Women’s Fest 2010 on May 8 celebrates Strength in Diversity
Women’s Fest 2010 will take place Saturday, May 8, 10AM to 5PM at The Center. Women’s Fest is a day-long festival of workshops, entertainment and resources for lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) women and their allies. The goal of this free festival is to empower LBT women to learn new skills, celebrate women’s creativity, build a stronger community and gain access to essential health resources.
This year, the theme of the festival is “Strength in Diversity” and the event will focus on celebrating the many diverse faces, identities and passions that make up the San Diego women’s community. Festival highlights include a lunchtime panel discussion titled “Queer Moms Tell All: The Truth about LGBT Parenting,” a live performance by the San Diego Women’s Chorus, numerous local artisans and vendors, and free lunch provided by Pizza Fusion. Registration begins promptly at 10AM on the day of the event.
The day-long festival’s schedule of workshops, lectures and resource information is as follows:
10 am – Registration Begins in Center lobby
10:30 am – Native American Blessing by Kumeyaay Historical Society
11 am-12 pm WORKSHOP TRACK 1
It’s Time to Throw Our Weight Around: The Fat Studies Reader
Presented by Esther Rothblum, Ph.D., SDSU Faculty Member
Fat studies is a field of scholarship that critically examines societal attitudes about body weight and appearance, and that advocates equality for all people with respect to body size. Fat studies scholars ask why we oppress people who are fat and who benefits from that oppression. In that regard, fat studies is similar to academic disciplines that focus on race, ethnicity, gender or age. This workshop will focus on fat studies and advocacy for LBT women.
Intro to DJ’ing
Presented by DJ Sandra Ware
Have you always dreamed of getting behind a set of turntables and rocking out? DJ Sandra Ware will cover the basics: a brief history of DJ culture, DJ terminology explained and an overview of basic technique. No previous musical experience necessary.
Aging in the Comfort of Your Own Home
Presented by Barbara Ripley, Comfort Keepers
As we age, we must make many important decisions regarding our care, housing and well-being. Can we stay at home? Will we be forced to enter assisted living or a nursing home? For LGBT individuals, these questions can be even more complicated and stress-inducing. This workshop will provide participants with resources for aging comfortably at home and growing old with dignity.
Cycles of Wholeness: Getting Off the Hormone Roller-Coaster
Presented by Andrea Beth Damsky, Licensed Acupuncturist
Many women suffer from hormone changes with PMS, painful menstrual periods, and during menopause, but most do not know that their suffering can be relieved! Andrea Beth Damsky, L.Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, who specializes in helping women who suffer monthly, and at the end of their time of monthly cycles. In this workshop, Andrea Beth will explain why symptoms such as headaches, irritability, fatigue, cramps, night sweats (and more) happen, and how women with these symptoms can benefit from treatment with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Self-help information will also be provided. Questions are encouraged!
I Am Not a Check Box (18 and over)
Presented by Erin Burgoon and Andi Segur
From the US Census to forms at the doctor’s office, we all have occasions to fill out check boxes on our age, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and gender. What do you do when none of the given check boxes fit you? In this workshop, we will focus primarily on the check box of gender. What does it mean to identify as neither male nor female – or in some cases, not even as transgender? Further what is the place in the LGBT community for those whose gender identity does not fall into a neat category? Movement, discussion, and group interaction are all part of this dynamic workshop, so come prepared to get involved!
12 pm – LUNCHTIME! Performance by the San Diego Women’s Chorus; Lunch from Pizza Fusion is served.
12:30 pm – Lunchtime Panel Discussion: Queer Moms Tell All: The Truth about LGBT Parenting
Mother’s Day is the day after Women’s Fest. In honor of this special day, the Festival will feature a lively lunchtime panel discussion on the experience of LGBT parenting. Families are created in many ways – via adoption, donor insemination, foster parenting and more. This panel will feature real moms telling true stories about pregnancy, parenthood, playgroups and more! Childcare will be available for the duration of the panel (contact Jane Schmoll from Family Matters for more info).
12-3 pm – Free Traditional Chinese Medicine tongue and pulse diagnosis, provided by workshop presenter Andrea Beth Damsky
2-3 pm – WORKSHOP TRACK 2
Women of Color United Panel
Facilitated by Danyeil Woods
Women of Color United is a discussion and social group for LBT women that meets on Saturdays at The Center. In this unique panel discussion, members of the group will share their insight and experience when it comes to coming out as queer women of color. Discussion will also focus on the experience of being an LBT woman of color living in a predominantly heterosexual society.
Vibrant Love: Creating Strong Relationships through Our Differences (18 and over)
Presented by Heather M Berberet, Psy.D.
Differences between our selves and our lover can be a source of great strength in a relationship. This workshop will teach participants ways to increase their intimacy and connection to each other through exploring, understanding and appreciating the differences between them.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Being Trans but Were Afraid to Ask (18 and over)
Presented by Connor Maddocks, President of FTMI San Diego and Co-Chair of TASC
What does it mean to be ‘transgender’? What are the steps involved in transitioning from one gender to another? How does an individual ‘come out’ as trans and what are some of the issues involved in the process? Connor Maddocks will answer these and other questions in an informative workshop geared towards those who want to learn more about the transgender community. Questions are encouraged!
The Amazon Breast Project
Presented by Catrina Flores, Amazon Breast Project
Did you know that lesbians have a greater risk of developing breast cancer than other women? The Amazon Breast Project conducts monthly networking and outreach activities to increase awareness among lesbians of the need for breast cancer screening and treatment. Family Health Centers of San Diego also conducts a lesbian health clinic to provide lesbian women breast health education, clinical breast exams and referrals for mammograms. This workshop will introduce you to the Amazon Breast Project and all they have to offer.
Climbing Your Family Tree
Presented by Laura Ledeboer
Do you want to know more about your roots? Genealogy is extremely popular these days as more and more people use online tools to learn about their ancestors. Join Laura Ledeboer for a how-to, hands-on workshop and start tracking your ancestors today. Feel free to bring information and materials to the class to see where they lead! Class size limited.
3:30-4:30 pm WORKSHOP TRACK 3
Building Healthy Families in 2010
Presented by Lori L. Arnold, M.D., California Center for Reproductive Medicine
Are you ready to grow your family but not sure where to start? Confused about all the fertility options that are now available to same sex couples? This workshop will cover all the basics: pre-conception care, fertility evaluation, treatment options for having a healthy baby, and more.
Like Water: The Fluidity of Sexuality (18 and over)
Presented by Lea Caughlan, Co-Owner of The Rubber Rose
No two bodies, personalities, or sexual experiences are exactly the same. As humans, we all identify differently, possess different likes and dislikes, and express our sexuality in unique and diverse ways. This workshop will discuss the fluidity of sexuality and the ways in which a better understanding of our passions and desires can improve our relationships and intimate experiences.
Building Healthy Relationships to End Gender Violence
Presented by Kat Wager, Center for Community Solutions
This workshop will explore how pop culture feeds into gender violence. Participants will come away with easy, hands-on tools to help create healthy interpersonal relationships and prevent sexual assault and gender violence.
Exploración Sexual Saludable — Healthy Sexual Exploration (in Espanol)
Presented by Carolina Ramos, Coordinator of Latino Services at The Center
En este taller exploraremos como el sexismo ha influenciado nuestras creencias sobre el sexo. Hablaremos de cómo profundizar satisfacción sexual sin culpabilidad.
In this workshop participants will explore how sexism has influenced the way we think about sex. Participants will also discuss how to maximize your pleasure without feeling guilty.
5 pm EVENT CONCLUSION
For more information about Women’s Fest 2010 or The Center’s Women’s Resource Center, please email Abby Schwartz or call (619) 692-2077 x212
