About

LGBTQ2SIA+ people come from all walks of life, all races and ethnicities, all ages, all socio-economic statuses, all parts of the United States and from all over the world. Recent studies[1][2] tell us that gender diverse people make up 7-9% of the population, which is significantly more than prior, lower, estimates that were likely due to rampant underreporting. Of this vast transgender and gender diverse demographic, Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color continue to experience tremendous discrimination and inequality in healthcare. 

The 2023 TransPride YOUniting Health and Wellness Conference perseveres during a time when transgender and gender diverse individuals, particularly young people, are the targets of a coordinated legislative campaign that seeks to revoke their rights to participate in sports as their affirmed gender while also criminalizing and denying critical access to gender-affirming care. This conference rallies against these issues by centering the lives and lived experiences of the transgender and gender non-conforming community. We are striving to bring together not only community members but their families, allies, advocates, educators, and healthcare professionals in a space of mutual learning through shared perspectives and experience.

Building off past years, our theme this year, "Engage, Educate, Advocate'', challenges our professional allies to rise to the task of meeting the community where it is while also raising the voices of the gender diverse community members alongside or above their own. It is also a call to address myths and misinformation through advocacy and peer-reviewed scientifically accurate education. We have actively recruited speakers who are community members themselves, and we encourage all other professional speakers to include community voices or co-presenters in the spirit of "nothing for us, without us". We truly believe that the best new ideas are forged when communities and institutions come together. We are also firm in our belief that the needs of LGBTQ2SIA+ people should always be considered in public health efforts to improve overall health and eliminate health disparities.

Our vision is that all humans exist across diverse spectrums of biological traits, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and other intersectional traits: that anti-racism is the foundation that gender and sexual equality must be built upon. We encourage professionals, to consider the ways in which you can treat transgender, non-binary, other gender diverse, and intersex patients with as much dignity, respect, and clinical competency as cisgender patients.

Through education, dialog, and narrative humility we acknowledge “that our patients' stories are not objects that we can comprehend or master, but rather, dynamic entities that we can approach and engage with, while simultaneously remaining open to their ambiguity and contradiction, and engaging in constant self-evaluation and self-critique.” (DasGupta 2008) Comprehensive, institutional, gender diversity and cultural competency is essential to our goal of treating clients and patients exactly as they wish and deserve to be treated.
Our speakers this year will discuss gender diversity, medical, surgical, social, and behavioral health care needs, affirming voice and communication, affirming physical and occupational therapy, research, legal advocacy, support for schools and education, support for parents and caregivers, best practices, and cultural competencies when working with transgender, nonbinary, and other gender diverse or intersex persons, and/or their caregivers.

[1]  Kacie M. Kidd, Gina M. Sequeira, Claudia Douglas, Taylor Paglisotti, David J. Inwards-Breland, Elizabeth Miller and Robert W. S. Coulter - Pediatrics June 2021, 147 (6) e2020049823; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-049823
[2]  Kacie M. Kidd, Gina M. Sequeira, Michael J. Mann, Megan L. Smith, Brandon R. Benton, Alfgeir L. Kristjansson - The Prevalence of Gender-Diverse Youth in a Rural Appalachian Region - JAMA Pediatrics Published online August 08, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.2768

FAQ

TransPride Health & Wellness Conference FAQ

Q. Is this a Pittsburgh only thing?
A. No! We became a national (potentially International) conference in 2020 when we went virtual. The heart of the conference is in Pittsburgh where our primary collaborators, partners, planners, and organizers are. We have speakers and attendees from across the continent and beyond.  

Q. What does “Community” mean for the free community/caregiver ticket?
A. This means anyone who is part of the transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse community umbrella, wherever they may be.

Q. Is there a difference between the TransPride Pittsburgh Health & Wellness Conference and the TransPride Conference?
A. No, they are the same thing. The conference is named for TransPride PGH, a long-standing community organization serving the gender diverse community in Pittsburgh. We have started to pivot to calling it just the TransPride Conference now that we have a national focus.

Q. Are TransPride PGH and the TransPride Health & Wellness Conference the same thing?
A. No, but they are related. TransPride PGH is a community organization, and the TransPride Conference is a collaborative event. TransPride PGH is the primary community partner and gives its name to the conference. The primary institutional partners are UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital/Behavioral Health. Additional community partners include Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation, Persad Center, and TransYOUniting.   

Workshops

Thank you to everyone who has submitted this year. We are now closed for submissions except for those who have asked for additional time. You can make late submissions using the links below.
Proposal forms coming soon!

Sponsorship

Sponsorship form coming soon!

We would like to invite you to join us as a sponsor of the 7th annual TransPride Pittsburgh Health and Wellness Conference taking place October 6th-8th  online.  This three-day conference is a joint collaboration between TransPride Pittsburgh, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Center for Adolescent and Young Adult Health, Persad Center and the Education and Consultative Services of UPMC Western Psychiatric Services.
Founded in 2010, TransPride Pittsburgh is a community based, grassroots project that focuses on the support, advocacy and networking of the Pittsburgh area Trans and Non-Binary community, friends, family and loved ones.  TransPride Pittsburgh Pride Week is October 3rd to 9th, 2022.
As respected and vital members of our community, your sponsorship will enable us to continue our mission to provide education to Mental Health and Behavioral Health professionals in the Pittsburgh region around the specific needs of Transgender and Non-Binary people.  Your support will also demonstrate that you believe in treating everyone—including the Transgender and Non-Binary community—with dignity and respect.  
Our Professional Conference for Mental Health and Behavioral Health professionals will take place Thursday October 6th  and Friday October 7th and Saturday October 8th.  Our Community Conference focused on advocates and community members will take place Saturday, October 6.  There will be additional events throughout the TransPridePittsburgh Pride week including a National Trans and Non-Binary performance showcase, art and virtual game nights and socials.  
Our sponsorship level packages are as follows: 
Presented By Sponsor ($20,000--one available)

• The event to be named “The TransPride Pittsburgh Health & Wellness Conference presented by (your company)” and will be included in all signage, printed materials, social media, and public relations.
  
• Your Logo displayed during breaks at our virtual conference throughout the entire conference
• Two full page ads in the virtua TransPride Pittsburgh Conference program book.
• Logo (with link back to your organization) on the TransPride Pittsburgh website. 
• Complimentary conference registration for 8 attendees. 

​Prism Level Sponsor ($10,000)

• Your Logo displayed during breaks at our virtual conference during 2 days of your choosing
• Full page ad in the virtual TransPride Pittsburgh Conference program book.
• Logo (with link back to your organization) on the TransPride Pittsburgh website. 
• Complimentary conference registration for 6 attendees

White Level Sponsor ($5,000)

• Your Logo displayed during breaks at our virtual conference during a day of your choosing.
• Half page ad in the digital in the digital 2020 TransPride Pittsburgh Health and Wellness conference program
• Logo (with link back to your organization) on the TransPride Pittsburgh website. 
• Complimentary conference registration for 4 attendees

Pink Level Sponsor ($2,500)

• ​Quarter page ad in the digital 2020 TransPride Pittsburgh Health and Wellness conference program
• Logo (with link back to your organization) on the TransPride Pittsburgh website.
• Complimentary conference registration for 2 attendees.

Blue Level Sponsor ($1,000)

• Listing in the digital 2020 TransPride Pittsburgh Health and Wellness conference program
• Logo (with link back to your organization) on the TransPride Pittsburgh website.

Custom sponsorship packages are available. Please contact Lyndsey Sickler or Coley Alston at TransPridePgh@gmail.com for more info.
Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to hopefully working with you!

Sincerely,
Lyndsey A. Sickler & Coley Alston
Co-Chairs- TransPride Pittsburgh Steering Committee