Teen Programs

Our teen programming is created by gender non-conforming and transgender youth themselves. These workshops and overall conference experience will help youth across North America connect, develop friendships, and learn about themselves and others. By creating these opportunities, we hope to help our youth empower themselves and decrease their own risk for some very real problems, such as physical, emotional, and psychological abuse, homelessness, drug use, and suicide.

Teen Workshop Schedule Grid

THURSDAY EVENING

FRIDAY

8:30am – 10:30am
Welcome to Gender Odyssey / Ice Breakers & Intros
Let’s start the conference off with a blast!  Come to this opening session to get an overview of what’ll be happening over the weekend and to meet conference coordinators. We’ll start out with a couple of icebreakers to find out who else is here—you’ll meet new people and/or reunite with old friends. You’ll learn about the weekend’s programming as well as have a chance to ask questions about the weekend.
Facilitators: Gil Rich & Carolyn Fuller

10:40am – 12:10pm
Stories from the Community: Adult Panel for Teens
Want to hear how to deal with school, friends, bathrooms, pronouns, dating, and life in general? Join us for this question & answer session with a diverse panel of gender fluid and transgender-identified adults. They will share with you how they define their gender and discuss how they have learned to successfully navigate life through school, social situations, and beyond. We’ll explore how wide-ranging our gender expression and identities can be, get tips and learn tools for navigating life, and see that our futures hold endless possibilities!

12:10pm – 1:20pm
LUNCH

1:20pm – 2:50pm
Dating and Relationships
Sex Ed in school often completely leaves out trans young people. This is your chance to fill in the blanks and get information that’s really relevant to your life and experience. We’ll provide a safe place for trans-identified youth to talk about being trans, dating, sexuality, and sex. We’ll discuss some of the particular challenges, talk about safer sex for trans bodies, and consider how being trans affects (or doesn’t) romantic and sexual relationships. Note: This workshop is open only to youth junior high or middle school age and older.

OR  -

Siblings and Friends
Come connect with other teens that have siblings who are transgender and gender nonconforming. What is the impact in your life? Do you have a transgender friend? What is your experience? This session is for folks who have a trans or gender fluid sibling or friend only.

3:00pm – 4:30pm
This One Time…: A Writing Workshop
This One Time is a writing workshop that focuses on the unique narratives of our upcoming generation’s take on gender exploration, coming out, self-advocacy, and other meaningful, hilarious, and inspiring adventures. In the first part of this workshop, we’ll talk about the important role that our stories play in our community.  Then we’ll get to work and start writing our own.  We’ll have time at the end to share our work and see how our stories may be similar but most certainly unique as well.
Facilitator: Kyle Shaughnessy

4:40pm – 5:45pm
Buddy Up: Monster Ball Mentor Event
Calling all Teens: Want to be cooler than Cee Lo and Lady Gaga? Now’s your chance! You too can create your own following of little monsters—by being a big brother or sister to a younger trans or gender variant kid at the conference! During this event Teens will buddy up with younger kids from the youth camp. You’ll have a chance to participate in activities together and become an awesome buddy and mentor to your new friend(s) during the conference. Buddies will meet up again for an amazing storytelling event with Gene Tagaban on Saturday afternoon. Come be a superstar mentor to the youngest members of our community—your fans are waiting!
Facilitators: Gil Rich, Carolyn Fuller & Brenda Bowers

FRIDAY EVENING

SATURDAY

8:30am – 10:00am
Attend GO Workshops
We’ll gather into one or more groups to attend a selected Gender Odyssey workshop together. If time permits, we’ll discuss the topic after the workshop. Meet at the Teen Room (602) by no later than 8:20 am.
Facilitators: Gil Rich, Carolyn Fuller and adult mentors

10:10am – 11:40am
Ask the Doctor
Want the 411 on hormones, puberty blockers, surgery, and more? Our heads and hearts tell us who we are but our bodies seem to have a mind of their own. This session will look at some of the medical issues surrounding puberty, transition, and overall health considerations and give you an opportunity to ask direct questions and get straight-up answers from experienced medical professionals.
Presenter: Dr. Jo Olson

11:40am – 12:45pm
LUNCH

12:45pm – 2:15pm
Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask:
Adult Panel For Teens
Ever wonder… what women talk about in the restroom, if guys sit to pee, or how all the cool genderblenders even pick which bathroom to use? Curious to know specific details about what it’s like living in a male, female, or transitioned body and navigating the world? Well, now’s your chance to ask! We’ll have an amazing group of panelists—both cisgender (non-transgender) and transgender from across the gender spectrum—on hand to answer all of your inquiries. Bring your most curious gender-specific questions—we won’t be embarrassed—and you’ll be able to ask anonymously so you won’t be either! But don’t stop there; we’ll also take requests for tips on clothing, packing, makeup, friends, and more! You won’t want to miss this insightful and informative event!
Facilitators: Gil Rich, Carolyn Fuller and adult mentors

2:25pm – 3:55pm
Stories from the Front: Teen Panel
What are the real-life experiences of older transgender and gender variant youth? During this powerful session, transgender adolescents, friends, and relatives tell their stories from the heart. Honest, emotional, and inspiring stories can help other parents and youth to believe in a better and happier future. The goal of this workshop is to provide parents hope by seeing that trans youth thrive once their gender issues are addressed. The panel will include a teenage girlfriend of one youth and a sister of another to provide insight into how non-trans youth experience the transition of their friend or relative.
Facilitator: Melady Preece

4:05pm – 5:20pm
Dreaming of a World in Which People Want to Belong
As you follow your heart to authenticity you are sure to encounter obstacles, including criticism or rejection from families, friends, and maybe even yourself. You are a light in this world—so how do you turn up the volume of your heart and really spread your wings? Do you have a vision? What are the feelings that drive you? What are the tools you use to strengthen your inner being? What is your story? How do you tell it? Stories are more than entertainment. Stories teach. The spirits of our ancestors live in our stories. We simply need to find them.
Note: Teens buddy up with their kids’ camp buddies to go to the event together.
Presenter: Gene Tagaban

SATURDAY EVENING

SUNDAY

8:30am – 10:00am
Knowing Your Rights in School
You have the right to:
1.     Ask Questions
2.     Get Answers
3.     Be Taken Seriously
Changing policies in your school or in your community is possible and within your rights.  You have the right to engage in respectful and open dialogue with adults and to have your views acknowledged and considered—especially when the decisions affect your life.  Education can make a difference.  Find out what you can do to fight for gender justice in your school.  Learn about the laws that protect you and practice some community-organizing skills.  In this workshop, we’ll give you the information you need to take the first steps toward making your school safer and more inclusive for kids all across the gender spectrum.
Facilitator: Zena Britadesco

OR  -

Attend GO Workshops
We’ll gather into one or more groups to attend a selected Gender Odyssey workshop together. If time permits, we’ll discuss the topic after the workshop.
Facilitators: Adult Mentors

10:10am – 11:40am
Pre- and Post-Transition Conversations
Have you been transitioned for a few years now or are you questioning which path is the right one for you? In this workshop we’ll split into groups based on where we are in our journeys and talk about the issues relevant to our lives. From disclosing to old friends years after you’ve transitioned or negotiating relationships with people who don’t know about your past, to deciding if puberty blockers or hormones are the right choice for you, we’ll explore the issues relevant to our lives today.
Facilitators: Gil Rich, Carolyn Fuller and adult mentors

11:40am – 12:45pm
LUNCH

12:45pm – 2:15pm
Navigating the World
In this workshop we’ll use interactive theater activities to share stories and suggestions for dealing with the challenges and humor around gender in our lives. From talking with friends about your gender, to dealing with school, parents, dating, bathrooms, clothes, and more, we’ll look at ways to handle the challenges we face while uncovering the humor and celebrating our shared experiences.
Facilitators: Gil & Carolyn

2:25pm – 3:55pm
Gender Odyssey Closing
We will end this fun and empowering weekend with a closing activity that will give participants the opportunity to share and reflect on their conference experience and time spent together.  Don’t miss this opportunity to say goodbye to new and old friends and wrap up this amazing weekend!
Facilitators: Gil & Carolyn & Adult Mentors

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