Moving Trans History Forward conferences

Moving Trans History Forward is a series of interdisciplinary, international, and intergenerational conferences held in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, at the University of Victoria, hosted by the Chair in Transgender Studies.[1] The conferences discuss trans history and activism, and are both academic and open to the public.[2] The conferences also explore new trans research and the issues that impact trans, non-binary, Two-spirit, and other gender nonconforming (GNC) people.[3][4]

Moving Trans History Forward 2023 logo

History

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The biennial conference was founded and hosted by the University of Victoria's Chair in Transgender Studies and the founder and subject matter expert of the Transgender Archives, Aaron Devor.[1][5] Beginning in 2014, the conference has gathered community activists, researchers, educators, archivists, artists, service providers, and allies of all ages.[6][7]

Past conferences

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Moving Trans* History Forward (2014)

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The first conference, held at the University of Victoria from March 21 to 23, 2014, was entitled "Moving Trans* History Forward".[8] Around 100 trans activists and researchers, as well as allies, gathered to preserve and present the stories and records of trans pioneers from the early 1960s onwards.[9][10][11] Events included keynote speakers Jennifer Pritzker, Vivian Namaste, Susan Stryker, and Dallas Denny; oral presentations, symposiums, displayed materials, and a featured screening of the film Trans.[12]

Moving Trans History Forward: Building Communities – Sharing Connections (2016)

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The second conference, entitled "Moving Trans History Forward: Building Communities – Sharing Connections", took place at the University of Victoria from March 17 to 20, 2016.[13] Events included keynote speakers Jamison Green and Martine Rothblatt, oral presentations, posters, art exhibits, a screening of Mo Bradley's feature-length film Two 4 One, and Founders Panel discussions with Rupert Raj, Jason Cromwell, Jamie Lee Hamilton, and Yvonne Cook-Riley.[5][13]

Moving Trans History Forward: From Generation to Generation (2018)

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The third conference, entitled "Moving Trans History Forward: From Generation to Generation", took place at the University of Victoria from March 22 to 25, 2018.[1][6] Keynote speakers included Andrea Jenkins, the first openly transgender Black woman elected to public office in the United States, and Kent Monkman, a Canadian Cree Two-spirit artist.[1][2] Among oral presentations, art displays, and workshops, there were both youth and elder panels, where speakers discussed topics relating to their respective age groups.[14]

Moving Trans History Forward (2021)

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The fourth iteration of the Moving Trans History Forward conference was held online, from March 11 to 14, 2021.[15] The conference was initially scheduled to take place in Victoria, BC, from April 2 to 5, 2020, at the Victoria Conference Centre but was moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15] The first keynote speaker was Blas Radi, cofounder of the world's second Chair in Transgender Studies at the University of Buenos Aires.[15] The second keynote speaker was Miss Major in conversation with Kelendria Nation and Syrus Marcus Ware.[16][17] The program included oral presentations, panel discussions, and youth and elder panels.[17]

Moving Trans History Forward (2023)

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The fifth Moving Trans History Forward conference took place between March 30 and April 2, 2023 and was presented in a hybrid format, occurring both online and in person at the University of Victoria.[18][19] On March 31, 2023, the conference coincided with International Transgender Day of Visibility.[19][18] Keynote speakers were author and activist Julia Serano; and Chase Joynt, Jen Richards, Morgan M Page, and Jules Gill-Peterson from the film Framing Agnes.[20] The conference included oral presentations, panel discussions, poster sessions, and workshops.[21] The program included a Two-Spirit Trans+ Panel, a youth panel, and an elders panel.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Moving Trans History Forward conference aimed at more than LGBTQ community". Victoria News. 2018-03-19. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  2. ^ a b "Transgender history focus of UVic conference". Times Colonist. 2018-03-20. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  3. ^ "Moving Trans History Forward conference aimed at more than LGBTQ community". Victoria News. 2018-03-19. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  4. ^ "Moving Trans* History Forward 2016 – Building Communities* Sharing Connections | LGBTQ Oral History Digital Collaboratory". Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  5. ^ a b "UVic transgender conference billed as largest in Canadian history". Times Colonist. 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  6. ^ a b "An Archive for All". American Libraries Magazine. 2018-01-02. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  7. ^ Bidal, Devon (2019-01-21). "UVic is home to the first Chair in Transgender Studies in the world". Martlet. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  8. ^ "Program – University of Victoria – Transgender Archives". Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria. Archived from the original on April 10, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  9. ^ "Moving trans* history forward symposium". TransAdvocate. 2014-04-02. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  10. ^ "Trans pioneers to lead University of Victoria symposium". Times Colonist. 2014-03-21. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  11. ^ "Pioneers of transgender activism". CBC News. March 21, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  12. ^ "Moving trans* history forward symposium". TransAdvocate. 2014-04-02. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  13. ^ a b "Moving Trans* History Forward 2016 – Building Communities* Sharing Connections | LGBTQ Oral History Digital Collaboratory". Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  14. ^ "Moving Trans History Forward – University of Victoria". Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria. Archived from the original on September 12, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c Lazenby, Alec (2021-03-26). "Moving Trans History Forward Conference brings together trans and gender-diverse scholars from across the globe". Martlet. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  16. ^ "Conference a highlight during UVic's Pride month - University of Victoria". UVic.ca. 2021-03-30. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  17. ^ a b "Moving Trans History Forward – University of Victoria". Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Trans Day of Visibility marked across Canada". CHEK. 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  19. ^ a b "UVic hosts Trans history conference during Transgender Day of Visibility". Vancouver Island. 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  20. ^ "keynotes - University of Victoria". UVic.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  21. ^ a b "Moving Trans History Forward – University of Victoria". UVic.ca. Retrieved 2024-03-24.