The Washington Court Hotel 525 New Jersey Avenue, NW Washington DC 20001
(202) 879-7936 (800) 321-3010

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Michael Woodward,
TSC 2003 Media Director at  
P.O. Box 1,
Falls Church, VA 22040

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 1, 2002

The American Boyz is pleased to announce the seventh annual True Spirit Conference (TSC), to be held at the Washington Court Hotel, Washington, D.C. from February 14-17, 2003. TSC focuses on the social, physical, emotional, spiritual and relational health of all gender variant people on the female-to-male (FtM) spectrum and their partners, family and allies.

The workshops and panel presentations to be held during this event will address a variety of topics from a trans-positive perspective, including relationships, health and wellness, legal, political and employment issues, spirituality, and the specific concerns of diverse groups such as youth, older people, people of color, and individuals with physical challenges. Town Hall meetings will provide an opportunity for highly focused group interactions with a panel of experienced transgender activists, while workshops and support groups will provide participants with increased opportunity for in-depth discussion and examination of specific issues. Conference entertainment will provide regular opportunity for social interaction and networking on a different, more relaxed level and is planned to cover the spectrum from artistic to gospel to spoken word performance. This year's conference continues to feature keynote speakers, access to medical screenings with trans-sensitive providers, author readings and a film festival.

The focus of the True Spirit Conference is to provide a forum for individuals who were designated to be female at birth, yet who express masculinity along a wide and diverse continuum. TSC provides a space for FtM/transgender people’s partners, family and allies to join together for support, information and celebration. This past year’s conference drew over 700 attendees from the United States and abroad. The transgender community is a growing and diverse group of people spread out geographically across the United States and abroad, and this conference provides not only education and support, but also networking opportunities for this increasingly politicized and visible community.

Workshop submission requirements may be found on the website (www.true-spirit.org), along with increasingly detailed programming information as the conference date nears. Conference registration fees range from $50 to $90 and a discount is given for early registration.

Representatives of the press are invited to attend TSC 2003 but are required to register as a press person as well as sign and comply with all TSC press and camera regulations no later than February 1, 2003. All registered press will receive a TSC 2003 press packet upon their arrival at the conference. Please contact the conference Media Director, Michael Woodward, at media@true-spirit.org, for questions or further information.

The American Boyz, Inc. (www.amboyz.org) is a national organization for people who were labeled female at birth but who feel that is not a complete or accurate assessment of who they are (FtM) and our significant others, friends, families and allies (SOFFAS). Founded in 1994, American Boyz provides education, support, social events, newsletters, web sites, email lists, local meetings, political action and the annual True Spirit Conference.


--- Sean Gray
--- xxseangxx@earthlink.net
--- www.true-spirit.org
--- TSC 2003 CoChair