I Was There: Keystone Conference 2014

The sixth annual Keystone Conference was held at the Sheraton Harrisburg/Hershey from March 26-29, 2014. According to Kristy Snow, co-chair of the conference, attendance estimates were over 500, which is amazing given that their email system that they used to inform people about the conference was rendered useless, so it was all word-of-mouth.

Those are the facts of the case, and they are not in dispute.

Each year, I try to sort out a theme for my Keystone Conference review. For example a couple of years ago, Keystone was a dance. If there is a theme to my experiences this year, I have yet to uncover it. If I had to put a word to it, that word would be Bittersweet. And not just for who WASN’T there.

I am full time as a Woman now. I came to Keystone with some things I wanted to accomplish to help me along. For example, I finally got my hair cut and styled in a feminine way, and learned how to style it on my own. This I did thanks to the incomparable Donna Miller of Donna’s Hair Studio of Ewing Township, NJ. She specializes in helping Transpeople see their true selves and she is especially helpful as our hair grows out.

This year I roomed with Linda Lewis, and we were later joined by Ally Raymond. Sharing a room with these gorgeous women added so much to the experience. I roomed alone last year, and the room was not a sanctuary as much as it was an isolation tank. The Keystone Conference is not about Isolation — it is about Connection.

There were many wonderful speakers at Keystone 2014, and many engaging seminars. But in this woman’s opinion, the Star of the Show was Kristin Beck, the retired Navy SEAL who transitioned. Everywhere she went, she drew an enthusiastic crowd. She was gracious with the attention, and a great listener. I had the pleasure of having some drinks with her, and what struck me was how Genuine she is, and how we have the same warped sense of humor.

But when Ms. Beck spoke to fellow soldiers, that’s when she really came to life. She may have been a SEAL for over twenty years, but in the end I think that was the prelude to her true calling; helping her fellow veterans. That is her passion and as an activist for them and for the Trans cause in general, she is a force of nature. She spoke of change in her well attended seminar — how it is coming for Us. And she is one of the women of the forefront of the change, along with Mara Keisling and many others.

That’s all well and good. So what else shall I write about Keystone? That there were many vendors supplying us with specialized items and services for our special requirements? The new program for significant others of Transpeople? A robust program for Transmen?

All true.

I can’t speak for any of the other attendees, but Keystone 2014 was magical. I met so many new people who are still discovering their true selves. And I reconnected with old friends.

Connections. So maybe that’s what it’s all about.

My own life is in flux. What do you do when your dreams come true? Well, Keystone has provided me with many answers over the years. It’s provided many of us with answers, direction, and even new questions. The Keystone Conference has grown to become a powerful positive force for the Trans community, and has so many facets that each attendee could find the Truth of their own experience. And Keystone provides us with Community. In this Community, we help each other, because in the end, we are all each other have.

Connections and Community. Truth. The true power of the Keystone Conference is in each of us. And our power is each other.

Tags: conference, featured, Keystone, Transgender

Category: Transgender Community News