Update - HUD by July 29

 

Now is the time to speak up. You can make a difference. Federal agencies are required to review and consider public comments before finalizing a rule. Personal, unique comments can be very impactful. Tell HUD why safe, equal access to housing matters to you, your family, your work, or your community. View TransOhio's comment for inspiration. Submit your public comment by 11:59PM on FRIDAY, June 29  Visit Regulations.gov (Docket HUD-2026-0529 / FR-6518-P-01) and share your thoughts. Whether you're transgender, an ally, a service provider, a family member, or simply believe everyone deserves safe housing, your voice matters. You can even submit a pubmit comment anonymously. Thank you for standing with Ohio's greater trans communities. Speak Up for Safe Housing — Submit a Comment by Friday, June 29 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has proposed rolling back the Equal Access Rule, a policy that currently helps ensure trans people can access federally-funded housing and emergency shelters consistent with their gender identity. The proposal would remove references to gender identity from HUD regulations, which will allow federally-funded shelters to deny trans, nonbinary, and intersex people access to appropriate facilities or require invasive proof of a person's "biological sex."  GO THERE NOW Everyone should have access to safe housing Since 2012, the Equal Access Rule has prohibited discrimination based on actual and presumed gender identity and/or sexual orientation in federally-funded housing programs. In 2016, HUD strengthened those protections by requiring federally-funded shelters to house transgender people according to their self-selected gender identity, regardless of legal sex designation on identification. In 2025, HUD stopped enforcing EAR. HUD is now proposing to roll back those protections entirely and require housing placement based on "biological sex." Submit a public comment now telling HUD to keep the existing policy in place so emergency shelters and housing programs do not deny individuals based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. Write A Comment

Keystone 2026

 

A Call for Workshop Proposals

We are looking for speakers, presenters and workshop moderators to cover a diverse range of topics that appeal to the spectrum of transgender and non-binary individuals, their providers, families and friends. We had 700 attendees this past year--Transfeminine, Transmasculine, Non-Binary, Gender Fluid, Part-Time, Full-Time, Non-ops, Pre-ops, Post-ops, Spouses, Significant Others, Educators, Doctors, Counselors, Social Workers, Lawyers and other professionals--whose ages ranged from 10 to 87. Deadline to Submit is December 20th, 2025 If you are interested in being a presenter for the 2026 Keystone Conference, please submit your proposal by December 20, 2025. Our intent is to have the vast majority of workshops reviewed and posted before attendee registration opens January 15th. Our goal is to celebrate our unique gender diversity and to show how we can live peacefully and fully in our transgender lives and are thankful for your help.

What We Are Looking for in a Workshop We are looking for trans and non-binary workshops that are educational, equipping, community building and focus on shared experiences by presenters, panel discussions and moderated group discussions (Personal or individualized stories/experiences as the predominant topic are typically not accepted). Topics of interest include: Advocacy, Aging, Experience Sharing/Discussion, Family & Friends, Finance, Gender Affirming, Image & Presentation, Legal Issues & Government Documents, Life Integration, Military/Veteran Services, Non-Binary, Relationships, Safety, Socializing, Spirituality & Religion, Spouses & Significant Others, Surgery Options, Transfeminine & Transmasculine, Trans People of Color (TPOC), Voice, Wellness, Workplace, and Youth. Days, Time and Duration We conduct workshops primarily on March 19-21 which is Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Regular workshops are scheduled for 1 hour and 15 minutes with 15 minutes of break time scheduled between workshops.* Please plan your workshop to be no longer than one hour to permit time for questions & answers. Two workshop time periods are scheduled for the morning session and two in the afternoon. Presentation Equipment The Keystone Conference can provide a projector, table and flip chart, if needed. We ask presenters to bring their own laptops, MacBooks, ChromeBooks, etc. Our projectors accept HDMI and VGA inputs. We have a limited variety of cables for various platforms. Nevertheless, it is best to bring your connecting cables as well if you have them. Continuing Education for Licensed Social Workers (LCSW) LCSW CE workshops are planned for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. These workshops are 75 minutes long. During the workshop submission process, you will be asked to mark whether or not the workshop should be considered for the LCSW CE program. We will need a curiculum vitae (CV) for selected LCSW CE workshops. Continuing Medical Education (CME) Workshops CME qualifying workshops are planned for Friday and Saturday. CME workshop sessions are 1 hour long, with 2 periods back-to-back, then a 15-minute break. During the workshop submission process, you will be asked to mark whether or not the workshop should be considered for the CME program. A curriculum vitae (CV) may be requested. Submitting Workshop Proposals Workshop proposals are accepted through the Keystone myConference portal. If you would like to resubmit a similar proposal from a previous year, it's easy! The system allows you to copy your previously submitted proposals, update them as needed, and submit them with little effort. If you plan to have co-presenters, you will need their email address when you complete the form. If you are interested in presenting at the 2026 Keystone Conference, please click on the link below to to visit our website and submit a proposal.

Information About Submitting a Workshop

Visit our website at www.Keystone-Conference.org

Questions? Contact us at workshop@Keystone-Conference.org

Keystone Facebook Page

Keystone Family Retreat - October 2024

 

Realizing the unique needs that families have when raising a trans or non-binary child, we have created the Keystone Family Retreat to help meet those needs. This event is specifically for families with trans and non-binary youth and is focused on providing opportunities to learn and network with each other. We want you to find support and friendship, further your knowledge of trans issues and to have an enjoyable and uplifting experience. So please join us for what we hope will be an informative and inspirational time for you and your loved ones.

They Burned Witches Too

Many people outside society’s description of “norm,” have felt embarrassed because they were made fun of, guilty because they were “taught” that it is wrong, and continue to believe it because it is enforced in the collective social mindset.

So many of us suffer needlessly with feelings of low self-esteem, guilt, and embarrassment. That shouldn’t be a surprise when our society is rooted in a belief system with little room for anything or anybody outside the status quo. Most of us were raised in that belief system. It’s ingrained in the depths of our subconscious. To therefore express ourselves outside the norm contradicts what we were taught. Larger groups, and even countries many times deal with conflicting views by killing each other, so apparently, the mainstream doesn’t appear to have all the answers either. After all, killing defies the very God that Christians, Muslims, and Jews (to name just a few) say they worship. I was raised in a mixed religious household, both Jewish and Christian, which either makes me more confused, or less, I’m not sure which.

I was at a family reunion during the 4th of July weekend and — in my brother’s absence — confronted with questions, and fishing expeditions, as to how I felt about my brother and his partner raising an adopted 16-month-old baby. My Midwestern relatives love my brother, but don’t agree with his ‘lifestyle’. The idea of a gay couple raising a child — to them — is “against the laws of nature.” On the more practical side, according to them, a child needs a mother and a father. I would argue that a child needs love. I informed them that their approval wasn’t required and that my brother and his partner would make great parents – and by the way, it wasn’t so long ago in Salem that they burned witches too!

https://briannaaustin.com/and-they-burned-witches-too/

Transgender Women FInd Work in Unexpected Places

Transgender women are faced with more challenges than other people, esppecially when it comes to work. For those that "pass", they can excel in retail and other professions -- beauty, corporate, and entrepreneurship.  But for those that don't pass, or are in countries where opportunities are fleeting, it can be a struggle just to survive. 

Nov 10 - The Keystone Family Retreat

This event takes place November 10th-12th at the Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel (in Pennsyvania), the original home of the Keystone Conference.

Oct 3rd -- Free Online: Trans Voice

 

A Trans Voice Introductory Workshop with Jess Gibbard

Trans Balltom Culture in Vietnam

 

In a small, stuffy nightclub with walls scrawled with graffiti and flaking plaster, a queer function took place unlike anything seen before in the city that residents still call by its former name, Saigon.

The Complexity of Gender Idenity and its Subcategories

The complexities of gender identity and its subcategories can be difficult to navigate. These categories include, but are not limited to, Transsexuals, Crossdressers, Shemales, Drag Queens, and Sissies! In this blog post, we delve beyond simplistic labels and stereotypes, embarking on an exploration that challenges preconceived notions. Join us as we uncover stories that defy societal norms and celebrate the beauty of self-expression. 

 TRANSCHAIR RESEARCH

Have you ever wondered what research the Chair in Transgender Studies is doing?  Check out our new webpage that shows some of our recent Trans+ research projects! 

Transgender Art

A new online artwork exploring a personal archive of a trans life will launch on Saturday 1st April. 

Mandy Romero is a creative artist and transgender provocateur whose work has taken her across continents and round the world, whilst also staying close to her native lands. She has worked with live performance, film, photography, site-specific actions and web-based writing and continues to have fun in each and every medium.

An Unexpected Turn is a hit

 

I'm currently in the progress of completing "The Detour", and the first few chapters are available to read, but meanwhile let's also heck out my coming of age novella "An Unexpected Turn" and see what people are saying about it. 

Plastic Surgeon Fights on Behalf of Transgender Community

Dr. Javad Sajan is one of the leading surgeons in the US performing FTM top surgery, as well as Female Feminization Surgery, breast implants, and many other specialties.. Read more about the movement and petition. 

The Transgender Agenda

 

Even notice that those who 'claim' our agenda is to convert the youth are themselves the only ones trying to convert people?

Fear is what it is, but sometimes becomes what you make it.

The religious right is so afraid that gays are deteriorating marriage, and yet it is their fear that isthe culprit, not the communities that they are afraid of. Could it be that the GLBT communities have and continue to be converting all the little boys and girls of the world? Not!

Historically, it is the religious right that tirelessly works to convert people, not the GLBT communities. Still, it is understandable why they would make such a claim: people tend to fear in others that which they see most in themselves.

Continue reading here

An Unexpected Turn Ratings and Reviews

 

An Unexpected Turn is ranking 293 on Amazon, and the reviews are encouraging. 

Breaking the Glass Ceiling

This transgender trailblazer was awarded the Roger Baldwin Award at the age of 14 year's old, and since gone on to win 11 other awards, including Glamour Magazine's Women of the Year. And, she had super powers too!

How to find a gender affirming doctor. This is a good article for those living trans.

An Unexpected Turn -- my book rises in rank

Thank you to everyone that has checked out my new book. It has now risen to #596 on Amazon.

For Transgender Business Owners

If you run and are planning to run a business, there are a series of steps to take to get setup correctly.

You'e Not Alone

So you dress up in girls' clothes. So what? Read Steven Applebey's experience.