AJ Young

AJ is the transmasculine working group liaison for the Philly Trans-Health Conference. Originally from Illinois, he has both a bachelor's and a master's degree in Philosophy from American University in Washington, DC. He is currently a second year PhD student in sociology at Temple University with a focus on gender and sexuality, specifically on queer and/or trans* identities and the sexualization of culture. He is planning on writing his dissertation on queer pornography. In his free time AJ plays flag football and writes a hilarious blog about his experiences transitioning and his ever-evolving identity as a transman at lifetransfusion.wordpress.com.

Alexis Bruno

Alexis Bruno, LSW & CADC, is a member of the (dis)ability working group and is excited to be contributing to the conference.

Alixandre Long

I am a FATTIE genderQUEER trans*persyn made of magical unicorn rage @ injustice...Daily I find opportunities to be a activist and have done/ am doing some amazing work with ACT UP Philly, LAVA Space, Qcenter PDX, and more... I am attending Bryn Mawr College in 2013 to become a social worker so that I can "eat food" while fighting aforementioned injustice. Additionally, I work as a stage manager/designer/TD. I write poetry and creative short fiction as well as writing a blog that discusses intersections of oppression, injustice, microaggressions, and personal experience. I sew and alter clothes so that they work for bigger bodies, and I dance like there is no tomorrow.

Ami B. Kaplan

Ami B. Kaplan, LCSW is a psychotherapist in New York City. (B.S: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, M.S.W. : New York University, Psychoanalytic training: Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center in New York). Ami has been a Lecturer at the NYU School of Social Work. She has been active as a supervisor, consultant and clinician with several New York City agencies involved in serving the LGBT community; including ‘Body Positive’, GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis), The Bedford Stuyvesant Community Mental Health Center HIV unit, PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and the New York City HIV Prevention Planning Group. Her current clinical work has focused on transgendered individuals. She sits on the Policy and Procedures Committee of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. She has been involved as an author and editor on a forthcoming book ‘Trans Bodies/Trans Selves’. A chapter on Transgender Identity Development is currently in press in the anthology ‘Clinical Encounters: Queer Theory and Psychoanalysis’ and she blogs on issues of Transgender Mental Health at http://tgmentalhealth.com/. Ami sees Transgender, Gender Queer, LGBT folk and others in her practice in New York City for Individual and Group therapy. Contact: info@amikaplan.net

Angel Celeste Collie

Angel is a transmasculine person from Bunn, NC. He leads MCC’s Transgender Ministries, serves on the LGBT-Religious Archives Network Advisory Committee, The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies Transgender Roundtable, and and was on the 2006 and 2007 Soulforce Equality Rides. In addition, Angel serves on the Diversity Committee at Yale Divinity School. Angel says it is his hope to advocate on behalf of transgender, gender-non-conforming, and gender variant people in communities of faith. He said, “I am a shy, inked-up dork who likes exploring the intersections of faith, gender, and sexuality.”

Anna-Sara Fire

Anna-Sara Fire's highest spiritual expression is to teach yoga to those who normally do not have access to the ancient yoga teachings that have been changing people's lives for thousands of years. She teaches mostly in group homes, respite homes, rehabs and hospitals and this past year she has been blessed to be a part of the residents at Morris Home's yoga journey. She is also a Swedish-born theology student, interfaith minister and is trying to live every moment of her life with devotion, gratitude and peace. She lives in Buck County, PA with her husband, teenager, grandparents and dog.

Ayoka Stef Dyani

Ayoka Stef Dyani is originally from Greenville, south Carolina and currently lives in northeast Philadelphia. She is a spiritual leader, trained and ordained in multiple traditions ; including African based faith's. She's currently working as a certified home healthcare attendant. She's a musician and poet, currently working on a couple of books.

Barbara Peronteau

A week after Barbara graduated from Union Theological Seminary in Virginia; she was ordained at Old First United Church of Christ in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A few days later she began serving her first church in Nucla, Colorado. Subsequently she has served congregations in Ohio, and Pennsylvania. She took time off from ministry to raise a family, to work, to love and to be loved. In 2010 she began her transition to become the lovely woman she is today. These days Barbara, and her dog Max, are living in Reading, Pennsylvania where she is an active member of her home church, Calvary UCC in Reading. She is involved with various panels discussing the transgender experience. Most recently she was on a trans-clergy panel at Fantasia Fair in Provincetown, Massachusetts. She is privileged to have participated in the Annual Freedom to Marry Service held at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley for past two years. Reverend Peronteau is also a member of the Mercersburg Society, the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference Coalition for LGBT Concerns, the United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns, the Executive Council of the “Yes! Coalition”, Reading Pride Celebration, and Reading Pride Interfaith Committee. Barbara has shared her trans/faith journey with various groups at West Chester University, Widener University, Penn State – Berks and was a presenter at the GSA Leadership Summit held at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. She also appeared at the Spirit on Tap Series in Reading and the Tavern Talks in Collegeville, PA. She has her own column in the Rainbow Review called the “Trans Corner”, was featured in the Reading Eagle, and has recently appeared on Berks County Television. By sharing her own experience of being a transwoman, as well as a person of faith, Barbara is helping to spread the word that trans people exist and are faithful people who are surrounded and embraced by the peace, grace, and wholeness of God who absolutely loves us and who will never ever let us let us go.

Barrett Marshall

In September 2011, Barrett Marshall joined Mazzoni Center Legal Services as a staff attorney providing direct services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community members. Barrett has developed specialties in family law and insurance matters specific to LGBT individuals. As a recent graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law, Barrett has worked primarily in direct services focusing on low-income, LGBT, and youth populations. A Rubin Public Interest Honor Society fellow and recipient of the Beth Cross Award for public service, their legal experience has been in government and public interest sectors. Barrett worked for the Office of the Child Advocate in Wilmington, DE, the Temple Family Law Clinic, and Mazzoni Center Legal Services while attending law school. Prior to law school, Barrett worked for four years as a crisis counselor and two years as a case manager for homeless individuals. This experience continues to inform their work with vulnerable populations, particularly families and transgender individuals. It is this exposure to the wider systemic challenges of certain populations that motivated them to attend law school and work with Mazzoni Center. In addition to work at Mazzoni Center Legal Services, Barrett is a member of Hearts on a Wire, a collective that organizes around the needs of incarcerated transgender and gender variant people and for the abolition of prisons. Barrett also served as co-chair of the planning committee for the 2012 Philadelphia Trans Health Conference.

Becky Garrison is a freelance writer who is reporting on faith and transgender issue as part of her work as a recipient of a 2012 Knight Grant for Reporting on Religion and American Public Life. The Knight Grants are a program of the University of Southern California’s Knight Program in Media and Religion."

Candice Thompson

This is Candice’s third year as part of the planning committee for the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference. She directs the programs and volunteers at the William Way LGBT Community Center and has been with the agency for the past seven years. She is a member of GenPhilly, which is a network of emerging professionals who are inspiring Philadelphians to connect with older adults through their work and personal lives, The Delaware Valley LGBT Elder Initiative, and is an avid community gardener. Candice worked to increase and strengthen the Aging Track at the conference in 2011-12 and looks forward to building upon that foundation to bring further visibility and energy around transgender aging issues.

Catherine Hyde

Catherine V. Hyde is director of Online Services for the national nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners. She did not listen to her child when he, at the age of 4, told her that something had gone wrong in her belly and that he was supposed to be a she. She did not understand transgender or gender identity until NPR educated her 11 years later. Since becoming educated, Catherine has volunteered as Transgender Coordinator for the Howard County chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and speaks and trains on transgender understanding and sensitivity. Catherine also serves on PFLAG’s National Transgender and Gender Non-conforming Advisory Panel, as Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for PFLAG and she is on the Public Advisory Boards of Gender Rights Maryland and the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore.

Charles Cloninger

Charles H. Cloniger III, MS, FNP is a co-founder and Clinical Director of St. James Infirmary (SJI), a first of its kind Occupational Health and Safety Clinic for Sex Workers and their families. Additionally, his is the Medical Director of SJI’s STRIDE Transgender Primary Care Program. Mr. Cloniger has been a Sexual Health Specialist with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, Division of STD Prevention and Control, where his work was honored as a co-recipient of the Innovations in American Government from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of American Government. He is a clinical preceptor with the University of California, San Francisco Schools of Medicine and Nursing. He speaks internationally on issues impacting the health of sex workers and on issues impacting the health of transgender men and women. He has been in clinical practice in San Francisco for 30 years.

Chris Paige

Chris is an OtherWise-identified organizer, educator and writer, who is particularly concerned with race, gender, and sexuality within the context of faith communities. Chris is executive director of the Interfaith Working Group and founder of TransFaith Online. Chris has been involved in PTHC organizing since the 2009 conference. Chris chaired PTHC 2011 and continues to support many areas of the planning process, but is particularly concerned with the spirituality track.

Christen DuVernay

Christen DuVernay began her career working with Migrant workers and their families in Southwest Michigan to enhance childcare options and community support within a small rural area. From this position, she transitioned into a role at a runaway shelter in Southwest Florida with young adults from a variety of backgrounds and experiences developing programs to address their unique needs. Upon arrival in Cleveland, Christen obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Notre Dame College of Ohio from which she graduated with honors. In addition to her coursework, she organized for several groups on campus including but not limited to the colleges very first Gay-Straight Alliance and Black Scholars. Following graduation, Christen accepted a position at the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland where she worked as the Youth Services Coordinator developing programs for young adults ages 14-30. Christen soon took on an additional role at the LGBT Center as the Project 180 Coordinator where she designed and delivered programs for organizations, companies, hospital systems, school districts, and corporations around LGBTQ specific diversity and inclusion initiatives. In 2008, a program she developed for gender variant young adults and their families received an Illumination Award for Best New Program of the Year. She has completed her Masters degree in Psychology as well as receiving a Certificate in Diversity Management from Cleveland State University. During her time at Cleveland State she assisted with research examining intersections of cultural identities in hiring decisions. In 2010, she was named by the Plain Dealer as one of Cleveland’s Community Heroes for her work with young adults and within the larger community around LGBTQ inclusion and acceptance. Christen currently serves as the Director of Programs at the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio.

Christina Molieri

Christina M. Molieri, MSS, MLSP is a Public Health Consultant. guided by a strong sense of social justice and a personal, political, and academic interest in LGBTQIA health and HIV/AIDS. Ze has worked in the fields of LGBTQIA Health, HIV/AIDS and Harm Reduction for the last 10 years, the majority of which has a focused on public health disparities, high risk communities and populations. Ze has presented hir work at local and national conferences and has continued to work with organizations across the country as an advocate, researcher, educator, and trainer. Fiercely devoted, an unrelenting advocate either in the boardroom or on the sidewalk, Ze’s ardently committed to hir profession of choice, hir causes, and hir beliefs, and revels in making consistent, quiet, yet monumental change. Christina takes hir lead from early ACT UP activists who abided a rule of thumb: "There's hell raising and there's homework and before we can raise hell, we have to do our homework.” Ze resides in Philadelphia.

Damon Constantinides

Damon is an activist, radical social worker, sexuality educator and psychotherapist. He provides individual and couples counseling to adults and teens in the Philadelphia area. Damon also provides trainings that focus on helping social workers provide the best possible services to clients who are trans or gender-variant. You can find out more about him and read some of his writing at www.therapistdamon.com.

Danielle Adinolfi

Danielle Adinolfi, MFT is a practicing therapist in Philadelphia. She received her Master's Degree in Couple and Family Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University with a concentration in Sex Therapy. Her areas of expertise include sexual trauma, anxiety, pre-marital counseling and systemic issues. Danielle uses a multidisciplinary approach to provide her clients with creative perspectives on difficult issues. She strives to provide a safe and open environment to best help clients discover alternative solutions to troubling problems they may be facing. Her website can be found at: www.philadelphiamft.com

David Weekley

The Rev. David Weekley was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1951, where he transitioned FTM, completing the initial process in 1975 at the age of twenty-four. Rev. Weekley is a graduate of Cleveland State University (B.A. cum laude, Psychology). He completed graduate studies at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (Phenomenology of Religion), and holds the Master of Divinity degree from Boston University School of Theology (1982). Rev. Weekley has served the United Methodist Church as an ordained clergy since 1982. He is currently the only openly transgender clergy serving in the denomination. Rev. Weekley shared his story with his congregation and the world, August 30th, 2009, after 28 years of ministry. He has appeared on ABC news, CBS “The Early Show”, and several radio programs. He has presented workshops at a number of colleges and universities. His recently released book, In from the Wilderness: Sherman, (She-r-man), published by WIPF&STOCK Publishers (Eugene, OR.), is his personal story, faith journey, and reflection on the official position of several denominations, including the United Methodist Church, in relation to the LGTBQ community. Rev. Weekley belongs to several organizations advocating for the full inclusion and rights of transgender and LGBQ people, including the Transfaith Relgious Leaders Network, Northwest Gender Alliance, Reconciling United Methodists, and the Human Rights Campaign. Rev. Weekley currently serves as Pastor of Sellwood and Capitol Hill United Methodist Churches in Portland, Oregon. Email: David@shermanswilderness.org Website: www.shermanswilderness.org

Dorian Adams

Dorian Adams is a queer theorist and activist, a non-binary, fat, queer femme who works for community, sustainable living, trans* justice, radical parenting and centering marginalized voices. They are currently a grad school applicant who fills their days with thinking too much, chasing a small child, and subversive crafting. This is their first year contributing to the Beyond the Binary working group.

Elaine Dutton

Elaine Dutton is the Trans* Care Specialist at Mazzoni Center's health clinic. Elaine primarily works with transgender identified individuals as they consider and engage in personal, social, and medical transition; offering advocacy, counseling, education, and ongoing support. Elaine moved to Philadelphia and began working at Mazzoni Center in September 2011 after receiving an MSW from Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, MA. While in graduate school, Elaine completed a Masters Thesis titled “Juvenile Justice through a Gender Variant Lens: An Exploratory Study of the Experience of Providers working with Gender Variant Youth in California Juvenile Justice Facilities”. Elaine has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Prior to graduate school, Elaine worked in the field of sexual violence prevention as a crisis intervention counselor, educator, and community organizer. Outside of work, Elaine enjoys dancing, baking, digging in the dirt, and long walks with a small dog named Cecil.

Emet Tauber

Emet is a non-binary identified person who prefers male pronouns. From New York City, he attended the PTHC for the first time last year and decided that serving on its committees would be a great way to impact the trans* community. At 18, Emet a is a freshman at Drexel University where he majors in information technology and participates in its queer alliance called FUSE (Foundation of Undergraduates for Sexual Equality). Emet was a student ambassador and intern at GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network), where he organized conferences and helped students combat bullying and create safer schools. Jesse started the GSA in his New York City high school in January 2010 and served as its co-president. He has appeared in the media several times speaking out on issues such as bullying and suicide. As a religious Jew, Emet feels that spirituality is important in defining your identity as an individual. He enjoys reading, fooling around with computers, activism and hanging out in his dorm.

Evan Hubbard

Evan is a LCSW and specializes in working with LGBTQ youth involved in the child welfare system. Currently Evan works at Adoption and Foster Care Mentoring where he is developing, implementing and overseeing the states first and only LGBTQ mentor program for youth in care. Evan also serves as a private consultant for service providers across the state on best practices with clients who are trans* and/or gender non-conforming. His journey to a life as an out queer trans*man was filled with uncertainty, paired with excitement, comfort and self-discovery. He is passionate about giving back to his community and excited to serve on the working groups for PTHC.

Finn Schubert

Finn Schubert works at an organization dedicated to integrating abortion care into family medicine residency training. He is fascinated by the overlaps between abortion care and transition-related care in terms of politics and social stigma. He is pursuing a master's of public health in epidemiology, and serves on the board of Sadie Nash Leadership Project.

Rev. Francesca Bongiorno Fortunato

Rev. Francesca Bongiorno Fortunato, M.S. (cisgender; Queer identified) is an ordained Interfaith Minister and long-time member of the staff of The New Seminary For Interfaith Studies. She is also a priest with the Orthodox Catholic Church of America and the Pastor of a non-denominational Christian congregation at an Adult Home in Brooklyn, NY. She is a frequent guest preacher at Dignity, NY and a member of Pride In The Pulpit. She is a graduate of both The New Seminary and The American Institute of Holistic Theology. In addition to ministry, Francesca has worked as an Early Childhood teacher, professional performing artist (acting, singing; dance) and taught acting and dance to children and adults of all ages. This will be the third PTHC that Rev. Francesca has attended with her partner, Rev. Lynn Walker, with whom she lives, in Brooklyn, NY. She has participated in the Transfaith worship services for the last two years and is glad, this year, to be affiliated with the Spouses and Partners working group as well.

Frances Rose Subbiondo

Frances Rose is a plant-being of the Mint & Rose families, & a woman of trans experience from New York -- with roots in the Mediterranean. Contributing to her form & demeanor also, were the climates of North Central Jersey -- Houston, Texas -- San Francisco, California -- & jungle regions of Central & South Americas. It was her recent arrival, though, to West Philadelphia this January, that has allowed her to truly begin to flower. wildRose -- (as she is known at Home, with her dear community the Radical Faeries) -- has long-believed that the spaces we create & inhabit directly influence our collective health. She fiercely advocates for -- & builds -- spaces that nurture life. She designs, gardens, builds, teaches, & chefs -- she is a cultural worker. She calls her work, that features the design & co-creation of vibrant, healthy ecosystems that serve the needs of, & honor the natural expressions of, all Life, Living Systems Architecture. In short, she helps marry people to place. At present, France serves her Home communities of Radical Faeries & the queer folk of West Philly, through a vocational training program (called the Cultural Engine) that offers skills-training in gardens, kitchens, permaculture, & regeneration. The yields of the Engine include: a Community Supported Kitchen; a growing number of abundant gardens in the area; deeper community ties; educational programs; life design services; & more. She is new to the Philly Trans Health Conference community -- just discovering the event's existence this year. She is excited to support & grow acquainted with the fierce crew that makes it happen -- & to offer her own voice & vision to the proceedings. Frances Rose ID's as a transwoman, genderqueer, lesbian, queer, girly-girl (femme), but also rough & tumble; with deep strains too of hippie & punk; an artist, with earnestly, old-fashioned sensibilities (that she probably picked up living with her Grandmother in the Village). She desires most to find those in this world who know well what to do with her. Frances Rose keeps slideshows of some of her work available here.

Harlan Pruden

Harlan Pruden is a member of the Cree Nation and an enrolled member of the Goodfish Lake Band on the Saddle Lake Indian Reservation in Alberta, Canada. Harlan is the Assistant Director of Special Projects at the Empire State Development Corporation, a State Agency. Harlan is a Co-founder of the NorthEast Two-Spirit Society in New York City and works to revitalize traditional values, culture, and ceremonies of NYC’s two-spirit community. Harlan also is a co-chair of the National Native HIV/AIDS Coalition, one of the first national efforts within the HIV/AIDS field to include all of the two-spirit organizations and groups in the United States. In April on 2011, Harlan was appointed to Manhattan Community Board 12 and is currently the only Native on a NYC community board.

Hilary Howes

Hilary Howes author of To Be or Not to Be: A Catholic Transexual Speaks for Conscience Magazine served on the Catholic thought leaders strategy group that resulted in the formation of Equally Blessed. She has been a public information officer for Transgender San Francisco and a member/lobbyist for Gender PAC, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and Equality Maryland. Currently serves on the Trans-Roundtable for the Pacific School of Religion,the Dignity Transgender Caucus, Transfaith/IWG Communications Committee and makes her living as brand strategist for Encore Decor Event Design and Production. She best known as an author, speaker, and creative in the event, exhibit, and color industries. She is a Californian by birth, a Marylander by choice, 34 years married and proud parent of an NYU grad. Transgender topic blogging at www.togetherstyle.com

Ida Hammer

Ida Hammer is a writer and activist living in New York City and working with others in the women's, trans and LGBQ communities for social change. In 2011, she started the Trans Women's Anti-Violence Project as a trans feminist initiative to address violence and oppression experienced by trans women. As a Peer Health Navigator with the Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), she works with trans women to support their health goals and well-being. She's a proud dyke and an organizer of the New York City Dyke March.

Ida Hammer is a writer and activist living in New York City and working with others in the women's, trans and LGBQ communities for social change.  In 2011, she started the Trans Women's Anti-Violence Project as a trans feminist initiative to address violence and oppression experience by trans women.  As a Peer Health Navigator with the Center for HIC Educational Student and Training (CHEST), she works with trans women to support their health goals and well-being.  She's a proud dyke and an organizer of the New York City Dyke March. 

Irina Pekareva-Kochergina

This is Irina's second year as the Medical/Alternative Healthcare Working Group's liaison and convener. Irina has a BA in Philosophy and Medical Ethics from Smith College, a BS in Nursing from University of Pennsylvania and is a current graduate student working towards her Nurse Practitioner degree at the University of Pennsylvania. She currently works as a nurse at University of Pennsylvania Student Health Services where she helped start the Transgender Health Committee. For the past three years, she has been a co-chair of Nurses PUSH, a first LGBTQ-specific nursing group at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. She is a regular speaker at various courses at the UPenn school of nursing, where she trains students and faculty in topics on LGBTQ health history taking, violence against LGBTQ people, LGBTQ older adults, and trans* healthcare.

J Wester

J is a genderqueer organizer and activist in Pittsburgh, PA. J's day-jobs currently fall in the nonprofit field, and their dream is to one day be employed as a trans* health educator and advocate. This is their second year as part of the PTHC planning team. Beyond PTHC and work, J keeps themself busy by working on a local chapter GLSEN committee, as a council member on Allegheny County's Department of Human Services LGBTQ Advisory Council, and by running a genderqueer social group -- Genderqueer Pittsburgh.

JAC Stringer

JAC Stringer, also known as Midwest GenderQueer, is a trans-genderqueer femme radical activist and performance artist from Cincinnati, Ohio. JAC has lectured and performed across the USA and Canada with his work focusing trans*and queer education, social justice, femme identities, (dis)ability, and trans*/queer artistry. JAC is the founding director of The Midwest Trans* and Queer Wellness Initiative, has founded several projects including Cincinnati Trans* Community Group, and is a member of several organizing boards including TransOhio, The International Femme Conference, and The International Drag King Community Extravaganza. As a performer, JAC has done genderfucking dance, music, drag, and spoken word as a solo performer and as co-manager of The Black Mondays Drag Troupe. JAC is The Philadelphia Transgender Health Conference’s as the Femme programming convener, is on the conference accessibility team, and is the founding director and co-producer of the conference’s Trans* Performance Showcase, “Blender!” JAC describes himself as a life-long dancer, poet, musician, and rabble rouser and considers his work’s purpose to be to promote unity, action, and empowerment within trans* and queer communities and to achieve rights and recognition through education, art, and other various forms of revolution.

Janis Stacy

Janis Stacy is of mixed blood heritage including Cherokee and Dakota. She has been practicing Native American spirituality for decades. Her academic work includes a degree in Electronic Engineering and 25 years working in the Semiconductor industry. Janis is a long time advocate of civil rights and inclusion in a broad number of areas. She has supported a variety of organizations and participated with a number of efforts involving Native American, Racial, Gender and LGBT issues."

JJ (Jenn) Thoman

Jenn Thoman is a queer, atheist, femme dyke. She was born in New Jersey, raised in New York, and bounced around the Northeast for a while before landing in West Philly. She has been a director, a theatre tech, a poet, a soap salesman, and a baker. She's currently in school working on figuring out what to do when she grows up. She likes tattoos, scotch, kittens, and her awesome life with her fantastic queer family.

Jiel Ochi

Jiel Ochi, is an entity of the universe!

Jody Schmidt, MD

Dr. Jody Schmidt is a genito-pelvic physical therapist, an acupuncturist, and a clinical sexologist. He is an advocate for the transgender community. Dr. Schmidt uses his training and experience to alleviate post-operative pain, enhance general health, and improve sexual pleasure.

Joe Ippolito

Joe Ippolito is a 43-year-old, trans man, who transitioned his gender 11-years ago. Joe is a Doctor of Psychology, an educator, consultant, researcher, activist, organizer and filmmaker. Joe has been involved with helping organize The Philadelphia Trans-health Conference for the past 10 years, having served as Chair for two of those years. Currently, Joe is the Chair of Gender Reel, a multi-media program created to enhance the visibility of gender non-conforming and transgender people, and is in the process of producing and directing his first documentary, entitled "Growing Old Gracefully: The Transgender Experience."

Joelle Ruby Ryan

Dr. Joelle Ruby Ryan is currently a Lecturer in Women’s Studies at the University of New Hampshire, where she also sits on the President’s Commission on the Status of Women. She is the Founder of TransGender New Hampshire (TG-NH) and sits on the Steering Committee for that organization. She is finishing up work on her third autobiographical film, Transilience, and also working on several writing projects. Her major areas of academic and activist interest include: queer, asexual and trans rights, feminism, fat studies and fat liberation, sex worker rights, and film/media criticism and production. When not speaking truth to power, she enjoys spending time with her dog, tending to her houseplants, eating out, reading, writing and watching movies.

Jose Felix Pluas Sosa

Soy, Jose Felix Pluas Sosa, tengo 24 años de edad de nacionalidad Ecuatoriana, soy activista GLBT en mi ciudad Guayaquil en Ecuador, estudiante de psicología clínica en una universidad pública. Soy coordinador del área de jóvenes de la organización GLBT llamada Friends for Life Foundation - FAMIVIDA durante 6 años. También coordino el área de jóvenes dirigido a HSH (hombres que tienen sexo con otros hombres) y las poblaciones de varones gay para la prevención del VIH y las ITS. Estoy involucrado en las redes nacionales e internacionales en los temas de VIH / SIDA y las ITS como en redes por la defensa y promoción de los derechos humanos así como la erradicación de los delitos de odio hacia LGBT. Soy un activista LGBT y comencé a aprender y entender acerca de la dura realidad y la discriminación hacia GLBT a los 15 años. Desde entonces ha estado trabajando duro en detener la discriminación y la obtención de los derechos para las personas LGBT como ciudadano y para el reconocimiento y la igualdad. Uno de sus mayores logros es poder impulsar una campaña de ayuda minimizar la discriminación y la HOMOSELESTRANFOBIA en la comunidad en Ecuador la cual parte para garantizar los derechos de las personas LGBT en mi país. Aun Ecuador es uno de los países que tiene índices muy altos de discriminación y crímenes de odio en el mundo siendo un país que no garantiza claramente los derechos de las personas GLBT aun que cuenta con una constitución que plasmas la defensa de los derechos de los y las GLBT en su pleno ejecución no se cumple, aun que se reconocen las uniones civiles (no es matrimonio) entre parejas del mismo sexo el estado no favorece el trato digno de la comunidad en poder hacer uniones de hecho civiles y sin discriminación. He sido una voz prominente en la lucha en contra de los crímenes de odio, denunciando y exigiendo la investigación de posibles crímenes motivados por prejuicio en contra de la orientación sexual o identidad de género de victimas GLBT’s. Lo importante no es cuanto hacemos, sino cuanto amor, cuanta honestidad y cuanta fe ponemos en lo que hacemos por y hacia nuestra comunidad GLBT's.

Judy Sennesh

Judy Sennesh is, first and foremost, the very proud mother of two wonderful sons, a mother-in-law and a grandmother. She sits on the Board of Directors of PFLAGNYC, and is the founder and facilitator of PFLAGNYC's TransParent Project. The TPP meets once a month at two different locations in Manhattan. Her essay, "A Blessing in Disguise", was published in Rachel Pepper's book "Transitions of the Heart", and then reprinted in Lilith Magazine, a Jewish Feminist periodical. You can contact Judy and the TransParent Project by email: transgender@pflagnyc.org.

Julie Chovanes

Julie Chovanes is a transwoman living in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., not far from where she grew up.  She has been married to her stunning partner Martha for twenty five years, and they have four awesome, amazing children.  Julie is also a lawyer, mostly providing patent, intellectual property and business counsel, and mostly for manufacturing and high tech companies; has written a law book and a novel; has taught at Villanova Law and Villanova undergrad; has patents and a start up company; and has three undergrad degrees and a law degree from Villanova. 

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Justice Williams

Justice Roe Williams is a published poet originally from Atlantic City New Jersey. He is a founding member and past Director of Freeing Ourselves, a community and youth-run organization based in New Bedford, Mass. During this time he created an alternative school, the Liberation School, that served "at risk" and court-involved youth. Justice connected this project with New Bedford Youth Build by running the Liberation School on their site. Prior to consulting for Social Justice Initiative, he worked with youth in the South End, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain and Roxbury areas of Boston; organized the queer community to fight against the violence toward transgender people; built networks with youth and social justice organizations in the Boston Area; served as the Director of Programs at The City School; and served as Executive Director of Boston Mobilization. His strengths are grassroots fundraising, networking, training, curriculum development and collaborating to bring people together that normally would not work together. Justice has been consulting for 15 years, facilitating workshops for public and private schools, non-profit organizations and for-profits corporations around diversity issues, how to engage "at-risk youth" and integrating social justice into youth programs and in the classroom. Justice is currently Director of the Social Justice Initiative, which engages educators, administrators, youth workers and others to fold social justice into their work with young people.

Karen M. Foley, LMFT

Karen is first and foremost a proud Mom to an 8 year old trans daughter and a 9 year old son. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the Scranton area and the owner of a private practice where she specializes in individual, couple and family therapy and enjoys working with the LGBT population. This is her 3rd year at the conference and her first year on the planning committee. Walk On!

Kate Levy

Kate Levy, greatest role ever- mom to 3 amazing children! *Lifelong Advocate/reluctant author: My most recent article was included in the current Fall 2012 CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) The Reform Jewish Quarterly Journal- Gender in Judaism in Conversation. The article is titled: 'In God's Image (B'tzelem Elohim)'. Available in print or online at ccarnet.org. *In May, 2012, authored our family story, included in the book Transitions of the Heart: Stories of Love, Struggle and Acceptance by Mothers of Transgender and Gender Variant Children, ed. Rachel Pepper (Cleis Press, 2012) *Enjoyed my role as the 2012 Convener of the Family Programming committee for PTHC. Currently, volunteering for several of the 2013 PTHC committees. *Professionally, MSW in Administration and Program Evaluation; over 20 years of nonprofit administration, program development, marketing and fundraising experience. *Volunteer for 'In A Bind', a national teen program of Transactiveonline.org. Please consider bringing a new or used chest binder to the conference to be donated to teens in need. Kate can be reached at kate.levy@me.com

Kegan Refalo

Kegan Refalo is a interdisciplinarian artist, a genderqueer mountain queer, a body enthusiast, an explorer, a foodie and a get their hands dirty kinda kid. Ze is the acting convener for the Sexualities and Rural working groups.

Kit Rachlin

Dr. Katherine Rachlin (Kit) is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in New York City where she spends her days deep in conversation with people of all genders, sexualities, and lifestyles, their parents, siblings, partners, and chosen families. She is one of the authors of WPATH’s Version 7 of the Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender, Transsexual, and Gender Nonconforming People. She has served on the Board of Directors of The World Professional Association for Transgender Health and the Board of Directors of FTM International, and is a former member of the American Psychological Association’s taskforce on Gender Identity, Gender Variance, and Intersex Conditions. Her published papers address topics such as: Flexible Use of the Standards of Care; Access to Health Care; Transgender Individuals' Experiences of Psychotherapy; An Intake Template for Genderqueer College Students, and Factors which Influence FTM Individuals’ Surgical Decisions. For a fuller listing of papers, or other info, go to http://katherinerachlin.com.

KOKUMO.

KOKUMO. is an African-American transgender woman and product of Chicago’s South Side. While growing up, the only messaging she received in regards to her identity was that it would lead to either death or institutionalization. Therefore, upon reaching the age of opportunity she was behooved to give herself a name that spoke of life. After an extensive search and emotional journey she discovered KOKUMO.. KOKUMO. means, “This one will not die” in Yoruba, a West African language. To KOKUMO. surviving is passé. Therefore, she believes in sanctioning artistic, political, and actual space for other Trans, Gender Non-Conforming, and Intersex (TGI) people of color to thrive in. In accordance to this belief and her name, she created KOKUMO.MEDIA. KOKUMO.MEDIA uses film, music, and literature to create and generate realistic depictions of TGI people of color. KOKUMO.MEDIA has produced some of the most innovative projects and events in the multimedia industry. From the one- transwoman show, The Faggot Who Could Fly to T.G.I.F. (TGI Freedom) Rally and Picnic, KOKUMO. is stoking the flames of a renaissance. Her debut EP, There Will Come a Day is slated for release January 2013. While here debut album, I Shall Not Be Denied is due next spring.

Laura Erickson-Schroth

Laura Erickson-Schroth, MD, MA is a psychiatry resident at New York University and the editor of Trans Bodies, Trans Selves, a resource guide by and for transgender communities. She studied psychology and Spanish at Middlebury College, women and gender at The Graduate Center, and medicine at Dartmouth. Laura is working with others to spearhead the creation of the Gender and Sexuality Service (an LGBT youth mental health clinic) at the Child Study Center at NYU, as well as link organizations that support gender-variant youth through the NYC Gender Variant Youth and Family Network (GenFam NYC). She is a member of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association Board of Directors and an Associate Editor of the Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health.

Leslie Lagerstrom

Leslie Lagerstrom is a proud mom of two children, who, after retiring from a 21-year corporate marketing career, is focusing her passion on being a writer and advocate. In 2011 she created the blog Transparenthood™, which chronicles her family’s experience raising a transgender child. Through Transparenthood, Leslie has been able to lend support to parents who find themselves on the same journey, while also helping spread awareness on the subject of gender variant/transgender children. Believing the time is now to change hearts and minds, she volunteers to speak on a national basis, most frequently appearing in front of medical and teaching professionals, and is a volunteer for the Human Rights Campaign's 'Welcoming Schools' initiative. A graduate of Iowa State University, Leslie is at home in Minneapolis, where she enjoys downhill skiing with family and long walks with her faithful dog Molly.

Levi Alter

Rabbi Levi Alter is the spiritual leader of his congregation of Holocaust survivors and the CEO of a healthcare corporation. His previous professional experiences include being on the clinical faculty of UCLA Medical Center, a university department chairman, and executive director of a television production company and a computer consulting firm. His current work for trans inclusion in religion, health care and other fields includes being a keynote speaker and organizer for major conferences and events, interviews on LOGO, MTV, MSNBC, Newsweek, BBC Radio and many other documentaries and media appearances. He is an internationally sought after expert on intersex issues and the fourth of five generations of intersex individuals in his family. He is the President of FTM International, spanning 18 countries and 27 years building FTM lives, families and communities (www.FTMI.org).

Liesl Theron

Liesl Theron co-founded Gender DynamiX (GDX) in 2005, a human rights organisation promoting freedom of expression of gender identity, focussing on transgender, transsexual and gender non-conforming persons. Liesl is one of the instrumental persons, involved in founding Transitioning Africa, a newly formed coalition between GDX, SIPD – Uganda (an Intersex organisation) and Transgender and Intersex Africa (TIA). Being a gender activist she is actively involved in the organised LGBTI sector of South Africa and passionately works towards building bridges & linkages between regional trans and intersex organisations and individual activists (currently in Southern and East Africa). Through the regional work she took great interest in LGBTI Refugee Rights, focusing on trans* and intersex. Liesl was invited by Human Rights First to attend and present in Washington DC in April 2011 at the LGBT Refugee Convening. She also made a presentation at the 13th International Association for the Studies of Forced Migration in Uganda, 2011. Her work focuses on the intersectionality of gender and other bodies. On a personal level, her academic work and research as part of her Masters degree at the University of Cape Town is titled: Cisgender partners of Masculine Identifying Trans People. She presented in a number of conferences on this topic including WPATH symposium 2011, African Same-Sex Sexualities & Gender Identity 2011 and the International Psychology Conference 2012. A peer reviewed publication is forthcoming in Culture, Health & Sexuality on this research. Gender DynamiX published its first book, an anthology. TRANS: Transgender Life Stories from South Africa. Throughout this process, from interviewing, conceptualising to being actively part of the focus group, Liesl was involved hands-on in the book. She also contributed a chapter, The SOFFA Perspective. Liesl has chapters published respectively in: Tapestry of Human Sexuality in Africa, titled “Access to shelters for LGT people in Cape Town”, and Reclaiming the L-Word – Sappho’s daughters out in Africa with title name: “Orientation Quiz” – addressing the positionality

Lisa Klinger

Lisa Klinger,MSN,CRNP,APRN,BC Nurse Practitioner Assistant Director Widener University Student Health

Louis Mitchell

Lucy (lucypaw) Homan

Lucy has been active for years in developing and influencing both theory and practice among trans and non-binary people as a writer, activist, and educator. A native Appalachian, Lucy was born and raised in West Virginia, something which ze thinks helps provide a differing perspective on queer, trans, and non-binary than that typically found among Americans living on the coasts. As a sexqueer, non-binary trans femme, zir current interest is in getting away from defining oneself either within or in opposition to the cultural sex/gender binary.

Lynn Young

Lynn is the Indigenous/First Nations working group convener for the Philly Trans-Health Conference. Lynn, identifies as Two Spirit / cisgender lesbian and lives in Northern Indiana. Lynn’s spiritual path is Native American Traditionalist, but also finds meaning in other spiritual beliefs and practices. Lynn maintains spiritual balance by walking daily in her Native American traditions, being an active member of a UCC church, and drumming whenever possible. Lynn is energized by sharing the spirituality of drumming, as well as making drums and drumming whenever possible. Lynn is passionate about the working with intersections of culture, identity and spirituality; photography, teaching, and technology. Lynn is co-founder, facilitator and member of the Campus Ally Network on the campus of IU South Bend and is committed to creating and expanding spaces where all people are visibly affirmed and supported. She is a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusiveness in its many forms and encourages people to ask questions and challenge societal structures that propagate oppression. Lynn serves on the board of the Interfaith Working Group in the area of communications. She lives on a small farm in Northern Indiana raising chickens and rabbits, and providing a cozy home for dogs, cats, a few goats, and one very large horse. Lynn and her partner of 16 years, Jen, were married in Cape Cod in October of 2012.

Maddox

Maddox is a transgender advocate and educator, and loves to present at transgender conferences. Residing in San Francisco, Maddox is sustained by a day job in the startup web-tech industry. Described as a "social media superstar," Maddox is best known for blogging at http://neutrois.me - an exploration in trying to navigate the world as a non-binary little awesome transperson.

MAK

Mak is a UCC pastor of 2 churches in the midwest. He is passionate about creating wholeness in our broken world by following the path of Jesus as Christ. This includes drumming for wholeness, working on peacemaking, writing inclusive language/non-violent liturgies, having conversations about privilege and the intersections of oppression, as well as having the honor of providing pastoral care and leading worship. Mak volunteers for the UCC GenderFold Action Alliance, The UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns, and the Inter-Faith Working Group.

Matty Leighton

Matty is a straight, cisgender ally with a long history of activism on behalf of the LGBT community. She is a master’s candidate in Child Advocacy and Family Policy at the University of New Hampshire, where she is also employed as an administrative assistant in the Department of Family Studies, and she is currently analyzing qualitative interview data gathered for her thesis, which examines issues facing trans women over 55. Matty lives in Plymouth NH, with her husband, stepchildren, mother-in-law, and four dogs.

Melissa Heckman

Michelle Santiago

Michelle Santiago, Psy.D., is the Assistant Director of Counseling Services at Moravian College and an Adjunct Professor in the Moravian Theological Seminary (Bethlehem, PA). She is also a supervisor to Ph.D. students in counseling/clinical programs. An out heterosexual who grew up in the LGBT community, Michelle is a longtime advocate and friend of LGBTQ people. During her many years in higher education mental health (with stints at James Madison University and the University of TN-Martin), Michelle has worked with a number of transgender/gender variant college students. She believes that education, support and resources equal encouragement and empowerment for all people.

Mister Cris

Mister Cris is the Executive Director and co-founder of Community Kinship Life (CK Life). He is committed to helping individuals of trans experience achieve their goals before, during and after transition through providing the community as well as providers with the tools for success. Mr. Cris hosts forums locally for men and women of trans experience to discuss issues beyond transition 101. He also utilizes his knowledge of insurance to help many men and women access transition related surgeries.He is a Member of WPATH as well as other boards focused on Trans issues and needs.

Rev. Moonhawk River Stone

Reverend Moonhawk River Stone, M.S., LMHC, is an Interfaith Minister, psychotherapist, consultant, educator, writer and keynote speaker in private practice in the Albany, NY area. His consulting and educational work take him all over the country into corporations, colleges, K-12 schools, clinical and professional conferences. Mr. Stone is an advocate and activist for transgender human and civil rights and works to develop transgender health care policy and transgender employment policy. He is active in working on issues related to eliminating Gender Identity Disorder's continuing presence in the DSM and in the areas of Aging and Disability, Spirituality and Interfaith. Stone has over 25 years of non profit LGBT board of director experience, most notably with Tans Youth Family Allies (TYFA), The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA), GLSEN-NYCR, the Empire State Pride Agenda. He has over 25 years conference organizing experience. Stone is a member of the LGBT National Aging Roundtable and of Out & Equal's Transgender Advisory Committee. Formerly he served as Co-Chair of the Ending Disparities Committee at National Coalition for LGBT Health.

Mycroft Masada Holmes

Mycroft Masada Holmes (right) is an interfaith transgender leader based in hir native Boston; Chair of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition’s Interfaith Committee, Emeritus Founding Chair of Keshet’s Transgender Working Group, and a board member of Congregation Am Tikva. Mycroft is also a thin ally in the movement for fat social justice, a writer and artist; ze is partnered with Julia McCrossin (left), the Fat Studies scholar.

Ovid Amorson

I have been employed here and there, educated in this and that and have found that to be largely irrelevant. My job is to work towards Love by Seeing the God in myself and in others and Knowing that we are all a part of Love. With intention, I take off the things in this life which have been put on me and which I have put on myself. I encourage others to do so also. It is important to me that I work towards prevention of the damage that often comes when TLGBQ people internalize various types of hatreds/phobias and begin to believe that they are not a part of Love and that I work towards Healing and religious reconciliation. I enjoy being a part of trans* communities in Philadelphia and have been an active with TMAN, RAGE, the Philly Trans* March movement, the Soulforce Equality Ride, and the Philly Trans-Health Conference for which I am the Tot Space Coordinator and the liaison for the youth/teen working group as well as a member of the African American/Black working group and the Well Being and Self Care working group.

Palms

The 12th Annual Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference is my second year on the Planning Committee, but my first year involved with particular working groups: the mental/behavioral health working group and the beyond binary working group are the two I am involved with this year. I have a very strong feeling that the mental/behavioral health group will be an annual working group for me. The reason I feel so strongly is because I am attending Rutgers University and studying psychology as well as women’s, gender, and sexuality studies; while working on a dual degree at Rutgers (B.A./M.A.) I will be gearing my classes towards the admission requirements and recommendations from Widener University to get accepted and study in their dual degree program of MEd. Human Sexuality and PsyD. of Psychology with every intention of one day turning my MEd. in human sexuality into a PhD in Human Sexuality. The main reason I joined the PTHC Planning Committee last year was to have a network of transgender friends and gain as much knowledge as possible about transgender issues and other problems and complications that they go through. My professional, or better yet my future plans consist of a few things that I am more than determined to get accomplished. First, while in graduate schools I will be writing books, journal articles, blogs, and trying to get research I complete published as well as respected and acknowledged in the Philadelphia area and with the proper psychologists, therapists, and human sexuality professionals, secondly upon graduation with a double masters and single doctorate degrees I will begin a therapy and counseling practice or become affiliated with a practice if they are above professional standards, and third I plan o continuing my research while in a practice and not have any particular deadline to meet and allow the research to be extremely long term and ongoing. Since joining the PTHC Planning Committee I have come out to a few friends about being transsexual, and I know I never would have been so forth coming, even though three of the non professional people I have chosen to tell are my three closest friends and I’ve known them for more than thirty years. For now I am only taking hormones, which make me feel psychologically the way I was meant to feel; also for the time being I identify as gender neutral since I am basically between genders at this stage of transitioning. The only time I am comfortable with being dressed en femme is when I am alone at home, when the hormones, and electrolysis have me looking more feminine I will most definitely live full time as the woman I am. Finally my last attainable goal will be to gain employment as a sexuality professor at either Rutgers University-Camden or in Philadelphia and one day start a sexuality program there.

Rik Fire

Rev. Rik Fire MSW,LCSW,LISW is an Ordained Interfaith Minister and Board Trustee of Ecumenicon Fellowship. He is a Licensed Clinical/Independent Social Worker, working for a national behavioral managed care company and also in private practice as a therapist specializing in sexuality, gender and holistic healing modalities. Additionally, Rik is an Advanced Certified Shamanic Practitioner and Reiki Master. He lives and serves at Village of Radikal Healing in Bucks County, PA and is in the process of obtaining another retreat center by the ocean in NJ that will be called Agni Ashram. Rik is working on a Doctorate in Holistic Nutrition and Natural Health. Rik and his wife are in the process of negotiating the interesting journey of having their child finish high school and find his way into the realm of freshman college life while also having their grandparents under the same roof.

Ryan Cassata

Sade Ali

Sadé Ali, MA, CADC, CCS, is the Deputy Commissioner of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disABILITY Services. She holds faculty positions at Temple University’s College of Health Professions and at Drexel University’s School of Public Health. She consults with SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) on recovery and resilience-oriented systems of care. Ms. Ali has traveled the US and Canada extensively providing culturally-appropriate recovery management training. She is a member of the faculty of Brown University's Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC-NE) where she provides education on culturally-appropriate recovery planning and working with Indigenous Healers in some African-origin, Native American and Latino Communities. She has published her thesis and other scholarly articles on culturally appropriate recovery services and their efficacy in the field. Ms. Ali has been in the field of behavioral health services for over 42 years. Five years ago, Ms. Ali formed an Advisory Group comprised of members of the Philadelphia transgender and gender variant communities and their allies in an effort to inform the creation of the first holistic, long-term residential treatment program for transgender and gender variant people experiencing behavioral health challenges. One of the proudest moments in her career was the opening of the Morris Home on the 16th of April, 2012. Morris Home is named in memory of Nizah Morris, a transgender woman who was murdered in Philadelphia in 2002. Her murder remains unsolved. Ms. Ali holds a Bachelor of Arts in Counseling Psychology and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with a concentration on the African schools of thought. Additionally, Ms. Ali is an ordained Orisha Priest. She holds a certificate of Clinical Pastoral Counseling and is a Chaplain.

shay(den) gonzalez

shay(den) gonzalez, yes, spelled how it looks, is a Black & Latin@ ftfemme-aggress trans guy who is currently the Training and Facilitation Director for Safe Spaces Project. He provides capacity building assistance by way of programmatic & curricula development, facilitation/training, and assessment of organizational growth and development for youth serving or youth-led organizations throughout the country. When shay(den) is not working he is: Vice President of the Board for Friends of Camp Little Notch, organizing with the Philly Collaborative for Reproductive Justice and Support, being a full spectrum doula, leading Vinyasa yoga classes, and a part of the Brown Boi Project T4T Working Group. Really though, when he’s not working he’s either being awkward and sassy on a fixie or obsessively playing scrabble.

Sherri Tancyus

I practice at a 250 bed hospital and health care system in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. I’ve been working with transgender people for 18 years and have developed a nationally leading comprehensive program in transgender healthcare. I am presently in transition myself.

Simon Adriene Ellis

Simon Adriane Ellis is a queer and genderqueer (FTM) nurse midwife at Essential Healthcare + Midwifery Services in Federal Way, WA. Simon comes from a background of social justice organizing for racial and economic justice and LGBTQ rights, and is thrilled to be a part of the small but awesome ranks of boi midwives. Simon’s clinical practice is focused on providing empowering sexual and reproductive health services across the lifespan for people of all gender identities. Their recent work includes a qualitative research study on the pregnancy and birth experiences of male and gender variant gestational parents. As a member of the American College of Nurse Midwives’ Gender Bias Task Force, Simon has helped conduct a national survey on the experiences of men in midwifery, and co-authored a position statement describing the role of midwives in providing care for gender variant individuals.

Simon Pedisich

Simon is all about cats, boots, penguins, language, and doing this comic.

SJ Langer

SJ is a psychotherapist and writer in private practice in NYC. He also conducts trainings on Trans* Health and LGBT issues in clinical practice for medical and mental health professionals as well as graduate programs. He has presented at the 2012 Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, 2011 WPATH among other conferences. His articles include "How Dresses Can Make You Mentally Ill: Examining Gender Identity Disorder in Childhood" and "Gender (dis)Agreement: A Dialogue on the Clinical Implications of Gendered Language". He is proud to be on the planning committee again this year.

Sonam Ben Willow

Stacie Leap

Stacie is a Digital Service Fellow AmeriCorps Member through a partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and Communities in Schools of Philadelphia's Urban Technology Project. She volunteers for PRO-ACTS as their Recovery Coach for those seeking additional support to recover from addictions and the Chair of the Amends in Action committee, preparing community service events for members of the organization. During her free time, she likes to listen to music and explore her hobbies and interests in psychology, computer science and health. She attended PTHC for two years: one as a participant and one as a volunteer. This year is her third year with PTHC and she is in various leadership roles. Being the group convener and group liaison for the API (Asians/Pacific Islander) Working Group and Mental Health Working Group as well as the Co-Chair of the Events Coordination Committee, she looks forward working with those who seeks her assistance.

Tammyrae Barr

Tammyrae Barr is a life-long advocate of fairness and justice for all people; an organizer/activist in the Philadelphia LGBT community, where she spans beyond gender, race, religion, and politics and tries to connect the dots to form a path to equality for everyone. She holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Rutgers University, works for an international transportation design firm and is a parent of two amazing young men. Her current organizing/activist efforts include the Philadelphia TransHealth Conference (TransParenting and Sexuality), Blitz, MixTape, Gender Reel, Elements LGBTQ Womyn of Color, and Philadelphia Dyke March.

Tara Niland, RN

Tara is a registered nurse with a strong interest in bioethics and clinical research, living in Philadelphia. Tara’s professional goals focus on working to improve healthcare outcomes and accessibility for underserved and high-risk populations through the implementation of evidence-based practice guidelines, provider education, institutional and policy reform; and examination of clinical, ethical, and biopsychosociocultural barriers to care. Tara’s nursing study focused on chronic pain management, substance use disorders, and crisis intervention. Tara practices manual therapies with training in conventional and energetic modalities including: Swedish massage, CranioSacral Therapy, Reiki, Myofascial Release and maternity massage. Tara is also trained as a birth doula. Tara’s other hobbies include: word games, making art, container gardening, loving on animals, making gluten-free treats, being silly, and debating medical ethics.

Ted Heck

Ted is a contract monitor for HIV prevention grants at the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). As part of his work, he coordinates the Transgender Advisory Group of the Virginia HIV Community Planning Group and VDH. Projects in this capacity have included assisting with implementation of the Transgender Health Initiative Survey, developing a Clinician’s Guide To Transgender Risk Assessment, maintaining the Transgender Resource and Referral for Virginia, and offering provider trainings on transgender issues. Ted has a B.A. in Psychology from The American University and an M.S. in Criminal Justice from California State University at Sacramento, where he wrote his thesis on prevention services and services for victims of hate crimes against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. Ted currently serves on the board of the Virginia Anti-Violence Project and is a member of Richmond Friends Meeting where he is active with local and regional Quaker organizations. He lives with his partner and three cats in the Blackwell neighborhood of Richmond.

Theo Cornetta

Theo is a gender non-conforming/trans identified person, who currently lives in Philadelphia. During the day, Theo works at Women Against Abuse as a paralegal for survivors of intimate partner violence. At night, they are a student at Temple University School of Law. Although they live on the east coast now, they will always be a Midwesterner at heart.

Tristan Byrnes

Tristan Byrnes is a Transsexual Male and a Mental Health Counselor in Tampa, FL. Tristan's private practice focuses on gender therapy and he is also on the Board of Directors for Trans*Action Florida, a transgender activism organization in Florida. His is passionate about trying to find ways to increase health care options available to the transgender community. Tristan is married and has just adopted 2 teenagers from the child welfare system and is beginning to reach out and bring awareness to the therapeutic needs of the GLBT youth within that system

Yoel Solis

Yoel is a lot of things, including Jewish, Chicano, an educator, a parent, a husband, and a gender nonconforming transman. He is the Adult Education and Literacy Coordinator for the Federation of Neighborhood Centers, a Philadelphia nonprofit, where he designs and teaches classes that help people gain the math and science skills they need for careers in the building trades, and promotes hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning for underserved youth. He transitioned on the job in the winter of 2011-2012. Last year he was a member of the Femme working group and the local planning committee. This year he is on the local planning committee again and convener/liaison for the new Education & Educators working group. He lives in Philadelphia with his husband and their kids.