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Monthly meeting: Kortney Ziegler

We're excited to welcome Dr. Kortney Ziegler to Milwaukee for the showing of his documentary, "Still Black" on May 24, 2014. Dr. Ziegler is an award-winning film maker, writer, and speaker. He holds Northwestern University's first-ever Ph.D. in African-American Studies and he is the founder of Trans H4CK. This is going to be an event you won't want to miss. A reception prior to the film will allow people to meet Dr. Ziegler and the discussion following the film will provide insight and dialogue. Learn more about Dr. Ziegler at his blog http://blackademic.com/. Still Black website: http://www.stillblackfilm.org/ 6:00 – 7:00pm Reception 7:00 – 8:15pm Still Black film screening 8:15 – 9:00+pm Discussion with Dr. Kortney Ziegler Mark your calendars for May 24th, 2014 Like the FORGE Facebook page to stay current with news about this event.

PrideFest – Health & Wellness

PrideFest! June 6 - 8, 2014 It's the largest annual LGBT gathering in Wisconsin, and it takes place this June 6-8, 2014, at the Summerfest Grounds in Milwaukee: PrideFest! (http://pridefest.com/) FORGE is again proud be part of the Health and Wellness Area, with other organizations who are committed to designing engaging activities to help visitors learn about and improve their physical, mental, and relationship health. Visitors also can listen to stage presentations, eat free apples, grab a free bottle of water, and enter into raffles for free bikes and more! We need your help to make this event a success! 1. T-shirt design contest! Learn more about this year's T-shirt Contest and submit your design! 2. Volunteer! We promise you'll have a good time meeting people and contributing, too. FORGE will be recruiting volunteers to help staff our booths and hand out our very popular Free Hugs! stickers. Volunteers will get in free and receive […]

PrideFest – Health and Wellness

PrideFest! June 6 - 8, 2014 It's the largest annual LGBT gathering in Wisconsin, and it takes place this June 6-8, 2014, at the Summerfest Grounds in Milwaukee: PrideFest! (http://pridefest.com/) FORGE is again proud be part of the Health and Wellness Area, with other organizations who are committed to designing engaging activities to help visitors learn about and improve their physical, mental, and relationship health. Visitors also can listen to stage presentations, eat free apples, grab a free bottle of water, and enter into raffles for free bikes and more! We need your help to make this event a success! 1. T-shirt design contest! Learn more about this year's T-shirt Contest and submit your design! 2. Volunteer! We promise you'll have a good time meeting people and contributing, too. FORGE will be recruiting volunteers to help staff our booths and hand out our very popular Free Hugs! stickers. Volunteers will get in free and receive […]

Monthly meeting: Thriving

THRIVING:  What is it?  How can we have more of it in the trans community? Description: When we asked what thriving is at PrideFest, we received several hundred answers.  Most agreed on the bottom line, however: it’s doing better than just surviving, just getting by.  At this FORGE meeting we will each identify when we’ve felt like we were thriving, examine the conditions that lead to thriving, and figure out what we can do as individuals and as a community to increase how often we feel like we are thriving.   Open discussion is from 6:00 - 6:45pm Open discussion is the time to connect connection with fellow Trans+ and SOFFA individuals. This gently facilitated time is especially devoted to exploring the issues you bring in – sharing your experiences and stories, asking questions, seeking referrals, gathering resources. We’ll assure this time will stay focused on your needs, and the discussion you generate.

Dating and relationships with trans men

Description: Dating is dating, right?  Sex is sex?  What happens when you fall head over heels for someone and he discloses he is a trans man?  For some (non-trans) gay and bi men, cruising, dating, or entering a longer term relationship with a trans guy might be uncharted territory.  This fully interactive workshop will briefly discuss basic concepts of trans-masculinity before shifting gears into exploring issues of disclosure, communicating desire, navigating bodies, and negotiating safety.  Time will be devoted to discuss how dating trans men may impact identity (for both/all partners). Presenter: michael munson

Monthly meeting: Ashley Altadonna (filmmaker)

An evening with Milwaukee filmmaker Ashley Altadonna Spend an engaging evening with Milwaukee filmmaker Ashley Altadonna.    Her two short films, "Playing with Gender" and "Whatever Suits You" will be screened, plus other additional film clips and written work.  Altadonna will share her efforts to raise funds for surgery through her filmmaking, as well as raise awareness through her films.  Stimulating dialogue about her creative work, community engagement, current and future projects will be central components of discussion.  Altadonna's work has been screened at the Milwaukee Film/Video Festival, as well as film festivals across the country (and internationally!).   Join us for this unique opportunity to meet Ashley and see her outstanding original compositions. Learn more about Ashley's film, her writing, and more at http://tallladypictures.com/ More about Ashley:  Ashley Altadonna (b. 1979 Houston, TX) is a transsexual filmmaker living in Milwaukee, WI.  Her films, “Whatever Suits You” and “Playing with Gender” have been shown in numerous festivals from […]

Monthly meeting: Getting what you want!

Topic: Getting what you want: Creating and sharing your needs and hopes Description: We all seek out support and information meetings for unique reasons. Often we come together for similar purposes, but the reality is that we each have highly unique needs, desires, and expected outcomes when we connect with an organization or attend a meeting. Some of us might be looking for community and camaraderie.   Some may want contact information to local providers. Some may want something to do on a Saturday night. Some hope to learn more about a specific subject. Some might be interested in a particular speaker, film or topic. We are eager to listen to what you want, what you like, what you hope for, what you wish to see more of. We'd like to hear about what works for you -- and where you would like to see some change.  Through fun, strategic-planning oriented activities, we will encourage you […]

Parents of Trans Kids

Support group for parents and family members of transgender and gender non-conforming children. Write AskFORGE@forge-forward.org for more information

MFF: My Prairie Home (film)

Canada| 2013 | 77 MIN | DIR: Chelsea McMullan Friday, September 26 | 10:00 PM Landmark Oriental Sunday, September 28 | 10:00 PM Landmark Oriental Friday, October 03 | 4:30 PM Fox-Bay   Simultaneously a look into the life of transgender singer-songwriter Rae Spoon (who uses the gender-neutral pronoun “they”) as well as a celebration of the categorization-defying music they create (fusing folk, country, indie rock, and electronica), "My Prairie Home" is a truly original portrait of a true original. We follow Rae as they travel across Canada on tour, revealing the evangelical upbringing and forbidden first love that marked their early life intermingled with playfully surreal music videos set at prom or among the dinosaurs in a natural history museum. This documentary is as unique and untraditional as the performer it aims to capture.   THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS: COMMUNITY PARTNERS: FORGE, Inc. | Hours Against Hate | PrideFest  

Monthly meeting: Kate Bornstein’s “Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide”

Topic: Book discussion.  Kate Bornstein's "Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws"   Description: Are you ready to discuss Kate Bornstein's book "Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws?" We are! Bring your copy and ideas along to this meeting to talk about alternatives to suicide, building a wider range of skills to combat depression and suicidal thoughts, and helping each other stay alive through Kate's only directive of "Don't be mean."   (You don't need to have read the book to participate.) Legendary Kate Bornstein directly addresses the often daunting and prevalent reality of suicidal thoughts and actions within trans and queer communities. Through her typical bold, intense, and playful style, Kate offers unconventional alternatives to suicide in her book "Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws." Don't be fooled by the book's title! This book has […]