Transfigurations, Jana Marcus’ award-winning 55-piece photography exhibit is being published, and this visually-stunning book will make its debut at the 10th Anniversary Gender Odyssey conference!

Transfigurations explores transsexuals and their notions of masculinity and femininity as they change gender identities. Discovering that gender is both real and illusory, natural and constructed, Marcus’ photographs shed light on the transformation from one sex/gender to another. (Read the Artist’s Statement.)

“Transfigurations is a bold, gutsy visual feast—not just for the eyes, but for the heart and soul. In her courageous endeavor to explore gender, Jana Marcus takes us along a hypnotic ride that invites us to question everything we think we might know about man, woman and the typically uncharted waters in between. Stunning!”

—Greg Archer, San Francisco Examiner

Transfigurations was included in the prestigious Best Photos of The Year in both 2004 and 2005 by Photo District News of New York, as well as The International Photography Awards, The Phelan Art Awards, The Excellence in Photography Award from San Jose State University’s School of Art & Design, and The Center for Photographic Arts Awards.

View a slideshow of a partial selection of photos and text from Transfigurations.

Jana Marcus has been creating award-winning documentary photography for over 20 years. Her work has been exhibited across the United States and extensively published in newspapers and magazines. Jana received the UC Berkeley Center for Photography’s Intl. Photojournalism Award and was recently named one of 50 Exceptional International Photographers by Exposure of New York.

Gender Odyssey is excited and honored to help Jana launch this photo-documentary work that profiles many past Gender Odyssey attendees. We’re very proud of the people who’ve participated in this project, their willingness to share their lives in such a strong, yet vulnerable way, and Jana’s lengthy, persistent journey to get this published! Thanks to all Gender Odyssey attendees who’ve contributed their stories, finances, and encouragement to see this project through to fruition.

Join us in Seattle this August 5th-7th to hear more about this moving project and the many ways in which it has already become a tool of social change. Register now for Gender Odyssey.

• For more information about Jana, please visit www.janamarcus.com.
• Pre-order your copy of Transfigurations here.
• Like Transfigurations on Facebook.

We have an amazing opportunity to create global dialogue and cultural exchange for South African and North American trans communities, but we need your help to make it happen!

Tebogo Nkoana

Tebogo Nkoana and Skipper Mogapi of South Africa and Botswana, respectively, are seeking our help and support. They wish to attend the Gender Odyssey conference, share stories of their powerful activism across Africa, and connect with their North American brothers.

Living openly as trans men, Tebogo and Skipper are two of only a small handful of people willing to do so across the continent of Africa.  Tebogo works for Gender Dynamix as an outreach officer in South Africa. Skipper has founded a trans organization called Rainbow Identity in Botswana. They are strong activists who work especially in rural areas and black townships and strive to maintain the indigenous knowledge of African transgender and intersex identity.

Skipper Mogapi

Their biggest obstacle in coming to Seattle for Gender Odyssey is the expense of travel. One round trip ticket to the US can cost over $2000 – and they need two of them! We just need a few dozen people to pitch in $50 or $100 … really, whatever you can afford, and we can get them here!

Our goal is to raise $4800 USD by June 30th. Donations are being collected via ChipIn. All money donated will go directly towards travel expenses for Tebogo and Skipper.

This is an amazing opportunity to create global dialogue about trans lives, civil rights, and global communities. Together we can do this! Will you help extend some North American hospitality? Please donate now.

At the heart of Gender Odyssey’s programming are topic-based discussions generated by attendee feedback and input. Some are open to all while others are designed to appeal to a specific audience and subsequently inspire a more in depth discussion. We encourage you to bring your personal experience as it relates to the topic to these sessions.

If you have strong facilitation skills and are drawn to one or two of the selected topics, we encourage you to fill out a Facilitator Application Form. Not all of the sessions listed will be part of the final Gender Odyssey program so if you want to see a certain topic discussed, consider stepping up to make it happen!!

These sessions are designed to be facilitated discussions with optimal involvement by the greatest number of participants. You’re not expected to develop a presentation—only facilitate a dynamic conversation!

Interested? Please see the Facilitate page for more information.

Of course the question of whether to be out about our gender history or to keep this information private is impossible to boil down to an either/or question.  I suspect for most of us it can be a regular, if not daily decision based on numerous variables.  Are we doing our grocery shopping, seeing the doctor, applying for a job, on a date, going to school, or at the gym?  Where we live makes a difference, as do the kinds of people see on a daily basis, not to mention our temperament/tolerance for regularly taking on the gender educator role.  Really, there should be little debate about “The Right Answer” to this singular question but rather exploration for each of us as to the best answer for each of us at which time and in what context.

What do I do?  I come out to just about everyone who spends more than 5 minutes with me. It doesn’t take long and looks kind of like this:

Them: “Hello, what’s your name?

Me: I’m Aidan, nice to meet you.”

Them: Hi Aidan, what kind of work do you do?”

Well, hells bells, that’s it!  When I try to avoid the question, each answer I come up with sounds vague and evasive.  Why is that?  Because that is indeed what I’m doing.  Instead, I take a deep breath and give them the really long version.

“I’m so glad you asked.  I work with families who have transgender or gender non-conforming children.  I lead trainings for anyone who works with these children including therapists, K-12 teachers and administrators, doctors, nurses, social workers, and so on.  I also lead a monthly support group for these families, which includes groups for the kids and teens.  I direct two national conferences every year and blah, blah, blah…”

The reason I give them the long version is purposeful.

One: I give them time to have their first surprised reaction without putting them immediately on the spot to respond in an articulate manner – they usually can’t.  How many of us have witnessed this jaw-hanging, unblinking but slightly glazed-over, and generally uncomprehending expression?  I talk a little longer than typical to basically buy them some time to get their face put back together.

Two: I let them know that a LOT of people are interested in getting educated on this issue.  So they then realize that even medical providers or child development specialists don’t know much about transgender issues.  It gives them permission to feel blindsided by this information without feeling stupid.

Three: I frame it in a way that guides them to a positive response. That looks a little like this:

“Most people don’t know much about this topic but the education I provide helps them (and their school, their practice, their organization) gain an understanding of the issues and make a few changes that allow them to support not only the transgender child (staff member, client, etc.) but make their environment a more inclusive and accepting place for all kids regardless of gender.”

By the time I have said all of this, they’ve had time to catch their breath and perhaps start to ask a few questions.  Rarely, but sometimes, a person will find a way to excuse themselves and escape ultimately sparing us both from a potential negative interaction. If the person is still engaged (most will stick around), the next question often is:

“How did you get involved in this work?”

I’ve typically had enough time to read that person by then.  Did their face stay flat and stone-like?  No?  Good!  I give them a little information about my personal gender history and then start talking about gardening, chickens, the latest book I’m reading or that, omigod, my daughter just turned 21.

What happens is that I’ve disclosed a lot of information – some of it personal, most of it isn’t – then moved past it.  The earth has not opened up and swallowed either one of us and they are left with a lot to think about.

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I’ve chosen to be out and discuss my gender history with as many people as possible.  I do not do this casually or haphazardly, but with careful forethought and deliberateness.  I don’t choose an in-your-face approach but definitely an unashamed, heart-first way.

Most people have an intense fascination with a gender transition. Am I that interesting?  No, I am not.  But, most people are deeply curious about the concept of a gender transition; curious to the point of asking questions that they would never ask in other situations.  I could get frustrated and decide that they are being tokenizing or simply idiotic.  Instead, I decide to start from a place of compassion.  People are interested because of what it means to them and their own identity.  It can rattle what they feel is the core foundation of their lives.  If you can’t count on gender what can you count on?

They need to understand me so that they can understand themselves and make sense of their world.  It is that powerful and that simple. Understanding this about others has helped me to share my personal story within the broader framework of what it means for each of us to be authentic.

By coming out regularly, I’ve had the opportunity to touch millions of lives.  I’ve been on the Oprah show (she called it a “ a show like we’ve NEVER done before”).  I’ve been on Larry King Live, The Big Idea, tons of radio shows.  Even Saturday Night Live gave a nod and spoofed Larry King’s complete bewilderment. All that fame and glory hasn’t paid the rent but what it has done is given those millions of viewers a face, a voice, and a story to which they, surprisingly, can relate.

For some, it provides the comprehension that a gender transition is even possible.  People have called or written from as far away as Italy or The Netherlands to thank me for giving voice to their experience.  For others, because my twin sister was often on these shows with me, it provides the possibility that, not only could a person transition, but that their families are quite capable of continued love and support.  Others have told me about reconciliations with family members simply because my sister said she had no problem still loving me – why should she?

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Coming out isn’t for everyone – there are still too many risks and dangers for this to be universal approach.  On one hand, I’ve constructed my world in such a way that I have no secrets.  This is freeing.  On the other hand, some things like employment and where I live feel limited.  Not to mention, educating people about gender takes up a lot of time!

That being said, I have not found anything more powerful and effective than sharing my personal story.  Very few people will remember what I actually said during a training or interview but they will remember that I exist.  And with that existence comes possibility – the possibility to be authentic. Our individual stories represent the universal story of finding one’s self.  Who can’t relate to that?

We Made This Road By Walking

As part of Gender Odyssey’s 10th anniversary conference, this art show is an opportunity for reflection and celebration. We Made This Road By Walking references creating a path for oneself when the road to a desired destination doesn’t already exist. This theme is not limited to transgender topics, but contextualizes our individual and collective experiences in terms of the actions we have taken to move our lives and our community forward.

Artists are invited to submit entries now. Full details are available here.

Submission deadline is June 30, 2011.

Gender Odyssey 2007—It’s midnight at the convention center and Day 1 of the conference is winding down. I’d shown up around 6:00 that morning and had been running ever since. Exhausted, I was hoping to get a few hours of sleep before the next marathon conference day. If I could just get out the door without running into anyone, I could zip out to my car and be home in twenty minutes. Just one floor and one hallway lay between me and my car.

I headed toward the escalator, made a beeline across the lobby and stepped onto the top stair. With a deep sigh of relief, I leaned on the rail and began the descent. Near the bottom I could see someone standing alone in the dimly lit landing. He was looking out the window. Maybe at most we’d exchange a quick nod and that would be that.

Halfway down the escalator though, he turned away from the window and walked toward the escalator. We met me at the landing and he paused, “Can I ask you a question?” My weary mind thought, no…but, my mouth said, “Of course.”

“Can you tell me why I should stay at this conference?”

Surprised as I was, I didn’t give him reasons to stay. Instead, I asked him why he wanted to leave.  He said he felt like he didn’t belong. He spoke about the attendees he’d already encountered. “I’m 40 and don’t have anything in common with these young people. My gender is simple,” he said, “and everyone else’s is so complex.”

Gender Odyssey 2008—Fast forward a year, same time, same place. This time I’d made it home only to find a voice message from the manager of our host hotel, The Silver Cloud. She’d promised an attendee that she’d get in touch with me. I dialed the hotel, anxious about whatever situation may have occurred that would necessitate the call.

The manager told me that she’d had a conversation with an attendee who was looking for a place to go for the evening where she might find people like herself, specifically, other trans women. She was attending Gender Odyssey for the first time, on her own, and had certain expectations of whom she might encounter and those expectations weren’t panning out. What I thought was an emergency call was simply a request for socializing recommendations.

When I was able to reach her by phone later that evening, I learned that she’d come to Gender Odyssey seeking people like herself—ones with shared backgrounds and experiences. But, after one day, she described herself as “a pair of brown shoes wearing a black tuxedo.” After coming halfway across the country, she was ready to head home.

These two folks are not unique. Ten years have passed since Gender Odyssey began and I can tell you that MANY of the attendees initially feel like they don’t belong; that this conference is designed for someone else—not them. Many of us live in a society that doesn’t have a place for us or even acknowledge we exist—how hopeful it is to find a conference like Gender Odyssey! How disappointing to get there only to discover that, even at this conference, we feel that, once again, we are the odd duck out.

I’d had a very similar sense of alienation at my first trans conference. In ’98, I went to California’s Forward Motion conference expecting to find dozens of people who shared my experiences and views on gender. I’d hoped for a sort of joyous “coming home.” Instead I found so many different ways to define and express gender—some voiced quite strongly—that I left questioning whether 1) I had anything in common with these folks, and 2) was I really “trans” at all? My own feelings of alienation are still easy to recall.

Despite my initial resistance born out of fatigue, I’m so grateful that these two people asked for my help.  Did I have any solutions for them?  Only these suggestions:

Go to workshops and tell people how you feel. Put your apprehension and feelings of disconnection on the table. Tell people who you are and how you frame your identity. Your comments might just lay there flopping like a fish while everyone says nothing or, your honesty could inspire others to open up and share their own sense of disconnect. An attendee will likely approach you afterwards and tell you that they feel exactly the same way.

If you see someone sitting alone, strike up a conversation. Sure it’s awkward but only for a second. I think it is safe to assume that most people feel the same apprehension that you do. Gender Odyssey attendees come from very different walks of life. We can look very different from one another but our commonalities are only a sentence or two away.

Whatever happened to those two attendees? Ultimately, each of them made a decision to put their brave shoes on and plug in. I saw both of them at conference events, talking intently with others, mingling, and simply sharing a good laugh with someone they’d met. While each stopped me to express their gratitude for my encouragement, they were the ones that did the hard work. They gave voice to their experience—in workshops and to individuals—and found that it was well worth the risk.

I sure hope those of you reading this will come to Seattle in August and help me celebrate Gender Odyssey’s tenth year. And, if you end up feeling like the odd duck out on that first day, welcome. You’re exactly where you belong!