The First Event 2013 Transmasculine Track is pleased to include a talk on metoidioplasty outcomes by Ryan Salans, MA. Mr. Salans  is a public speaker, diversity trainer, consultant, and author specializing in health care and workplace issues surrounding the LGBTQIA community. He also works with organizations and Universities on LGBTQ social issues, and media literacy related to eating disorders and body image. Since 2005, Ryan has traveled the nation sharing his story about transitioning from female to male with diverse audiences. His story is told with an intermixing of humor and intricate clinical details surrounding the transition process.

As Ryan journeyed through his transition from female- to-male, he also became an LGBTQ activist. He gained international notoriety after his two appearances on Larry King Live!, protests by the Westboro Baptist Church, and an article in Closer magazine. And he became known as a transgender mentor after his story was documented in Gender Rebel by the LOGO network. This past year Ryan has appeared on the talk shows, Trisha and Ricki: The New Ricki Lake Show, and in April 2012, his memoir, Second Son: Transitioning Toward My Destiny, Love and Life was released by TitleTown publishing.

Ryan’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in English and Anthropology, a Master of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

First Event 2013 is honored to have Ryan Sallans as a special guest and presenter.  He will be presenting “Body Transformation: Finding Peace with Change and Genetics” on Friday and in our Trans Masculine Track on Saturday, he will be presenting “Metoidioplasty: Making the Decision and Sharing the Outcome”.  We also would like to invite him as a special guest on Saturday to the Trans Masculine Lunch.  Please come and hear Ryan who has come a long way to speak with us and I hope you will also take the opportunity to buy his book and get his autograph after his presentation.

For More Information:
http://www.ryansallans.com
http://www.facebook.com/RyanSallansFTM
https://twitter.com/rsallans
http://secondsonmemoir.com

We are working on fabulous entertainment Saturday night after our Keynote Speaker. A popular past act has recently been revived and has agreed to return to First Event 2013. Until we finalize their contract, we cannot say who, but here is a hint: Who helped Humpty? We expect to see them again this January!

First Event 2013 is pleased to announce that Amanda Simpson will be the Keynote Speaker at First Event 2013. Ms. Simpson is the first openly transgender woman appointed by any U.S. President. As a community leader, Ms. Simpson has served as commissioner of the City of Tucson LGBT Commission, has been a candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives and Vice-Chair for the Arizona Democratic Party. She has also served on a number of non-profit boards in her work for the community, including Wingspan Community Center, The Southern Arizona Gender Alliance, The Arizona Human Rights Fund, The National Center for Transgender Equality, Out and Equal Workplace Advocates, and the Southern Arizona Chapter of the ACLU. Professionally, Ms. Simpson received her Bachelor of Science in Physics from Harvey Mudd College, her Master of Science in Engineering from California State University, Northridge, and her MBA from the University of Arizona. She is an Associate Fellow with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Ms. Simpson accepted an appointment by the Obama Administration in 2009. She served in the Department of Commerce at the Senior Technical Advisor to the Bureau of Industry and Security. In 2011, Ms. Simpson accepted a new position working as a technical advisor for the U.S. Army. For additional details, check her Wikipedia Biography.

“First Event is honored to host Amanda Simpson as our keynote speaker” said Grace Stevens, co-chair of this year’s conference. “She is a pioneer in our community with many valuable lessons to share. We believe her being with us will encourage and energize people in our community to reach bravely for their goals.”

First Event is also pleased to announce Marriott Corporation’s Boston Marriott Peabody, in Peabody, Massachusetts, as its conference partner and hotel for its First Event 2013 Transgender Conference. The event will be held January 23 to 27, 2013.

First Event 2013 is anticipating over 500 attendees this year and will feature daytime workshops from across the gender spectrum and of interest to the entire transgender community, spouses, partners and allies of transgender people. Evening entertainment is being scheduled, including a new talent show, annual fashion show, awards banquet and other social activities. For those interested in venturing out at night, the local Salem/North Shore area is welcoming and boasts excellent shopping and cultural events. Both Boston and Cambridge are only a 30 minute ride away for an even wider variety of activities.

In 2010, Ms. Simpson was the keynote for the Transgender Day of Remembrance at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington.  This 15 minute recording of that speech will give you some sense for Ms. Simpson, and for some of what she might share at First Event:

We have been working to finalize arrangements for our 2013 Keynote Speaker, and we think you will be impressed. We plan to announce details within the next few weeks. Stay tuned!