This weekend was just as busy as the rest of the week, and admittedly it has left me feeling as though I've not had a day off at all this past week and will not have one for a few more days. That's not a complaint at all, mind you. It's just the truth on how I'm feeling. The weekend, in spite of being busy, was simply marvelous. I had a wonderful time!
Saturday was spent at the Beyond Tolerance Conference at PSU and I really enjoyed it. I attended a workshop in every session and was amazed at how much there was related to transgender issues. The only workshop I attended that was not transgender-focused was the first session which focused on framing the GLBT message to promote safe schools for all students. It was interesting even if the presentation was a bit dry. I still learned a good deal.
The next session I attended was on what colleges are doing and can do to create a better atmosphere for transgender students. I didn't know until yesterday that Student Senate at PSU passed a resolution two years ago urging student organizations to change their non-discrimination statements in their constitutions to include gender identity and expression, followed by another resolution last year urging the school to do the same with its non-discrimination statement (which it has). It also had a great participatory exercise that let us all get to know each other a little better and see the difference between and fluidity of biological sex, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.
The third session was presented by a transwoman on transgender issues in the workplace and what businesses are doing to accommodate and where they can improve. It was interesting to learn that while some companies will put in place policies to meet certain criteria for the HRC survey, sometimes it's only on paper and they don't necessarily follow through. Some companies have made genuine change for the better, though, even going so far as to fund their own corporate insurance policies for their employees and including coverage for hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery.
The keynote speech was amazing. I have chatted online with Cynthia many times and am glad to have made friends with her, but it was especially nice to meet her in person yesterday and to hear her present her story. She answered a few good questions from the audience and I really feel she helped many in attendance understand what it is to be transsexual and what considerations her employers had to make for her during transition.
After the conference I went for the remainder of the first day of EconoCon, the annual gaming convention on campus. I went out for dinner with a bunch of friends who were there and we had a splendid time eating, chatting and goofing off before heading back for more games. I played a few board games with the usual crew, as well as with Dennis whom I've not seen since before he graduated last year and also a couple of regular convention attendees and a former club advisor whom![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
painted_wolf and I know well and of whom we are very fond. It would be the second and last session of gaming I would get in during the four-day stretch of gaming between the regular Thursday gaming meeting, the Friday gathering at Preston's (which I sadly missed because of work), and EconoCon.
Today was a bit frantic. We all woke up late and ended up ruching out the door. We did get some time for tea and shenanigans before leaving, which was fun. It included guitar and alternate lyrics to well known songs. The ladies arrived late for EconoCon and I managed to just barely get done what I needed to do before leaving for Concord. I spent the day at a support group meeting and then hurried back to Plymouth to pick up PW. I just now finished up my part of the work for the Day of Silence project and now I'm posting before I go to bed.
The next session I attended was on what colleges are doing and can do to create a better atmosphere for transgender students. I didn't know until yesterday that Student Senate at PSU passed a resolution two years ago urging student organizations to change their non-discrimination statements in their constitutions to include gender identity and expression, followed by another resolution last year urging the school to do the same with its non-discrimination statement (which it has). It also had a great participatory exercise that let us all get to know each other a little better and see the difference between and fluidity of biological sex, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.
The third session was presented by a transwoman on transgender issues in the workplace and what businesses are doing to accommodate and where they can improve. It was interesting to learn that while some companies will put in place policies to meet certain criteria for the HRC survey, sometimes it's only on paper and they don't necessarily follow through. Some companies have made genuine change for the better, though, even going so far as to fund their own corporate insurance policies for their employees and including coverage for hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery.
The keynote speech was amazing. I have chatted online with Cynthia many times and am glad to have made friends with her, but it was especially nice to meet her in person yesterday and to hear her present her story. She answered a few good questions from the audience and I really feel she helped many in attendance understand what it is to be transsexual and what considerations her employers had to make for her during transition.
After the conference I went for the remainder of the first day of EconoCon, the annual gaming convention on campus. I went out for dinner with a bunch of friends who were there and we had a splendid time eating, chatting and goofing off before heading back for more games. I played a few board games with the usual crew, as well as with Dennis whom I've not seen since before he graduated last year and also a couple of regular convention attendees and a former club advisor whom
painted_wolf and I know well and of whom we are very fond. It would be the second and last session of gaming I would get in during the four-day stretch of gaming between the regular Thursday gaming meeting, the Friday gathering at Preston's (which I sadly missed because of work), and EconoCon.Today was a bit frantic. We all woke up late and ended up ruching out the door. We did get some time for tea and shenanigans before leaving, which was fun. It included guitar and alternate lyrics to well known songs. The ladies arrived late for EconoCon and I managed to just barely get done what I needed to do before leaving for Concord. I spent the day at a support group meeting and then hurried back to Plymouth to pick up PW. I just now finished up my part of the work for the Day of Silence project and now I'm posting before I go to bed.
