Wisconsin

The National Center on Transgender Equality (NCTE) in conjunction with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), just release "Injustice at every turn: A report of the national transgender discrimination survey."  In this detailed and compelling report, they cover employment discrimination, as well as many other forms of discrimination transgender individuals and loved ones experience.  At February's meeting, we will use the survey results as a jumping off point to compare national statistics with our local reality.   Ample time will be available for discussion of issues such as on-the-job harassment, loss of chosen career, under-employment, non-consensual outing, forced bathroom choice, the role of transition (helping or hindering in maintaining or pursuing jobs), resilience, and strategies for success.  FORGE staff will also reveal a new opportunity for transgender people and loved ones seeking employment in Wisconsin.

The LGBTQI community has suffered multiple losses over the past several months — both in Wisconsin and across the nation. Join us at the next Community Cares meeting to discuss how many components (dots) are connected, and what we as a community can do to start erasing the lines and creating new, healthier options for ourselves, our community, and our world. -- November 7, 2010 (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

 7:30 - 9:00pm Guest speaker: Shai Wise Guest speaker - and former regular FORGE attendee - Shai Wise is back from Minnesota and will rally discussion around spiritual practices and connections (or not) to religious communities.   Shai is an out FTM/intersex pastor, who comes from a complex spiritual background and embraces a wide range of spiritual beliefs and practices.  Shai's laid back style, will encourage discussion and guide people into talking about what needs and desires people have (or don't have) from religious communities. -- For more information on monthly social support group meetings, check out this page.

7:30 - 9:00pm Choosing Love Join us for a discussion about choosing love in your life.  An interactive game will kick of the meeting, serving as a jumping off point for further discussion about how and where to meet people; considerations about if/how/when to disclose trans identity or history; what kinds of things weaken the bonds within a relationship; and strategies for maintaining loving and long-lasting relationships. -- For more information on monthly social support group meetings, check out this page.

Have you enjoyed coming to PrideFest in previous years?  Are you looking for a way to cut costs and still be able to attend, connect with your friends, and contribute to a thriving Trans/LGBQ community? Once again, FORGE is a co-sponsor of PrideFest's Health and Wellness area.  We are looking for volunteers to help onsite, as well as to do some "behind the scenes" (pre-PrideFest) work.     Volunteering = free admission.    To sign up, fill out this brief survey: https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dDByZDVoQ08zSnZMVzRya2ZER0NkTFE6MA

Ramping up, slowing down: taking charge of your emotions “Emotional regulation” – not only may the term itself seem a little strange, but the skills it entails may be strangers to us, as well.  Many of us learned to fear emotions or act them out rather than “regulate” them.  At June's meeting, we will learn and practice some specific strategies and skills to modulate our emotions.  We will talk about how these skills can be used to help us achieve personal, professional, and spiritual goals, as well as to more easily work WITH our emotions rather than letting them rule our lives.  Date and Time: Saturday, June 25, 2011 -- 7:30 - 9:00pm  Location: Milwaukee LGBT Community Center 252 E. Highland Ave Milwaukee, WI  53202  # # # # # Please also  join us for open discussion from 6:00 - 7:15pm.    

July's meeting will be a laid back, participant-driven, discussion.  Each attendee will be given the opportunity to propose topics that are of interest to them -- either because they would like to talk more about it, or because they'd like to hear what others have to say about a particular subject.   The meeting will be informal, but will provide support, gentle facilitation, and information.

MEETING CANCELED! The August 27 meeting has been canceled.  Please join us in September.  

Guest speakers: Brice Smith, Michael Doylen, and Max Yela    Description:  Join Brice Smith (trans historian), Michael Doylen (head of the UWM Archives Department) and Max Yela (head of the Special Collections at the UWM Archives) for a unique opportunity to learn more about the LGBT special collection and view highlighted transgender selections.  Brice Smith will discuss the transgender oral history project and share audio excerpts from his interviews of transgender community members.  For more information about the LGBT Special Collection, please visit http://www4.uwm.edu/libraries/special/collections/lgbt_studies/lgbt_collection.cfm Date and (new) Time:  September 24, 2011, 6:00 - 7:45pm Location (just this month): Golda Meir Library (UW-Milwaukee campus) 2311 East Hartford Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53211 The Special Collections are on the 4th floor.  Enter the west wing of the building and take the elevator around the corner. There will be someone at the Welcome Desk to help with directions to the Special Collections area.  Google Map to the Golda Meir […]