WELCOME TO THE 2012 TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES CONFERENCE Transcending Boundaries was created with the intent of gathering and forming alliances within the bisexual/pansexual, trans/genderqueer, intersex, polyam- orous and allied communities, but we have grown to be so much more. We are now an open forum for anyone who has an interest, opinion, or position to gather, network, and learn from each other. This conference is designed to increase understanding, build solidarity, and encourage activism among our communities. Transcending Boundaries has a history of creating welcoming, stimulating environments. This is a great place to feel at home being yourself, even if you don’t fit into a nice, neat box of sexuality, gender or relationships. It is also an opportunity to meet interesting, friendly people and learn from each other! We urge you to take this unique and powerful opportunity to learn about other communities outside your own. We also encourage you to take the time to con- nect with yourself within this safe space. The organizers of this conference want everyone to experience the freedom to be themselves. As such, please be considerate of other people’s differences and patient with anyone who might mistakenly offend. After all, part of build- ing community is making mistakes and learning from them! Once again, the Transcending Boundaries Conference welcomes and thanks you for attending. LETTER FROM THE 2012 TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES CHAIRPERSON Welcome to the 2012 Transcending Boundaries Conference. We are proud to have Ignacio Rivera as our Keynote speaker this year as we not only continue to explore how we collaborate and join the vioces of our communities together, but also how we balance our sexuality, our gender and other facets of our iden- tity across our relationships. In other words, how do we “Bring It All Together”. We have made some efforts to facilitate more discussions this year, so we have made changes to how we do our panels and our new continuing discussions. The panels this year are designed to be topics that are important to all of us, then have speakers to offer different perspectives from different communitees. Additionally, in the Ballroom, we have designated tables to continue the dis- cussions, questions, and perspectives of every workshop past the allotted time. Then there is you. This is your conference. A time and place where your voice can be heard in the creation of a world for all of us. Please take time to tell me your story and enrich my experience.. I hope we can use this time to learn from and enjoy each other. Thank you for inviting me to your conference. ~~~ Ian Cooper Rose BULLETIN BOARD CONFIDENTIALITY OTHER NEEDS: If you have any specific In an effort to ensure the safety and pri- accessibilty requests that you did not in- vacy of all conference participants, eve- dicate on your registration form, please ryone must adhere to the following rules let us know so that we can try to accom- and guidelines: modate you. We strive to have this con- No photographs, video or audio re- ference be accessible to as many people cordings are permitted without express as possible, and we will do everything permission of all involved. feasible to allow you to participate fully. Do not give away or sell names, contact PLEASE BE ADVISED information, and other personal or iden- Transcending Boundaries will have of- tifiable information of persons involved ficial photographers documenting this or participating in the conference without year’s event. Photographs will be used their express written consent. for promotion on the Transcending Boundaries website. If you do not wish Personal stories and information dis- to appear in these photos, please get a closed during workshops and informal bracelet from the information desk. gatherings are considered confidential. Respect the privacy of others. Any EVALUATIONS press or media MUST REGISTER Please help us continue to improve the PRIOR to the conference. Transcending Boundaries Conference by No interviews are allowed at the confer- filling out an evaluation form for both the ence. Any press must be arranged with conference as a whole and the presenta- the organizers. tions you attend. You will find the evalu- ation forms at the info desk and in each We reserve the right to ask you to leave conference room. Please return finished if you are violating our rules or are forms to the box labeled “Evaluations” making the conference an unsafe place. located at the information table. Thanks BATHROOMS for your cooperation and your ideas. Our All bathrooms will be available to all contact e-mail is feedback@transcend- genders and bodies. ingboundaries.org. You can also also fillout workshop and conference forms on ACCESSIBILITY the transcendingboundaries.org web site Physical accessibility: The MassMutual CALL FOR STAFF Center and Sheraton Springfield Mon- arch Place Hotel are both wheelchair- The next Transcending Boundaries can’t accessible and are fitted with elevators happen without you! If you are inter- throughout the facility. The parking ga- ested in being a part of next year’s con- rage across from the hotel and MMC are ference team, please e-mail us at info@ equipped with handicapped parking spots transcendingboundaries.org. We would and elevators. love to have your assistance! PANELS Do you see a panel you’re interested in COVER ART sitting on yourself? Check the registra- A very special thank you to artist tion table, where there will be sign up Katie Diamond for the wonderful sheet for additional panelists. Each panel will have time for questions from the au- cover art illustrating this year’s dience, and if you’re feeling shy, you can theme “Bringing It All Together” submit your question in advance at the registration table as well. HISTORY OF TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES Transcending Boundaries grew out of a project of BiNet USA, a national bisexual organization. Throughout the 90’s, BiNet helped bisexual activists around the country organize on a local level. They sponsored regional confer- ences, including one in the Connecticut/New Jersey /New York Region. In 2000, BiNet replaced its regional focus with a more centralized organiza- tional style. Those in attendance at the 2000 Tri-State Conference voted to continue the conference independently from BiNet USA and to hold the next year’s conference in New Haven, Connecticut. The organizing committee expanded the scope of the conference in two ways: widening the geographical reach to include the entire Northeastern United States, and including transgender and intersex issues as well as bisexual ones in the conference theme. The new name “Transcending Boundaries” reflected this expanded scope, as well as the fact that bisexuals, transgender persons, and intersex persons do not fit into the simple categories of gay/straight, man/ woman, and male/female. Transcending Boundaries, Inc. was founded in 2001 based on an expanded vision: a Northeast regional conference for bisexual, transgender, and inter- sex people and our allies. In 2009, this focus was expanded to include the polyamorous community as well. Transcending Boundaries has held five suc- cessful conferences between 2001 and 2006, teaming up with the Americas Conference on Bisexuality in 2005 and PFLAG Northeast in 2006. After a brief absence, Transcending Boundaries returned with renewed energy in 2009 featuring Tristan Taormino. In 2010, Lee Harrington helped us discuss the “Intersections” of gender, sexuality and reationships. Kate Bornstein taught us how to radically welcome a world “Beyond Binaries”. This year Ignacio Rivera will help us “Bring iIt All Together. PLENARY LUNCHEON SATURDAY AT 12:00PM IN THE BALLROOM It is important for us to share a meal together. Breaking bread is a our tradi- tional way of building community and to celebrate our diverity while finding our common challenges to overcome together. Our Penary and Community Meeting is proud to present Ignacio Rivera as our keynote speaker this year. Talking about the challenges in our world that prevent us from “Bringing It All Together”. As always, we will give you a chance to speak out. We only have a couple of minutes per person, but it is a good chance to get the word out accross all of our communities and to let us know what is happening in your community. THE ORGANIZERS 2012 CHAIRPERSON - Ian - Ian is proud to be part of the team that makes the Tran- scending Boundaries Conference happen, serving as the 2012 Conference Charperson. An artist and activist, he is focused on building a community of like minded people and professionals to live and create together. Bi, poly, and kinky, he lives with his three partners and their son in Springfield, MA. DIRECTOR OF CONTENT - Jenn - Jenn has played a number of roles in her life, both liter- ally as she earned her BA in Drama from Ithaca College, and figuratively as she earned her MEd from University of New Hampshire. Her most important role is currently as the owned girl of Jawn. She has recently served as the Director of MAsT Mass (Mas- ters And slaves Together), a monthly discussion and support group for those interested in pursuing hierarchical relationships. DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS - Aimee - Aimee is thrilled to be serving as a Director of Operations for the 2012 Transcending Boundaries Conference, and to continue her position as the Transcending Boundaries Treasurer. As a solo attorney practicing in Western Massachusetts, Aimee is a polyamorous, kink, and queer friendly profession- al who focuses on child welfare, domestic relations, and basic estate planning. She is a member of the bar in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. Aimee lives in Springfield, MA with her three partners, their son, 4 cats, and one tiny dog DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS - Julia - Julia is happy to be this 2012 Director of Com- munications.