How Secrets Can Help Us and Hurt Us with Esther Loewen (she/her), Associate Marriage & Family Therapist

Many of us in the LGBTQIA+ community and our loved ones often struggle with keeping secrets from friends and family members. Esther will help us explore the benefits and drawbacks of secret keeping so that we can make better decisions for ourselves and our families.

About our presenter:
Esther (she/her) is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, an educator, and a public speaker. Hailing originally from Walla Walla, Washington, she transplanted to Redlands, California in 2019. Esther gives her heart and soul to creating inclusion by celebrating beauty, following curiosity, and showing up in courageous authenticity. Her through-line message is “you are enough.” Esther’s professional life has been filled with 16 years of ordained pastoral ministry in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, authoring a book about keeping and telling secrets, and earning two master’s degrees (MAGL from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, and MAMFT from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant University). In addition to serving as a therapist, Esther also produces and hosts the podcast "Transgender Woman Talking,” a show about life outside cisgender norms. She is married to her life-partner of 18 years, with whom she shares the joy of parenting their two brilliant, creative, energetic, and empathetic children. Learn more about Esther and her work online at www.esthereloewen.com

This video was recorded during our General Support Meeting on Tuesday, March 5th, 2024

Learn about GLSEN LA: Creating Safe, Supportive, and Inclusive Education Spaces for LGBTQ+ Students with Alex Lee Rhodes, LCSW (they/them)

Alex represents the Los Angeles Chapter of GLSEN. GLSEN is a national organization that works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. GLSEN aims to implement supportive and inclusive school policies, support GSAs (Gender & Sexuality Alliances), provide professional development for school staff on LGBTQ+ student issues, and increase student access to LGBTQ+ inclusive curricular resources. Alex also highlights some of the upcoming GLSEN LA events and opportunities happening later in 2024.

About our presenter:
Alex Lee Rhodes LCSW (they/them) @alexrlcsw is a therapist in private practice, primarily working with LGBTQ teens and young adults. Alex received their B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and their M.S.W. from UCLA. Alex has been a Board Member for GLSEN LA since 2022, and currently serves as the Director of Youth Engagement.

Find GLSEN LA online HERE

This video was from our General Support Meeting on Tuesday, February 6th, 2024.

Journey to Advocacy: Turning Trans Allyship into Action
with Mandy Giles (she/her) of Parents of Trans Youth

About our Presenter:
Mandy Giles (she/her) is the parent of two transgender young adults and a fierce advocate for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse youth. She is the founder of Parents of Trans Youth, a social impact business providing learning, support, and community to parents and caregivers of transgender kids. During the 2021 and 2023 Texas legislative sessions, Mandy testified before Texas Senate and House committees against multiple bills targeting transgender youth and has spoken publicly in press conferences, town halls, panel discussions, media interviews, and rallies. She is a past president of the PFLAG chapter in Houston, where she lives with her husband and three children.

Find Mandy online at the website of Parents of Trans Youth, on Instagram, and on Facebook.

This video is from our Gender Expansive Meeting on Wednesday, January 17th, 2024

TransCanWork - How Transgender Leaders Work to Advance Inclusion in the Public, Private, and Non-Profit Sectors Across the Country
with Lexi Adsit (she/her/hers)

About our Presenter:
Lexi Adsit is a fierce, fat, and femme translatina born and raised outside of Oakland, CA. She has a Master's in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor's in Women and Gender Studies. She has worked for over a decade for transgender equity and liberation through organizations such as Peacock Rebellion, TAJA's Coalition, and now as the Executive Director at @transcanwork. You can find TransCanWork online HERE

This video is from our Gender Expansive Meeting on Wednesday, September 20th, 2023

GET TO KNOW THE LGBTQ CENTER of LONG BEACH
with Peter Baek (he/they)

The PFLAG chapter of Manhattan Beach hosted a service info session with the LGBTQ Center Long Beach @centerlb . The Manager of the Center’s Youth and Family Services Department, Peter Baek, provided an overview of the Center’s available resources, as well as specific programming catered towards youth and their families.

About our Presenter:
Peter Baek (he/they) is the Manager of youth and family services at the LGBTQ Center Long Beach. They’ve been with the center for 4 years, first starting as a volunteer before moving up to coordinator, and then program manager. Peter and the rest of the youth services team work to create a strong, affirming support network for the Long Beach LGBTQ+ Youth community.

This video is from our General Support Meeting on Tuesday, September 5th, 2023

Self-Care Strategies for Parents: Using Mindfulness and Meaning Making to Ease Emotional Discomfort with Linda K. Reeves, MA, LMFT (she/her), WPATH GEI Certified Gender Specialist

Parents/caregivers of trans and non-binary children experience their own emotional metamorphosis in response to their child’s declaration that they are something other than cisgender. This journey of transformation is unique for everyone, and it is fraught with painful emotions that can be destabilizing. In this talk, Linda shares ideas and tips on how to process and learn to tolerate your difficult feeling states. No matter where you are on your journey, learning basic mindfulness and meaning making skills will help you:

• Explore your emotions without criticism or judgment

• Identify the unhealthy narrative you tell yourself

• Recognize your ability to assign meaning to your emotions

• Embrace a safe haven during times of overwhelm

About our Presenter:
Linda K. Reeves (she/her) is a proud PFLAG mom, and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides psychotherapy and intensive therapeutic retreats to LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, families, and partners of loved ones who are transgender or gender non-binary. To better serve the unique challenges of gender diverse individuals, Linda is WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) GEI Certified as a gender specialist. Linda is also an Adjunct Professor at Antioch University and a board member and co-founder of the PFLAG Manhattan Beach / South Bay chapter. Linda speaks at conventions and provides educational workshops on affirmative LGBTQ+ practices. Linda is also writing a book for parents of transgender and gender non-binary loved ones. Linda received her master’s in clinical psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles with a specialization in LGBTQ+ Affirmative Psychotherapy, and completed her clinical training at the LA LGBT Center. She earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism from San Diego State University. Find Linda Online HERE

This video is from our Gender Expansive Meeting on Wednesday, August 16th, 2023

Parenting Your Transgender Child, It's HARD, but DOABLE with Dr. Lulu (she/her)

Dr Lulu knows the power of a supportive parent in a child’s journey. She is passionate about helping communities affirm lgbtq+ persons and discussing how race and gender intersect in raising our kids. We hope you'll join us. ABOUT OUR PRESENTER: Dr. Lulu is a Queer, Nigerian-born pediatrician, educator, parent coach, and CEO of Dr. Lulu’s Life Coaching Lounge. She is the mother of a transgender young adult and works to educate families, healthcare providers and non-medical organizations on accepting, affirming and supporting their LGBTQ+ children/patients/employees. A former Lt. Col and commander in the US Air Force, Dr. Lulu is also an award winning LGBTQ+ and DEI advocate. Dr. Lulu has been featured on local, national and international media and stages, including CBS This Morning with Gayle King, and Oprah Winfrey’s “The Life You Want” masterclass. She is a 3-time TEDxSpeaker, 7-time bestselling author of “How to Teach Your Children About Racism” and an all-round agitator of the Governor of Texas. Find Dr. Lulu on social media @drlulutalkradio or her website Dr-lulu.com

This video is from our Gender Expansive Meeting on Wednesday, May 17th, 2023

The Catholic Church & LGBTQIA+ Issues: What Every Ally Should Know with Robert Shine (he/him)

Not every LGBTQIA+ advocate is Catholic, yet the Catholic Church impacts everyone in the queer and ally community. This presentation will examine how the church’s approach to gender and sexuality influences civil society in areas like healthcare, social services, education, and policy making. It will also explain how the church’s social justice tradition provides an alternative, more affirming way forward on the road to equality.

About our Presenter:
Robert Shine (he/him) is the Associate Director of New Ways Ministry, a Catholic outreach that educates and advocates for equity, inclusion, and justice for LGBTQIA+ persons, where he has served since 2012. Bob has degrees in theology from The Catholic University of America and the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

Visit New Ways Ministry Online: www.newwaysministry.org

This video is from our General Support Meeting on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023

Meet Rainbow Labs + Learn how they are creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQIA+ Youth with Luis Vasquez (he/him) & Maria Garcia (she/they)

Rainbow Labs is a nonprofit organization with a mission to embolden Queer and Gender Nonconforming Youth to discover, curate, and experiment with the elements of a fulfilled life through community building and the lived experiences of mentors. They are excited to be launching a new kind of youth programming for queer and gender non-conforming youth 12-18 BY queer and gender non-conforming youth where they will have access to different types of mentoring activities throughout the year. Youth development professionals and mentors will conduct these activities both virtually and in person.

Find them online: www.rainbowlabs.org

This video is from our General Support Meeting on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023

Meet the Author: Erasure Poems for the Queer Community with Sarah Kate Smigiel (she/they)

About this Presentation & Presenter:
SK (she/they) is a non-binary content creator, author and educator who aims to uplift and educate the LGBTQ+ community in online spaces. Through her education efforts on @justsaysk which has an impressive 39k+ following, she has faced large pushback and hateful comments from those who don't understand the need for non-binary advocacy. SK has chosen to use the collection of hate comments and turned them into reclaimed poetry to serve as little love letters to every queer person who has faced hatred or misunderstanding.  Join us as we spend the evening with SK and discuss their beautiful book of poetry.

This video is from our Gender Expansive Meeting on Wednesday, March 15th, 2023

The Intersectionality of Substance Use and LGBTQIA+ Adolescents with Tayler Rose (he/him)

This evening's presentation focused on the intersection of substance use and LGBTQIA+ adolescents, using practice-based evidence as well as evidenced based treatment. Tayler helped us understand how to support our youth who are struggling with substances in addition to their feelings of discrimination as an LGBTQIA+. Finally, he provided us with some helpful strategies for effectively communicating and understanding their needs. This meeting was originally recorded on March 7, 2023.

About our Presenter:
Tayler Rose (he/him) has attained his Master of Arts at William James College in Professional Psychology. Tayler started his undergraduate career with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Portland State University, where he spent time doing work for a crisis intervention center for children who were victims of sexual assault. Tayler moved from the west coast to the east coast for his graduate studies where he is a doctoral candidate set to finish in May of 2024. Since moving to the east coast, Tayler has worked at multiple levels of care from a residential eating disorder unit, day treatment unit for adults with chronic mental illnesses, and a trauma focused community mental health center. Tayler is currently working in multiple different settings such as a Pride In-home Therapist with Northeast Family Services, Outpatient Therapist, School Therapist, Psychological Evaluator at LUK Crisis Center, and Professor at Fitchburg State University. Tayler has multiple certifications in trauma focused interventions, family-based interventions, and motivational interviewing.

This video is from our General Support Meeting on Tuesday, March 7th, 2023

Coming Out as a Spiritual Process with Ben Freeman (he/him/his)

About our presentation:
What does it take to live in the world as our authentic selves? And what beliefs about our relationships with others, ourselves, and the world around us does the act of living authentically test the limits of? In this interactive presentation and discussion with Ben Freeman (he/him), a queer Jewish chaplain and ritual leader, we'll talk about coming out as an ongoing process, rather than a singular event; dip into some theoretical concepts of spiritual care that can help us approach coming out with greater awareness of all that's at stake; and engage with the stories of queer people living their truth.

About our presenter:
Ben Freeman (he/him) @bshatteredbfree is an artist, educator, ritual leader, and chaplain/spiritual director/coach originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, currently based in New York City. He is Associate Clergy at Lab/Shul, an experimental Jewish community based in New York; works as a teaching artist with CO/LAB Theater Group, a theater group that aims to provide a creative outlet through theater arts for actors with developmental disabilities; and works as a wellness coach for K-12 educators through edwell. As a musical artist, he released a full-length album last summer entitled Quiet Fury and is currently developing several independent theater projects. Ben holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School and an undergraduate theater degree from Brown University.

Link to poem referenced in video

This video is from our General Support Meeting on Tuesday, December 6th, 2022

Ambiguous Loss - What it is and how it differs from grief with Aydin Olson-Kennedy, MSW, LSCW (he/him)

About our presenter:
Wherever he goes, Aydin Olson-Kennedy creates accessible mental care for the gender non-conforming and transgender community, and their families. He speaks internationally to medical and mental health providers, educators, social workers and families on the importance of accessible, informed-consent model of care. His focus is on identifying and acknowledging domains of privilege and broadening clinicians and families understanding of gender dysphoria and its impact on the psychosocial well-being of gender-nonconforming and transgender individuals. In early 2022 after 6 years as Executive Director of the Los Angeles Gender Center, Aydin has chosen to pursue other opportunities. He continues to work with the transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary communities and their families and offer training to communities and organizations.

www.transformingfamily.org

This video is from our Gender Expansive Meeting on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022

Navigating the College Search Process for LGBTQIA+ Teens and Young Adults with founder of College Torch - Robert Powers (he/him)

About our presenter:
Robert Powers is the founder and college counselor at College Torch, an educational business where he works directly with families to guide teens through the college search and application process. Robert understands the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ students face in the college process, and he uses his expertise to help them find safe, supportive colleges where they'll thrive. Robert is an active professional member of HECA and NACAC, and he holds himself to their high standards for ethics in the practice. Outside of College Torch, Robert loves to volunteer for the community as the Vice President of his local Kiwanis Club. You can learn more about Robert and College Torch at www.collegetorch.com

View & Download this valuable Student Resource Guide from College Torch

OkaySo, a free online support platform for LGBTQIA+ youth nationwide with Elise Schuster MPH (they/them)

During this presentation we learn about OkaySo, a free online support platform available to LGBTQIA+ youth nationwide with co-founder Elise Schuster, MPH, (they/them)

About our presenter:
Elise Schuster, MPH, (they/them) is a sexuality educator with 15 years of experience in sex education and youth development. Elise has a masters in public health from Columbia University with a specialization in sexuality and health and has worked with marginalized youth, medical providers, and adults. Elise is the co-founder and Executive Director of OkaySo @heyokayso, a free online platform that connects young people with questions about sex and mental health to experts they can't reach any other way. Elise also works as a trainer teaching adults how to better support LGBTQ people and has worked with corporations, parents, medical professionals, artists, and more. www.okayso.org

Creating your own LGBTQIA+ Center and Community with Finley Walker (He/Him/His)

During this presentation, we discussed creating your own LGBTQIA+ center and community.

About our facilitator:
Finley Walker (he/him/his) is a 21 year old transgender community member, activist, advocate, and educator. Born in Santa Clarita, he came out at 15 where he started his gender journey. He was GSA president in high school and very involved with local activism. In 2020, Finley started the Santa Clarita LGBTQ Center which still exists today though he is no longer acting as the president. Finley stepped down from his role at the center after moving to San Francisco to pursue his graduate degree in human sexuality studies.

Celebrating the Transgender Experience

We know the conversation around gender identity has permeated our national culture and consciousness. With young people increasingly identifying as gender-diverse, a forward-thinking company must adapt its culture in order to thrive. PFLAG Manhattan Beach/South Bay joined employees of DESIGNORY to recognize to share the lived experience of members of the Transgender and Non Binary Community and their families. On Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) and everyday, access and ability to thrive in a welcoming environment is a basic human right.

The panel of speakers included:

Isabelle Royer (she/her): Board member of PFLAG Manhattan Beach/South Bay and mom of a transgender son, co-moderated the event.

Cindy Byrne: Co-founder & President of PFLAG Manhattan Beach/South Bay and mom of a transgender son, co-moderated the event.

Kathryn Davis (she/her): Board member of PFLAG Manhattan Beach/South Bay & transgender female member of the LGBTQ+ community, will speak of her own transition within her place of work, which involved both her employer & co-workers and her clients. She will share about measures within her place of work that supported her and positively impacted her transition. Kathryn also is an active member of the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles and works at the LA LGBTQ Center and will speak to the importance of representation in the workplace and the world at large.

aggie.eydenberg (she/her): aggie is a proofreader on the Chicago QA team at designory since July 2020. She's also a musician and operates under the moniker "A Small Bird" available to stream on anywhere where you get your best music. She frequently deals with and shares parts of her experience as a sapphic trans woman.

Jackie Maloney (she/her): Jackie is the proud parent of 4 kids. She has always supported the LGBTQ+ Community but after one of her children transitioned a few years back, she and a group of trans kid's moms formed an alliance that called themselves the "Mama Bears" and their mission is to support moms and families of trans kids that might be struggling and to advocate for equal rights of all trans and queer people.

Tyler C. Wilde (he/they): Tyler is a physical education teacher and strength coach. He has taught at an independent school in Los Angeles for the past 10 years, after 6 years of training all levels of athletes as a weightlifting coach in the South Bay. As a middle and high school educator, and a current board member of the PFLAG Manhattan Beach chapter, Tyler hopes to create a safer, more empathetic place for youth to become empowered and confident in their bodies and identities. Tyler is an avid bodysurfer and adventure enthusiast. They proudly identify as queer, transmasculine, and non-binary.

Supporting Gender Diversity in the Workplace

When even your 80-year-old mother/grandmother is asking, “What does ‘non-binary’ mean and how are we supposed to use ‘they-them’ pronouns?” we know the conversation around gender identity has permeated our national culture and consciousness. With young people increasingly identifying as gender-diverse, a forward-thinking company must adapt its culture in order to thrive.
PFLAG Manhattan Beach/South Bay joined employees of DESIGNORY to discuss the changing gender landscape and provide suggestions on how to create a more cohesive workplace culture to better serve the needs of a diverse staff and clientele.

Participants heard from a Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in working with LGBTQ+ clients, who described gender as a galaxy, rather than a binary, and explained why the use of pronouns is important; a trans activist who experienced her own transition within her personal and work roles; and a father of a young trans son who has taken his personal experience into his workplace to educate his colleagues and offer support to its LGBTQ+ staff members.

The four speakers included:

Cindy Byrne (she/her): Co-founder & President of PFLAG Manhattan Beach/South Bay and mom of a transgender son, moderated the event.

Linda K. Reeves, LMFT (she/her): Board member & co-founder of PFLAG Manhattan Beach/South Bay, also a licensed therapist specializing in working with LGBTQ+ folks and the mom of a gay son, shares a slide presentation to educate on the current understanding of gender. She will touch on the question of pronouns, which reflect this evolved understanding of gender.

Kathryn Davis (she/her): Board member of PFLAG Manhattan Beach/South Bay & transgender female member of the LGBTQ+ community, will speak of her own transition within her place of work, which involved both her employer & co-workers and her clients. She will share about measures within her place of work that supported her and positively impacted her transition. Kathryn also is an active member of the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles and works at the LA LGBTQ Center and will speak to the importance of representation in the workplace and the world at large.

TJ Roper (he/him): Board Member of PFLAG Manhattan Beach/South Bay and father of a young transgender son, will speak of his personal experience supporting his son’s transition and how it has inspired him to work as an individual and as a member of his company’s LGBTQ+ ERG to educate and offer support within his work community.

South Bay Live’s Kathleen Terry interviews Linda Reeves LMFT ​on Pride month

June is Pride Month. In order to learn more about this historical event, we met with Linda K. Reeves, an LMFT therapist, who specializes in LGBTQ+ affirmative psychology. Here, Kathleen Terry sits down to ask Linda about the history of pride, her own work, as well as future progress to be made. Linda and Kathleen discussed the history of PRIDE and PRIDE month, the LGBTQ community and had an in-depth conversation on how to better understand and support this beautiful community. Linda also offers some valuable resources for individuals, parents and families in the South Bay area and beyond.

Youth Resources Available at the LA LGBT Center with Kevin McCloskey (He/Him/His)

Kevin has been with the Los Angeles LGBT Center for over 9 years and will share about his experiences working with youth, ages 24 and under. Kevin will share about the resources for youth offered by the Center, and resources offered by many partner organizations. In particular, Kevin will share about the LifeWorks Mentoring Program, the CAN School-based Program, Models of Pride, HopeLab’s “Imi” tool and Centerlink’s “Q Chat Space” for youth.

About our facilitator:
Kevin McCloskey has 25 years working in non-profit organizations focused on the development of communities, youth and families. Kevin started a non-profit organization in a diverse, low income community of San Diego focused on community organizing, helped launch a Creative Arts Academy for children and youth outside of Los Angeles and was on the launch team of Brave Trails, the first LGBTQ Youth summer camp in Southern California. He also has had the unique experience of working with many faith-based organizations, experiencing firsthand the intolerance and homophobia found in many faith communities. Currently, Kevin is the Director of Community-based Programs, Children, Youth and Family Services at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. He oversees the Education, Youth Development and Mentoring program, has launched a new “Host Homes” program to address LGBTQ youth homelessness, works with the RISE and Connect LA teams and oversees the team which produces “Models of Pride”, the largest, free LGBTQ youth conference in the world.

Support for All During a Gender Expansive Journey with Linda K. Reeves (she/her), MA, LMFT WPATH GEI Certified Gender Specialist

Our conversation focused on how therapeutic needs may differ and will likely change over time whether you are an individual going through your own gender experience, a parent/caregiver, or a sibling/friend supporting someone on a gender journey.

About our facilitator:
Linda K. Reeves (she/her) is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice (Beach Cities LGBT Therapy) in Manhattan Beach where she specializes in working with LGBTQ+ individuals, couples and families. She is an Adjunct Professor at Antioch University and active in the local community advocating for LGBTQ+ residents as a member of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce Inclusion Committee, the Beach Cities Health District Adolescent Mental Health Task Force, and as a board member and co-founder of the PFLAG Manhattan Beach / South Bay chapter. In response to the bullying her gay son experienced in school, Linda co-founded The Prism Institute in 2014 and provides education and training on affirmative LGBTQ+ practices to businesses, schools, and mental/medical health services providers nationwide. Linda is also writing a book for parents of transgender and gender non-binary loved ones. Linda received her Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles with a specialization in LGBTQ+ Affirmative Psychotherapy, and her undergraduate degree from San Diego State University.

A Guide to Using Neopronouns with Daniel Kozieja, Esq. (he/him)

Join us as author Daniel Kozieia (he/him) discusses his guide to using neopronouns.

About our facilitator:
Based in San Diego, CA, Daniel Kozieja is a full time housing attorney and a part time educator. If he is not in court, he is likely speaking or writing about issues surrounding the transgender/gender nonconforming community or volunteering doing pro bono legal name and gender marker changes. Daniel’s hobbies include surfing, reading, and cooking. He is the author of the new book, A Quick and Easy Guide to Neopronouns.

Transgender Support: How to Communicate as a True Ally with Bridget Sampson (she/her)

Learn some of the most important communication guidelines for being a supportive ally to any transgender person in your life.

About our facilitator:
Bridget Sampson (she/her) is the CEO and Founder of Sampson Coaching and Consulting, a Retired Professor of Communication Studies at CSUN, an Author, a TEDx Speaker, and a Certified Coach. Bridget is also the co-founder of Transgender School, which she and her daughter, Jackie, a public servant and college graduate, launched in 2020 to promote LGBTQ+ education and advocacy. Bridget has been featured on CNN and ABC as an advocate for trans rights. Transgender School has a popular podcast and is on all social media platforms, including a private Facebook group, which you are welcome to join. Transgender School also has a Patreon membership program where you can access all their exclusive content such as videos of courses, articles, early release podcasts, and much more for $5 a month. New content is added there weekly. Bridget and Jackie also have a 90-minute course you can rent for yourself or someone else, called Transgender Support: How to Be a True Ally, where they re-enact Jackie’s coming out moment, debrief it together as they explore Bridget’s regrets, and share their top recommendations for being a true ally.

Tools to Create Safe Schools for Gender Diverse Students with Joel Baum (he/him/his) from Gender Spectrum

This month's conversation will focus on discussing various tools and approaches for working with a gender diverse child's school. RSVP Required via email or DM!

About our presenter:
Joel Baum, MS, (he/him/his) is the Senior Director for Professional Development at Gender Spectrum. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization’s education and training efforts. He facilitates trainings, develops curriculum, consults with caregivers and professionals and provides resources in service of a more compassionate understanding of gender and young people. A founding member and Director of Education for the Child and Adolescent Gender Center at UCSF-Benioff Children's Hospital, he is frequently called upon to help institutions think more expansively about the gender diversity of all children and teens, and ways to create more gender inclusive conditions accordingly. An educator for more than thirty years, his career has been marked by a commitment to social justice and equity. First as an award winning middle school science teacher and school leader, he has also served as a school district administrator in Oakland, CA, a school reform coach with the National Equity Project, and a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at California State University, East Bay.

Gender Spectrum seeks to create a gender inclusive world for all children and teens. To accomplish this, we engage others in exploring evolving understandings of gender and considering the implications for the work they do with youth and the constellation of adults who support them. Through professional development, strategic partnerships and thought leadership, Gender Spectrum is the foremost leader in the field of gender inclusion and support. Working with thousands of professionals, caregivers and youth every year, we envision and seek to create a world in which the gender diversity of every young person is seen, celebrated and respected.

PFLAG Parenting: Disrupting Gender Bias with Alison Wood, LMFT, ATR-BC (she/her/hers)

“Take it like a man.” “Sit like a lady.” “Pink is a girl color.” “Blue is a boy color.” We receive subtle and (not so subtle) messages about gender that impact our ideas, behaviors and family roles. These messages can become unnoticed biases that we reinforce to our kids, affecting their development and sense of identity. Curious about how we, as PFLAG parents, can disrupt gender biases in our own homes? Alison Wood (she/her/hers), LMFT, ATR-BC presents some ideas about how to break down the binary and disrupt the bias when addressing gender and identity in our families.

About our presenter:
Alison Wood is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Certified & Registered Art Therapist working in private practice at South Bay Therapy Works. Alison grew up in Manhattan Beach and has worked in the LGBTQ+ community as an advocate, case manager, counselor and psychotherapist in both New York City and Los Angeles for over 20 years. Since 2007, Alison has been providing relational, attachment-based, LGBTQ+ affirmative psychotherapy to youth and adults. Alison is a mom of two and proud bisexual. As a board member, facilitator, and member of PFLAG Manhattan Beach / South Bay chapter, Alison hopes to contribute to creating a more empathic, gender affirming, culturally humble, LGBTQ+ celebrating, and radically accepting world.

Policies for Safe and Supportive Schools for LGBTQ+ Students with Chris Records (he/him/his) from Equality California

For over 20 years, Equality California has worked to transform school systems in California to be safer and more supportive of LGBTQ+ and all students through state policy change. Mindful of the long-standing inequities in treatment of LGBTQ+
students and the violence, discrimination, and poor mental health and life outcomes that result from them, Equality California’s Safe and Supportive Schools program ensures that critical protections and best practices that improve students’ lives are being implemented at the
district level. By surveying unified school districts using an instrument developed by educational leaders and approved by the California Department of Education, we gather critical information on policy implementation and help superintendents chart a course toward
improvement. In this presentation, we will review the Safe and Supportive Schools survey and the laws and best practices that comprise it and discuss how districts can use the survey to create positive, systemic change.

About our Presenter:
Chris Records (he/him) is a program manager at Equality California overseeing Equality California's education programs. Prior to joining
Equality California, Chris worked in non-profit consulting, community organizing, and development, serving organizations and initiatives focused on education, genocide awareness and prevention, refugee issues, and LGBTQ+ mental health. He also taught high school special education in Los Angeles Unified School District for four years. Chris holds Master’s degrees in Public Policy and Urban Planning from USC, an MA in Special Education from Loyola Marymount, and a BA in History
from UC Riverside.

Healing from the Trauma Inflicted by Conversion Therapy with Curtis Galloway (he/him/his)

Curtis Galloway shares his harrowing story of conversion therapy in the midwest and how it has shaped his entire life. After 10 years, Curtis still feels the effects of conversion therapy but has shifted his pain into action. He has become an activist for the banning of conversion therapy; testifying for the ban in Illinois, founding his own organization, and mending his relationship with his parents. Curtis wishes to use his experience to light the way for other survivors to find their healing from the trauma inflicted by conversion therapy.

About our Presenter: Curtis Galloway grew up in a small town in Southern Illinois. When he was 16 years old he was subjected to conversion therapy; an experience he was later able to use to ban conversion therapy in his home State. Curtis went on to be a leading figure in many LGBTQ+ organizations in the Midwest. Now living in L.A., Curtis has taken his activism to the next level and founded the Conversion Therapy Dropout Network to bring survivors of conversion therapy together in community and solidarity.

For more info on the Conversion Therapy Dropout Network, visit them online

The Rise of Transgender Sports Bans with Shoshana Goldberg (she/her/hers)

A discussion of the rise of transgender sports bans throughout the US, and their implications for transgender youth.

About our Presenter: Shoshana Goldberg is a Research Associate at Strength in Numbers Consulting Group, where she oversees research and evaluation for social justice clients, largely in the fields of LGBTQ youth health and HIV/AIDS. In addition to her work with Strength in Numbers, she holds faculty appointments at UNC and University of Illinois-Chicago, where she teaches graduate level courses on LGBTQ+ health. She has over 12 years of experience in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods public health research, and holds both an MPH, and PhD, in Maternal and Child Health and Epidemiology from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC). She also has training from the UNC Carolina Population Center and the Fenway Summer Institute for LGBT Population Health. Her areas of expertise include domestic and international social, structural, and policy/political determinants of LGBTQ+ health, adolescent health, health disparities and sexual and reproductive health. Before joining Strength in Numbers, she consulted for research institutes, think tanks and other consulting groups, most recently for the Center for American Progress where she published a report on the impact of transgender sports policies on the health and well-being of transgender youth.

Meet Dr. Weimer, Director of the UCLA Gender Health Program

Dr. Weimer gives a presentation followed by Q&A and discussion.

About our presenter: Dr. Weimer grew up in Seattle, where she developed her first love of science and water. She then attended Brown University in Rhode Island where she majored in neuroscience and played water polo. She attended medical school at UC San Diego. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, followed by a year as chief resident in Internal Medicine. She has since practiced primary care for adults and children. She became very committed to caring for the transgender and gender-diverse community, and in 2016 founded the UCLA Gender Health Program. In her free time, Dr. Weimer enjoys reading, puzzles, spending time with her family and being active outdoors. Find out more about Dr. Weimer and her program at UCLA here: UCLA Health

For more info about the UCLA Gender Health Department, visit them online

Why GSAs are Important presented by David Crowley

Gay-straight alliances are student-run organizations that provide a space for LGBTQ students and their straight allies to come together. Gay-straight alliances often aim to promote a supportive school climate for students of all sexual orientations and gender
expressions, to decrease bullying, and to provide students with a space to be themselves.

Overall, findings show that youth in schools with GSAs are less likely to feel unsafe, hear homophobic remarks, or experience homophobic victimization; they also report better academic and mental health outcomes and lower illicit drug use and prescription misuse compared to youth in schools without GSAs. Furthermore, GSAs in schools have been found to mitigate the association between gay-bias victimization and suicidality.  GSAs make schools better.

David Crowley has been teaching at San Pedro High School for 20 years and is the founder of the school’s Gay Straight Alliance making it the oldest LGBTQ organization in San Pedro and most of the South Bay. Previous to teaching, Crowley was a high powered entertainment publicist for artists including Michael Jackson, Guns N Roses, Van Halen, Nirvana and many more.  He is the father of Caden, a 17 year old senior and likes to take his son on adventures around the world.

Body Image and Eating Concerns in Gender Diverse Youth with Vaughn Darst, MS, RD

This talk examines the high rates of eating disorders among gender diverse teens and young adults, explores possible causes, how unrealistic body image standards are established, and brings forth prevention strategies and the importance to curate more diverse representations of gender identity through social media. This was recorded from our Gender Expansive Meeting on August 19, 2020

Vaughn Darst (he/him/his) is the Senior Coordinator of Gender Affirmative Care with Center For Discovery and a Registered Dietitian who specializes in treating eating disorders gender diverse youth, high weight individuals, and neurodivergent youth. Vaughn received his MS in Nutrition from USC, and his BA in Critical Theory and Cultural Studies, with a concentration in Transgender Studies, from Scripps College. Prior to joining Center for Discovery, Vaughn completed two fellowships at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and also served as a Health Educator in the Cal State System for over a decade before moving into eating disorder treatment.

Religious Acceptance in the LGBTQ+ Community with Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer

The Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer (they/them/their) is the first openly transgender pastor ordained in the Lutheran church. They will talk about their experience as well as Religious Acceptance in the LGBTQ+ Community. This event was originally held on July 7, 2020.

As the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church and the Community Chaplain Coordinator for the San Francisco Police Department, Megan served for over a decade as a chaplain for the homeless and hungry in San Francisco. An award winning filmmaker, musician and historian, Megan was a finalist for the Lambda Literary award, received an honorable mention as an Unsung Hero of Compassion by Wisdom in Action, with His Holiness the Dali Lama and has been featured on Queer Eye, Cosmo, and in Wittenberg, Germany for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation.

Telling our Stories with Drew Droege

It is essential that LGBTQ+ identifying people, particularly young people, see themselves represented in media and popular culture. Drew will talk about his experiences bringing stories that resonate with the queer community into the mainstream. This event was originally held on May 5, 2020.

Drew Droege is an American actor, comedian, writer, and director who is perhaps best known for his online impressions of Chloë Sevigny. He is an alum of The Groundlings and the Upright Citizens Brigade theaters in Los Angeles. In addition to a slew of stage and screen credits (he has just written for AJ and the Queen), the acclaimed Netflix show staring Rupaul which has a beautiful message of love and acceptance.

Learn about Summer Camp for LGBTQ+ Youth!

This presentation was given by Sophia Hastings from @bravetrails speaking about their summer camp for LGBTQ+ youth!  This was our first ever virtual monthly support group and was originally held Tuesday April 7th, 2020. Enjoy!

Visit them online: Camp Brave Trails

Social Distancing: Supporting Your Gender Expansive Child Through Changing Times with Christine MacInnis, MA, PPS, LMFT

In this Video, you will hear 1st hand tips and strategies parents/caregivers can use in real time with their gender expansive youth to keep them safe and connected during quarantine and beyond. This event was originally held Tuesday April 15th, 2020.

Christine MacInnis, MA, PPS, LMFT is the owner of Transcends Therapy and school counselor at a K-8 school in Tustin Unified School District. She specializes in working with transgender teens and young adults as well as anxiety and ADHD. As a Cis ally, She is passionate about seeing society one day accepting all gender expansive individuals as who they truly are and celebrates all LGBTQIA individuals.