November's Social Support meeting Topic: Narratives: Exploring, Creating, and Recreating Self-Concept Many of us spend hundreds of hours contemplating our gender and consciously (or unconsciously) creating narratives that explain our past, current, and future gendered reality.  When narratives are shared with others, they can become immutable, resulting in a quandary of how we can change and continue to re-define ourselves without others (or ourselves) binding us to a fixed moment in time.  How do we consciously create an identity that is known and shown to the world - through friendships, family relationships, co-workers, and via social media?  What happens when we discover our narratives are incongruent with the narratives others have created for and about us?     Open rap is from 6:00 - 7:15pm Open rap 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 […]

December's "meeting" = Holiday party Join FORGE members on December 22, 2012 for a holiday social event.  In place of our regular talk-focused meeting, we will share food, casual conversation, music, and games. Please bring food or non-alcoholic beverages to share.  If you have music you would enjoy listening to, please also bring CDs, MP3 players, speakers so others can enjoy, too.

January's social support meeting: "The Aggressives" (film) Description: The Aggressives, a 2005 film by Daniel Peddle, is a rarely explored documentary about six self-defined "aggressives" -- primarily African-American individuals assigned female at birth who express themselves in uniquely masculine ways.  The film powerfully explores their lives and examines gender in ways that are not often part of traditional trans-narratives. Black History Month -- February -- is just around the corner.  In previous years, we have screened films like "Paris is Burning" and "How Do I Look?"  This film -- The Aggressives -- highlights the "flip side" of some gendered identities and expressions within African-American communities. A discussion will follow the film.   Open rap is from 6:00 - 7:15pm Open rap 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, […]

April's social support meeting: The Trans Policy presentation and discussion slated for April 27, 2013's meeting has been canceled. Although the meeting is formerly canceled, several regular members will be at the Community Center (1110 N. Market Street, 2nd floor, Milwaukee, WI) and will hold open discussion space for anyone who wants to drop by.  The meeting space will be available from 6:00pm until approximately 9:00pm for people to drop in, chat, support each other, network, laugh and connect. The Trans Policy topic will be rescheduled for later in the year.  

May's social support meeting: Trans* Pride June is LGBT Pride month.  For many in the LGBT community, Pride is a very important time of the year, where people gather at PrideFest, companies have LGBT Pride days or events, and even the President makes proclamations and hosts celebratory parties at the White House.  Some trans people and loved ones feel excited and positive about Pride, while others may view being trans as not something pride-worthy, or may not want to be out about being trans.  Come with your thoughts about if, how, and where trans people and loved ones connect with LGBT Pride.   Open rap is from 6:00 - 7:15pm Open rap 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 hour+ will […]