Resources are often scarce for many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

For transgender individuals, there is often an increased barrier to accessing resources when attempting to find adequate healthcare, attain name change documents, or simply find a safe space to discuss trans-related issues. When transgender individuals do not feel they have a safe space to be themselves, they may be less likely to be visible. But in places where transgender individuals lack basic protections and rights, this visibility is necessary because they are their best storytellers and advocates.

Our members are working hard in their communities to make sure all LGBT individuals have access to not only information, but spaces where they can be their true selves and advocate for their rights. Like in Virginia, where just this past month member organization Equality Virginia held their first ever Transgender Information and Empowerment Summit (TIES).

On October 4, nearly 200 people from across Virginia, and even beyond the commonwealth, attended Virginia TIES, held at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

The Summit was a day-long event, offering seminars and workshops for transgender individuals, significant others, parents of transgender youth, and advocates.

Some of the seminar topics were:

• ending the ban on transgender military service
• transition related care
• being an advocate for nondiscrimination
• parenting transgender children and teens
• how to advocate for trans children in schools

Speakers included renowned experts including Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, Sarah McBride with the Center for American Progress, Asaf Orr with the National Center for Lesbian Rights, writer and organizer Jacob Tobia, and LaSaia Wade with the Trans People of Color Coalition, as well as many others.

James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia, hosted the successful event with his organization.

“We are overwhelmed with the support and turnout for this summit and are so grateful for all our sponsors, presenters, and community partners for working with us to make this day possible.”

Virginia TIES offered an opportunity for transgender individuals and advocates to come together in support of each other and for a more inclusive commonwealth.

Not only was there a wide array of seminars and incredible guest speakers, there was also an onsite Summit Resource Center which gave conference participants the opportunity to meet individually with representatives from Enroll Virginia who provided guidance signing up for insurance under the new ACA guidelines.  

Additionally, Whitman-Walker Health and the National Center for Transgender Equality trained and coordinated with local lawyers from the Virginia Equality Bar Association who provided name and gender marker change services.

One attendee, Connie Rice from Leesburg, Virginia, came to the Summit to access often hard-to-reach resources:

“I am here because information for the transgender community is really hard to come by. There's a lot of really good information here today, and making contacts; talking about medical care, insurance, the political movement - it’s all really important to people who are transgender. Even though in some respects, I'm done with my transition, I think it is really important to be here to support the community and to learn more about what’s going on in the movement.”

Many attendees were able to pick up some useful information and make new connections, and there was definitely a sense of pride in the air as individuals were able to be a part of the first transgender conference in Virginia.

It is great work from members like Equality Virginia, who are actively changing hearts and minds in their state, that will allow more individuals in the LGBT community to feel confident to be more visible. Congratulations on a successful event!