We encourage you to connect with friends, family (of origin or chosen) during this busy month. There are opportunities within the LGBTQ community and around Milwaukee (and other cities) for connection.

MKE Parents of Trans Kids is a group of parents and caregivers supporting each other on our individual journeys of love, acceptance, and advocacy for our school-aged gender non-binary, transgender and non-conforming children. We meet monthly on the 3rd Sunday from 2:00pm to 3:30pm. Supportive, gently facilitated meetings offer parents and adult family members the opportunity to share their successes, concerns, and stories of challenges and resilience. This space also provides a forum to learn from others, ask questions, seek feedback, or just listen. Childcare can be provided upon request. Please contact us 10 days prior to the meeting so we can arrange for a sitter. For additional information, email us at parents@forge-forward.org.

"Being 'Crazy' versus Being Oppressed: Why Trans People Experience Higher Rates of Mental Health Concerns and What You Can Do About It." Description: Trans people are inundated with messages from others -- including being called "crazy."  Many internalize this charged word and fear its implications.  Others may internalize the stigma related to mental health. Trans people report more depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts than do non-trans people. Even though an untrue narrative may be circulating that trans people inherently experience more mental health concerns, the research says that trans people are more likely to report these symptoms the result of living with minority stress. What *is* minority stress? More importantly, what can you do to counter its health-draining effects? Come hear how stigma and rejection from others has been shown to be linked to mental health concerns and how you can enhance your own and your loved ones' resistance (and resilience!) to their effects.   Speaker: Stephanie L. […]

Description: With the start of the new year comes statements from Wisconsin lawmakers who intend to introduce legislation limiting the rights and freedoms of transgender and non-binary Wisconsinites.  More than ever, your story is needed.  In this workshop you will learn how to craft an effective story about the impact this and similar efforts have on you and/or people you love and care about.  You will have time to draft and get feedback on your personal story in advance of possible legislative hearings, as well as hearings at your local school district, city, and county level.  It will be facilitated by GSAFE and members of the Wisconsin Trans Health Coalition Policy Group, Brian J and Sawyer Johnson.   What’s the purpose of FORGE’s Milwaukee Monthly Meetings? Share information on pre-selected subjects. Provide support for people who attend. [All people who are interested in trans and gender non-binary issues are welcome. We encourage people to participate […]

MKE Parents of Trans Kids is a group of parents and caregivers supporting each other on our individual journeys of love, acceptance, and advocacy for our school-aged gender non-binary, transgender and non-conforming children. We meet monthly on the 3rd Sunday from 2:00pm to 3:30pm. Supportive, gently facilitated meetings offer parents and adult family members the opportunity to share their successes, concerns, and stories of challenges and resilience. This space also provides a forum to learn from others, ask questions, seek feedback, or just listen. Childcare can be provided upon request. Please contact us 10 days prior to the meeting so we can arrange for a sitter. For additional information, email us at parents@forge-forward.org.

Book Launch with author Brice Smith Join us for the official book launch of Brice D. Smith’s heart-wrenchingly inspirational biography Lou Sullivan: Daring To Be A Man Among Men. Hear him share his experiences reclaiming one of the most tragically overlooked people in LGBT history. Ask Brice anything and have him sign your copy of the biography of Milwaukee’s own world-renowned transgender pioneer Lou Sullivan. About the book: “ said I couldn’t live as a gay man, but it looks like I’m going to die like one.” Good Midwestern girls did not grow up to be gay men and die from AIDS. Unless they were transgender pioneer Lou Sullivan (1951-1991). Sullivan marched for Civil Rights, embraced the 1960s counterculture, came of age in the gay liberation movement, transformed medical treatment of trans people, institutionalized trans history, forged an international female-to-male (FTM) transgender community and died from AIDS at the epicenter of the crisis. He overcame […]

MKE Parents of Trans Kids is a group of parents and caregivers supporting each other on our individual journeys of love, acceptance, and advocacy for our school-aged gender non-binary, transgender and non-conforming children. We meet monthly on the 3rd Sunday from 2:00pm to 3:30pm. Supportive, gently facilitated meetings offer parents and adult family members the opportunity to share their successes, concerns, and stories of challenges and resilience. This space also provides a forum to learn from others, ask questions, seek feedback, or just listen. Childcare can be provided upon request. Please contact us 10 days prior to the meeting so we can arrange for a sitter. For additional information, email us at parents@forge-forward.org.