Join us at the next FORGE monthly trans-masculine and SOFFA social support group to learn more about Tricks of the Trade!! 
 
Date: August 2, 2008
 
Time: 7:00 - 9:30pm (open discussion begins at 6:00pm)
 
Place: Milwaukee's LGBT Community Center
          315 West Court Street
          Milwaukee, Wisconsin
 
Topic: Living Long Term
 
Topic Description:   Join us for a moderated panel discussion of individuals who are living long term.  There will be ample time for attendees to ask panelists specific questions and begin a dialogue that will continue later in the evening when we break into our usual roundtable discussion format.  Topics that may emerge include: implications of long-term hormone use; changes in health insurance benefits/access over time; shifts or stability in various components of identity; decisions around the choice to be stealth or out; impact on family and relationships; consequences of the REAL ID Act; changes in emotions or socialization; issues that may have cropped up now that weren't there long ago; and cultural and political and changes in the trans (and LGB and straight) community/ies.
 
For more information about FORGE social support meetings, please go to http://www.forge-forward.org/socialsupport/meetings.php#learnmore
 
Future FORGE Social Support Meetings:
September 6, 2008 -- Isms (Racism, ablism, sexism, sizism and more!)
October 4, 2008 - Dis/abilities
November 1, 2008 - Intimate Relationships: Finding and Sustaining
December 6, 2008 - Wellness: It does a body good


 

At last month's FORGE social support meeting, the new owners of the Tool Shed (www.toolshedtoys.com) led a brief discussion of packers, as well as safety issues around materials that are often used to make packers and other tools. Since then, the Tool Shed has added some new items to the store, including Spareparts Joque harnesses (https://myspare.com/page3.html), which are super-comfortable and have an underwear-like look, and Vixen's new Goodfella dildo (http://www.vixencreations.com/store/images/goodfella2.jpg), which has -- yes!! -- *round* balls that can be worn on the outside of a harness. They have Mr. Right silicone packers (http://www.vixencreations.com/store/images/mrrightvixskin.jpg) in stock, and their design has changed slightly to make them easier to "dress" to one side or the other. They are expecting Mr. Softie packers and Mr. Right packing straps to arrive shortly, and are working on getting other custom packing supplies. If you'd like to receive regular updates as the Tool Shed gets new items in, please e-mail info@toolshedtoys.com to join their mailing list, be their friend on Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/toolshedtoys, or become a fan of the Tool Shed on Facebook!

 

As you may have noticed, FORGE has a new look -- well, sort of!  Over the past two years, we have worked with several graphic designers to create a logo that captures FORGE's essence.  Even though the designers we've worked came up with excellent results, we just weren't feeling a good match with design and our overall philosophy. 
 
During this time of design consideration, we repeatedly heard from people about how much they love the 2007 FORGE Conference logo.  As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

 

We have cleaned up the Conference logo, as well as added a more streamlined appearance for some of our sub-programs, like the Transgender Aging Network, our Anti-Violence program, and our Social Support structure.  We are quite pleased with the result -- and hope you are too!

 

In these months (August and September) of hottest temperatures, it's essential for those who use binders (as well as everyone else), to be mindful of the health and safety implications surrounding heat.
 
For more information, check out FORGE's quick reference guide on Trans-masculine Precautions about Heat and Binding at http://www.forge-forward.org/handouts/heat_faq.pdf