Keystone Conference 2015

The 2015 Keystone Conference was held in the Sheraton Harrisburg/Hershey Hotel  March 18-22, 2015.

Those are just the facts, ma’am.

This was the seventh year of the conference, and I have attended every one so far. This year’s theme focused on Trans-kids. As always, the event was staged by Transcentral PA, and chaired by Jeanine Ruhsam and Kristy Snow.

Got all that? Right.

Kristy told me that approximately 600 people attended the conference this year, including a record 50 spouses of transpeople. Seven years ago, attendance was only 159. This year the entire hotel was booked for the event, and several other nearby hotels were filled with the overflow.

We even had a written greeting from the Governor of Pennsylvania!

That’s a LOT of transpeople.

So with Southern Comfort controversially moving deep into Florida, it could be that Keystone is now the largest of the TG conferences. (We won’t know until official numbers are in for both conferences.) (Your mileage may vary.)

I noticed many trans youth in attendance, which was bittersweet. I am happy that they can express themselves at their age, but regret that me and mine weren’t able to do so. There also seemed to be many more trans men in attendance.

Of course, part of the draw of the conference is the speakers. This year had a wonderful group. Ex-SEAL and current candidate for US congress Kristin Beck delivered a heartfelt speech.

Acting Physician General of Pennsylvania Dr. Rachel Levine discussed life and politics… and just being a good doctor.

Michael Silverman, executive director of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund spoke about how many victories we’ve won and how a certain political party is desperately trying to destroy those victories.

The Saturday speaker was seventeen year old Nicole Maines, who made history in Maine by winning a landmark TG rights case there. Nicole really impressed me. Her speaking skills were a little informal but worked, and she was surprisingly polished. And I told her so.

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After dinner there was always music — usually in the bar. Wednesday night was Indian Summer Jars, who played Celtic inspired originals. Thursday was karaoke. Friday was a duo from Baltimore, Beggars Ride. Saturday the music moved to the ballroom where Wicked Jezebel played to a dancing crowd.

Thursday night I played as well: Bingo. While I didn’t win any games, I was crowned Queen of Trivia as I answered so many trivia questions. Most of the trivia prizes were small, but the last one was high quality breast enhancers from The BreastForm Store. As I am blessed by Mother Nature, I don’t need them though. [Editor’s Note: Think of your editor’s needs….]

So now as I write this out longhand, it’s Sunday breakfast. The sun shines brightly as the attendees slowly rise with their hangovers and hotel bills. The conference was another amazing success, and a triumph from Transcentral PA.

I spoke to many attendees who recognized me and I asked a few what Keystone meant to them. One of these ladies; an older woman; looked me in the eye and said “Freedom. I’m free to be me for a few days.” I can’t sum it up better than that. Most of the attendees now go home to their Drab lives. But for a shining few days, they sparkled and smiled as the women they were born to be. Which is the purpose of it all.

Thank you Jeanine, Kristy and all the volunteers of Transcentral PA for another incredible conference!

Addition 3/23/15, 3:11p.m.

It’s come to my attention that more credit needs to be given to the Volunteers of Transcentral PA for their extremely hard work at the conference. I didn’t mean to slight them in any way.

Special Kudos go to the Volunteers, without whom the conference simply could not happen. Jenny Jensen ran the first timers and MCed the bingo. Katie Ward, Julie Ann, Suzanne Olivia and so many others who ran the conference.

I’m sorry I don’t have all the names, but I invite the incomparable Joanne Carroll, president of TCPA to send me a list for inclusion here and also on my own blog.

Also special thanks to Significant Others PA for their support of the their partners and of the conference!

Tags: conference, crossdressing, Dr. Rachel Levine, featured, Kristen Beck, Nicole Maines, TransCentral PA Keystone Conference Harrisburg, Transgender

Category: Out & About, Transgender Body & Soul, Transgender Community News