratic National Convention, the first trans
person from Georgia and the entire South. In 2000,
she moved from Arizona to Georgia for a better job
opportunity within Sprint and retired in January
2015 after working for them for 25 years. Monica
earned an AA Degree in Industrial Television in 1987
and she is currently attending Chattahoochee Tech
for a degree in Television Production."
Becca Reynolds RN
The Making of a Support Group
Saturday 2:00 - 3:30 PM
An overview of the what, where, when and who
behind the founding of a successful support group.
Becca is a TS Registered Nurse from Springfield, MO.
Becca has been in transition for 12 years and has
been full time since 2012. Becca has been a
presenter at TG conferences for many years, usually
on trans healthcare topic.
Dr Isabel Lowell
Importance of Primary Care for Good Health and
Disease Prevention
Saturday 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Dr Lowell will talk about the importance and role of
primary care providers, and how good care and good
lifestyle habits contribute to a healthier you during
all stages of your life.
Dr. Lowell serves as Assistant Program Director at
Emory's Family Medicine Residency Program, where
her focus is in teaching, hospital medicine, and
Transgender care. In 2015, she started the Gender
Clinic at Emory, providing hormone therapy and
primary care to transgender patients of all ages.
Because of her interests in healthcare administration
and management, she completed an MBA at Emory's
Goizueta Business School in 2016. In her spare time, I
enjoy cycling and running ultramarathons.
Dr. Loren Schechter
Gender Confirmation Surgery
Saturday 2:00 - 3:30 PM
The transwomen presentation will cover
vaginoplasty, breast augmentation, and ffs. The
transmen presentation will cover chest surgery,
phalloplasty, and metoidioplasty
He was chosen for the Trans 100 list in 2013
Monica Helms
Using Video for Your Organization
Saturday 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Monica will provide basic training on how to use
video to improve your organization’s message or to
create better videos from events, protests, or
gatherings. Video can be an important tool in an
organization’s “toolbox” and the better it appears on
screen, the better your message will be received.
"Monica served in the Navy from 1970 to 1978, on
Dr. Ellie Zara Ley
Female to Male Surgical Options: Genital, Chest,
Thea PeachState Conference 2016 Seminar Presentation Schedule
Revisions/Repairs and Body Contouring
Saturday 3:30 - 5:00 PM
A PowerPoint Presentation discussing current
surgical techniques, a discussion of procedures, risks,
and complications, before and after photos with
time for questions and answers. He is available for
brief individual one on one visits. You may contact
our office at 866-876-6329 if you wish to schedule a
one on one visit. Formal or longer consultations
need to be scheduled at our Scottsdale office at 866876-6329.
Dr. Ellie Zara Ley is a Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgeon. She is Board Certified by The American
Board of Plastic Surgery. She left her private practice
to join the office of Dr. Toby Meltzer in December of
2015. She brings with her extensive training and a
passion for working with the community; performing
Gender Confirmation Surgery in addition to other
plastic surgery procedures. Dr. Ley graduated from
Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara and New York
Medical College. She did her residency in General
Surgery at the University of Arizona. She completed
the following fellowships: Craniofacial/Pediatric
surgery at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt
Lake, Hand and Microsurgery at the University of
Southern California, Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgery at the University of Utah. Dr. Ley is currently
licensed and in good standing with Arizona,
California and Utah Medical Boards. She is published
in multiple journals and has co-written a book
chapter on abdominal flaps. She is tri-lingual in
Spanish, Cantonese (conversational) and English. Dr.
Ley will be performing both MtF and FtM procedures
and has privileges at Greenbaum Specialty Hospital,
Honor Health in Scottsdale, AZ.
Rev. Debra J. Hopkins
"Made In God's Image
A Black Church Guide to Gender Difference"
Saturday 3:30 - 5:00 PM
It offers an introductory resource for the increasing
number of Black Christians who have asked for help
getting started. Consider that what we've always
been taught, our stereotypes of male/female and
masculine/feminine don't fit the world as it really is.
Gender is determined by many factors including
genes, hormones, prenatal environment, and the
brain. Expressing ourselves as gendered people is a
core component of who we are, of our wholeness as
a people.
Debra J. Hopkins was born in the oldest public
hospital in the United States “Bellevue” {founded on
March 31, 1736} in NYC. She brings 43 years of
Administrative, Management, and Ministry and
Organizational experience with her. She has earned a
Bachelor of Arts., degree in Business Management
from Berkeley College, New York, a Bachelor of Arts,
degree in Christian Education, and Personal
Evangelism from Carver Bible College, Atlanta, GA as
well as a Master of Theology from Brooklyn Bible
College, Brooklyn, NY. Often as a Speaker and
Teacher Reverend Hopkins spends time traveling
around the country addressing LGBTQ Issues of
Equality, Spirituality, Sexuality, and the Black Family
for the following organizations: ASPIRE, Inc., Believe
Out Loud, Equality NC, The Freedom Center for
Social Justice, National Task Force, TimeOut Youth,
TurnOut NC, as well as, at several colleges and
universities. As an Activist, Debra also believe
, Activism, and Community Involvement that will
help put an end to Social and Economic
discrimination. In addition, Ms. Hopkins is also a
Licensed Ordained Minister of 32 years. Currently
serving as Minister of Education at Sacred Souls
Community Church, Charlotte, N.C., and a Board
Member with A.S.P.I.R.E. Inc. “(A Sacred Place
Inviting Realistic Experiences)” A non-profit
organization she helped start in August 2015 with
the emphasis on putting an end to homelessness in
Charlotte. She is the author of two books titled “Not
Until You Have Walked In My Shoes” “My Story” a
Memoir due out in the fall of 2017 and Effective
Church Leadership. She is the proud parent of three
adult children and eight grandchildren.
Gabriel Chappell
QTB Series: Creating Dynamic Children's Books about
Gender and Acceptance
Saturday 3:30 - 5:00 PM
The QTB series (a pun on "cutie-bee") uses the last
three acronyms of LGBTQ+ and is a series of
children's books for ages ranging from 6-10. The
series titles include: Any Body Can Be a Princess,
Three Silly Pets, Gender Rolls, and Don't Judge a
Book. The Seminar goes into depth on the project's
creation from an idea, to researching, planning,
executing, and also includes future goals for the
series -- physical publication. The characters and
stories represented focus on educating and creating
awareness of gender creativity in people of all
shapes and sizes. There will be a reading of the
books with an open Q&A at the end of the
presentation.
Gabriel Chappell is a 20 year old transgender student
attending Oglethorpe University ('18) and majoring
in Studio Arts with a concentration in Medical
Illustration. Gabriel created the QTB series for his
Distinction Project while he attended the Louisiana
School for Math, Science, and the Arts ('14). Gabriel
hopes that in the future there will be more diversity
in children's books and that there will be more
understanding professionals for transgender youth,
teens, adults, and seniors.
Jamie Roberts
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About
Housing Law *But Didn't Know You Had To Ask
Saturday 3:30 - 5:00 PM
What are your rights when it comes to housing
discrimination? How do you defend against an
eviction? How can you report a homeless shelter
that mistreated you? Come to our workshop and
you'll learn the applicable laws and procedures to
enforce your rights to fair and habitable housing.
Sponsored by Trans Housing Atlanta Program, Inc.
Author, Tracee McDaniel, is the CEO and Founder of
Juxtaposed Center for Transformation as well as a
member and co-founder of Trans Housing Atlanta,
Inc.(THAP), , both of which are incorporated in
Atlanta, Georgia. Tracee’s life and mission provides
her with the insight to advocate for all transgender
and gender non-conforming people. Jamie Roberts,
another co-founder of THAP, is a lawyer and activist
volunteering with the Trans and Gender NonConforming Community of Greater Atlanta for over
17 years.
Spiritual Leaders/WPATH
Spiritual Leaders Programing: Facilitated by Rev. Kim
Sorrels
Thea PeachState Conference 2016 Seminar Presentation Schedule
Saturday 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Pertinent topics will be discussed with those who
have knowledge and experience in different religions
and practices and their impact on the lives of
transgender and gender non-conforming people.
Morning session: "Embracing Our Journey: A Space
for Sharing and Healing"
9:00 am - 11:30 am
Come together and hold sacred space as we share
our spiritual journeys and find aspects of hope and
healing. While we often hear of the ways that faith
communities can harm transgender people, we also
know that spirituality can be a powerful tool in
navigating our transition. We’ll hear from those who
have hope and healing to share and participants can
share their own stories as well. We will also join in a
healing meditation time.
Afternoon session: Spiritual Leader’s Panel
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
This panel will feature leaders from a variety of
spiritual traditions. Each will speak to how it is that
their spiritual tradition can be a source of affirmation
for the transgender experience and community.
There will be a time for questions from the audience.
Inc., Believe Out Loud, Equality NC, The Freedom
Center for Social Justice, National Task Force,
TimeOut Youth, TurnOut NC, as well as, at several
colleges and universities. As an Activist, Debra also
believes she can be a real “Voice for Change”
through, Action, Activism, and Community
Involvement that will help put an end to Social and
Economic discrimination. In addition, Ms. Hopkins is
also a Licensed Ordained Minister of 32 years.
Currently serving as Minister of Education at Sacred
Souls Community Church, Charlotte, N.C., and a
Board Member with A.S.P.I.R.E. Inc. “(A Sacred Place
Inviting Realistic Experiences)”
Dr. Kenneth Dollarhide Kenneth Dollarhide holds
his Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from McMaster
University, Canada. Ken was born and raised on and
near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation South Dakota
for the first 18 years of his life. He has presented
somewhere near a hundred talks, lectures and
seminars on transgender issues and questions
dealing with Buddhism, Native American history and
cultures, and Spirituality. He recently retired after
some forty years of university teaching and
administration and now spends at least one month
every year doing transgender research in Thailand
and/or Singapore.
Panelists:
Rev. Linda Herzer is cofounder of Transformation
Journeys Worldwide, an Atlanta-based diversity
training firm with a transgender focus. She travels
nationally providing dynamic diversity trainings,
keynote addresses and presentations about the
transgender experience to companies, corporations,
healthcare providers and religious, civic and
educational institutions. Rev. Linda is the author of
The Bible and the Transgender Experience: How
Scripture supports Gender Variance, coming this fall
from Pilgrim Press. Learn more at
www.TransformationJourneysWW.com.
Robbie Medwed is an Atlanta-based LGBT educator,
writer, and activist. He is currently the education
director of SOJOURN, the Southern Jewish Resource
Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity. Robbie
holds a master’s degree in Jewish education from the
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a B.A. from the
University of Massachusetts Amherst and has written
curricula and nationally-recognized inclusive
programs for the Marcus JCC of Atlanta, BBYO, USY,
NFTY, Camp Ramah, the Jewish Teen Funders
Network. His writing appears regularly at The New
Civil Rights Movement, Slate, the Georgia Voice, and
My Jewish Learning.
Rev. Debra Hopkins Debra J. Hopkins was born in
the oldest public hospital in the United States
“Bellevue” {founded on March 31, 1736} in NYC. She
brings 43 years of Administrative, Management, and
Ministry and Organizational experience with her. She
has earned a Bachelor of Arts., degree in Business
Management from Berkeley College, New York, a
Bachelor of Arts, degree in Christian Education, and
Personal Evangelism from Carver Bible College,
Atlanta, GA as well as a Master of Theology from
New York Theological Seminary, NY., NY. Often as a
Speaker and Teacher Reverend Hopkins spends time
traveling around the country addressing LGBTQ
Issues of Equality, Spirituality, Sexuality, and the
Black Family for the following organizations: ASPIRE,
Kylee Ann is a transgender health advocate and
educator. She has spent over 15 years as a social
science educator. Kylee was ordained by the
Universal Life Church and much of her work has been
focused on interfaith understanding. Recently her
focus has been on advocating for health care selfadvocacy and sexual health management.
Rev. Kim Sorrells is a transgender- identified
ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and
currently serves as Minister for Spiritual formation
and Youth at Saint Mark UMC in Atlanta, GA. They
hold a Master of Divinity from Candler School of
Theology (Emory University) and a Bachelor of Arts
from Berry College in Religion and Psychology. Kim
has special interest in spirituality and spiritual
practices and how these can provide healing and
wholeness for transgender individuals. Kim is also a
Registered Yoga Teacher and draws on this and other
spiritual traditions to inform their ministry. Prior to
Saint Mark they have served as a hospital chaplain
and worked in homeless services through their time
in Americorps. Outside of their formal employment
Kim is passionate about justice work with the LGBTQ
community and serves as chair of the Spiritual
Leaders Committee for the Transgender Health and
Education Alliance (THEA), and is a member of the
Atlanta Coalition of LGBTQ youth.