On Jan 25 and 26 of this week, Ryan and his memoir will be traveling to Peabody, MA to make an appearance at the longest running transgender conference in the US, called First Event.
Ryan will be conducting two presentations:
On Friday from 1 to 2:20 pm he will present, Body Transformation: Finding Peace with Change and Genetics. This workshop will address the issue of body image and the transgender body. It will explore the effects and limitations of hormones, surgery, and the beliefs we have formed about appearance due to the media. Ryan will also share his own story of being an eating disordered female who nearly died from anorexia, to a healthy male. His story will include his own struggles with body image today, and what hormones and surgery have done to help him find peace. Audience questions and discussion are strongly encouraged.
On Saturday from 10 – 11:20 am he will be presenting, Metoidioplasty: Making the Decision and Sharing the Outcome. This workshop will be a combination of exploring one transman’s metoidioplasty experience, as well as what a person should think about/explore before making their own decision regarding what lower surgery technique they want completed and which surgeon they feel most comfortable going to. Ryan will cover his decision-making process, financing the surgery, preparing both mentally and physically for the surgery and the recovery process. Audience questions are strongly encouraged.
He’ll also be selling signed copies of Second Son!
Dear Ryan,
I just finished reading your book and I could NOT put it down! You are handsome, brilliant, talented, courageous, and a definite role model. I am mother of 2 children, 1 and 5 years old, both born female. My oldest child is now my affirmed son and he is a pretty intelligent and amazing little kid. I would love to introduce you to my son someday as I know you will inspire him!!! It helps more people than you will ever know. I think you may have inspired me to write a book from an “accepting parent’s prospective.”
Hi Hillary,
I am happy to hear that you enjoyed reading, Second Son. Please feel free to leave a review of it on Amazon.com. I currently don’t have anything scheduled in San Diego, but keep an eye out on my home page for my speaking tour. Regarding your son and media exposure, I feel you need to continue to assess what appearances now may do to the future. If your family feels safe within your community and at school and if your son understands that being out now may create barriers in the future but still wants to be a voice, he should move forward. I can say, when you are out though, it makes it difficult to have privacy and it opens you up to harassment.
Best,
Ryan