Trans Events Hijacks IFGE Conference
December 18th, 2008By Monica F. Helms
For 22 years, the International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE) has held a yearly conference for transgender people, its allies and the people who treat and help us. The community has come to see the IFGE Conference as a great place to get information on medical issues, political issues, spouse and children’s issues, and presentation issues. People from all over the world gather to share ideas and to network with others in the trans community. The Trinity and Virginia Prince Awards have been given out at these conferences.
For ten of the last 22 years, IFGE has enlisted the assistance of a company known as Trans Events to facilitate the conferences. As time went on, this turned out to not be a very good idea. Trans Events management ruled the conference with an iron fist, causing problems with IFGE’s reputation within the community. Any of the local people who decided to volunteer quickly discovered that the Trans Event management would order them around like personal servants.
(Break)
As time went on, the Trans Events management began to strong-arm the IFGE board so they would hold the conference in Philadelphia most of the time, a convenience for Trans Events. Since IFGE has members all over the world, they wanted to have the conference in various cities within the US. Most of the members are Americans. IFGE felt a need to have the conference in places that would make it convenient to different parts of the country during different years. Having the conference in Philadelphia two years out of three did not make it easy for many of the West Coast members.
The other problem IFGE encountered happened to be the hotel Trans Events picked in Philadelphia. This hotel is located a long distance from anything in the city. To get to the historical sites, shopping or restaurants, a person had to take an expensive taxi ride or drive. Being stuck in the hotel did not sit well with the attendees, or the IFGE board.
Stories came out of the conferences from the volunteers that the Trans Events management acted like a task master who penny-pinched every expense so they could make the most profit from the conference, but did not want to help the conference run smoother. At the Tucson Conference in 2008, I asked for a simple item, a wireless mic for the Trinity Awards, but the Trans Events management acted too stingy with the money to ask the hotel to provide us one. They had a horribly harsh attitude that made some of the volunteers cry and angered many attendees. The people in Tucson told IFGE that they didn’t want them to come back as long as Trans Events ran the show.
When it came time for planning the 2009 IFGE Conference, Trans Events had everything set up to return to Philadelphia, but IFGE wanted more variety. The board decided to hold the conference in Washington, DC, to correspond with Lobby Days in April. However, Trans Events threw a monkey wrench in the plans, booking a hotel for the first week in February and telling the board that was all they could get.
The board decided that because of what the people in Tucson told them and all the other things that they had heard and seen over the years, they terminated the contract with Trans Events to run the show themselves. However, they were stuck with the expensive DC hotel in the middle of winter.
Recently, IFGE discovered that Trans Events is indeed putting on a conference at the end of April, in Philadelphia. On the surface, this doesn’t appear to be a bad thing. The more conferences, the better. However, the problem happens to be with what Trans Events did in promoting their event.
Trans Events is promoting this as if they still had a connection with IFGE. They have not indicated that their event is an entirely new conference that has nothing to do with IFGE. In their promotional material, they say they are “back in Philadelphia,” and use photos and promotional items from past IFGE conferences, including the IFGE logo, on their web site. On top of that, they are using IFGE’s mailing list to promote this conference, not telling anyone the entire truth. One doctor signed up for this conference thinking it was for IFGE and became very angry when he found out it wasn’t.
I am highly suspicious on the reason Trans Events negotiated a DC hotel in the wintertime. They stated it was more expensive in April and that they couldn’t find anything. They wanted IFGE to go back to Philadelphia and when they said no, it’s my feeling their management screwed over IFGE so they could still have their Philadelphia conference in April anyway.
There are plenty of open weekends on the calendar to accommodate more trans conferences. However, what Trans Events is doing to promote their event, giving the impression of another IFGE conference, using IFGE’s mailing list and deceiving people in the promotions, is not the right way to go about it. I would hope that people will go to the real IFGE Conference from February 4 to 8, and avoid the Trans Events Conference in April. Don’t be fooled.
December 18th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I finally decided to write a comment on your blog. I just wanted to say good job. I really enjoy reading your posts.
December 18th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Honestly, Monica, some of us were counting on a conference being held in April in Philly. That IFGE seems to have gone all in for political lobbying all of a sudden, and so wants to do stuff in DC, is great – but people were still expecting a gender education conference in April.
TransEvents is filling that void.
From what I know, they’re also donating their time to help organize IFGE’s conference.
For the record, I know the TransEvents ladies because of all the other conferences they’ve done – most of them for IFGE – & before I knew there was any brouhaha, they’d asked me to be a keynote speaker, and I said yes, precisely because they’re focusing on allies & partners etc. (which is a conference theme that has been a long time coming).
I really don’t see that TransEvents has done anything malicious here, and using the contacts they’ve used over & over again seems like a sound idea – most people I know who want to know about IFGE stuff want to know about other gender conferences & transgender orgs as well. Charities & the like regularly sell their mailing lists to each other.
I guess what I’m saying is: do we know this is malicious? I don’t.
December 19th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Monica, rants are fun but ultimately disinformative. There are other sides to this story, and your readers aren’t hearing them.
December 19th, 2008 at 8:00 am
There are, in fact some details of the events contract between Transevents and IFGE that were highly irregular. I became involved in the 2009 effort in the fall of 2007, and had the opportunity to examine this document. For instance, Transevents receives a commission from the hotel on the total number of room bookings. I realize that Transevents has expenses, however, the amount of margin built into the contract is disproportionate with what would be appropriate to what is basically a fundraising event for a non-profit organization. Essentially, Transevents has been taking home considerable profits from this event each year, consistent with what could be expected of a commercial event. It’s no wonder that there is no available budget for audio-visual or other needs. These expenses would be reducing the profit margin not of IFGE, but of Transevents. It is apparent that the reason Transevents has insisted upon remaining with the one particular Hilton property in Philadelphia is due to their relationship with the hotel, which is mutually profitable.
Helen observes that members of the community are looking for an educational event. Despite the timing and location of the 2009 event, the educational content remains unchanged. It would be my view that what we’re really talking about here is the difference between a service motivated event and a profit motivated event.
That Transevents is attempting to capitalize on the past history of IFGE in the Philadelphia location is pretty clear. While I would not discourage any presenter or attendee from participating in the April 2009 event in Philadelphia, I would propose that this event is being held strictly in the interest of the further enrichment of Transevents, and is of an entirely commercial nature.
IFGE continues to serve the community as an educational organization, and any involvement in trans politics is no different from that we would find at SCC, Be-All or any similar community event. Participation in lobbying efforts at the municipal, state or federal level, particularly with regard to ENDA, is, in my opinion the obligation of any organization that represents the trans community in any capacity. It should be noted that the lobbying event planned for the February IFGE event is not the primary focus of the event, but has been included in the program because of the timing and the location of the conference.
The program will include numerous educational and social activities typical of all such events, and we look forward to providing the service to this community for which we are best known.
December 19th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Well, if this isn’t the ultimate test of our community, then I don’t know what is. Since I was at the first IFGE Conference and have attended almost all of them, and since I am an unashamed supporter of IFGE since the thought was first invented by Merissa Cheryl Lynn some 25 years ago, well before the first one, I have a taste in my mouth right now that is all to familiar.
Unless you have big bucks (and many, many TG folks do not) then you have to choose between two, closely scheduled conventions.
The IFGE Convention in DC is my choice for a numbr of reasons and they have nothing to do with money, except for the fact of who should be making it and that should be the non-profit conference instead of the for profit conference. But that should be obvious. There isn’t enough of it anyway and what there is of it that comes through our community must be parceled out for the right reasons, to help educate others ast this crucial time.
The original goals of the IFGE Convention were to gather the like minded, smart, dedicated leaders of our community together to formulate plans to educate others about all of us “transvestites”. I note that there were a lot fewer of any other kind of gender diverse people back then. Also, and perhaps the most important aspect of the convention was to give our very young community a face and a heart. The face was necessary to help destroy existing stereotypes and the heart was necessary because most of us were unable to put our emotions and feelings clearly on the table so that we did not feel like “freaks”. Along with those two things came recognition and pride over the many years of the conference.
The IFGE Conference has been the proving ground for just about every advanced thought in our community and every leader, to come forth and claim their right of passage and then move on to the mainstream of our society. Before NCTE it was the only reference point in our community to find out everything from politics, to medical treatments, to general support. It has tradition and it has longevity and recognition and that was not gained by how much the rooms cost, where it was held or how you voted in the last election. It was full of heart, intelligence, fun and activism from the first convention held in Chicago, where we danced in the evening, listened intently to the first seminars really ever given at that time, had a chance to meet people we had only heard or read about before and one of the first acts was to vote and form a Congress of Delegates. Education, friendship, activism and fun had found a place in our community, where at least once a year they seemed be able to live together.
It only seems reasonable that at this time in our history that special attention be given to matters connected with ENDA and Hate Crimes. It is imperative that we address this as directly as possible with the most visible signs that we exist and we are out and proud. People who go to Philly might have a good time, but will they really be seen outside of the hotel or in any numbers? People who go to the DC conference will be seen and will make an effect on others and how they think. It will also provide the opportunity for those who question our intenstions about ENDA and Hate Crimes and their importance to us at this critical juncture, to be able to judge just how important they are to us. A meager showing in DC will only confirm the fact to legislators and their staff that our community is a lot of talk, but very little walk. For that one reason it is important that the IFGE Conference in DC this year be able to send the message that we care what happens in the coming year, that our hearts are in the right place and that education is still the most important thing that IFGE does.
For those who don’t mind hearing the rasping voice of people like Barney Frank telling us that we need to educate more, it doesn’t make any difference to me where else you might go.
December 19th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
When I showed up for the 2006 IFGE in Philly as a Trinity winnier, I was dismissively and grumpily told by Kristine James that I needed to register for the conference.and that they sent me an e mail stating that.
After I told her that no, I wasn’t sent that e-mail from TransEvents, much less any communication except for the e-mail from IFGE and a phone call from Monica Helms notifying me I’d won the Trinity on December 30, 2005 ,
I read her the riot act over her pissy attitude. The problem got fixed, but not before it got what was supposed to be a happy and historic moment for me off to a very negative start. .
December 20th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Let us remember that, had TransEvents not taken over management of IFGE’s convention in 1999 (after the massive losses suffered by the Toronto convention in 1998), there might not have been IFGE conventions.
They do deserve some props for rescuing the conference in 1999, and perpetuating it since then.
That stated…..
TransEvents wasn’t the easiest organization to work with, and I do know that hotel room rates were padded (at least at the one conference I worked on with them) to defer other convention costs. Frugal? Yes, for sure. Hard on the volunteers? After working with them nonstop for several months whenever I was not working at my job, I needed a vacation. But the time, attendance, and budget margins were tight on that conference, and it had to be done the way that it was done.
Now, as for 2009, I don’t have a dog in the hunt. I can’t make it to either spring conference. But I liked Philadelphia, liked the price of the hotel, but I drive to conventions, and recognized it wasn’t the greatest arrangement for those who flew. You had to have a car on premises to venture beyond the hotel. However, the hotel chosen for DC is outrageously high priced, and is even worse (daily parking charges) for those of us who prefer driving to conferences. And April is a better time for a conference, as many people earmark their tax refunds for the conference, not to mention that driving to DC in February across West Virginia is a risky weather proposition. But that doesn’t sound like IFGE’s fault. And, under the new political conditions, having it in DC might well be wise for this year. Hope the convention resumes moving around, as it has done in the past. And, without the appeal of having the IFGE board on hand, there’s not much draw to the Philadelphia conference.
The whole situation is sad, indeed.
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:51 am
I was the program director for the very first IFGE convention in 1987. For years since I have been critical of the convention’s continued high prices. I’ve attended many Sci/Fi and Fandom conventions, none of them were anywhere near as expensive IFGE. For years I have questioned why IFGE got into bed so deeply as to become such a victim. IFGE is the customer here and the TransEvents the service provider; in the world of business the customer is always right. What Transevents is currently doing is very unethical. It’s time for another group of service providers to step forward. Perhaps IFGE should consider competitive bids for conventions two or three years in advance. All this said, would someone mind putting out all the facts!!!!!
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:30 am
Many people that have posted to this blog (except Helen Boyd) obviously have not done their homework and have not been on the “inside” of what has happened.
First, as Cheryl points out, IFGE terminated the conferance in 1999. Alison and I stepped up to the plate and said that we will do it for them, and do it at no risk to IFGE. That ment that they would make a profit from it, but if they lost money, then we would accept the entire loss.
Second, during our tenure, we put over $300,000 into the IFGE checking account.
Third, our compensation (if you want to call it that) was 50% of the net income from operating the conference. This paid for our ot of pocket expenses, which were never charged to the conference.
Fourth, TEUSA Inc. is a Pennsylvania Non-Profit Corporation and an IRS 501(c)(3) IRS organization. The financial information is available for public inspection at various websites. Before anyone says that we made any large amount from this relationship, I suggest you do your homework.
Fifth, DC was dictated by the IFGE BOD. In contacting the various hotels in the DC area, it was determined that April is the prime tourist season -Cherry Blossom time, group hotel rates were quoted at $295 and higher. Could you afford that?
Sixth, yes I can be a bear to deal with, and yes I did pinch the pennies. Someone talked about a wireless mic. do you know that that cost $125 per day and that and LCD projector costs $600 per day to rent from the hotel and that most hotels have a policy that you need to use their AV provider and that you paid a penality if you did not. Crazy, yes, but that’s most hotels rules.
Seventh, when you click on the IFGE website and look for information on the previous conferences, you are redirected to TEUSAs website. We do not charge for that service, but are still paying for it.
Eighth, we asked, over several years, for an IFGE committee to run the conference, but no one else stepped up to the plate.
Last, I suggest that in the future, everyone that posts negative and incorrect information, please do your homework before you go publick with misinformation.
Kristine James, Executive Director, TEUSA.
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:23 am
Kristine,
I noticed you had no response to the fact that you have pissed off so many people over the years that you had done harm to IFGE reputation. You and you specifically are the reason Trans Events no longer runs the IFGE Convention. If you had acted more like Alison, then we wouldn’t be having this conversation. There was a point where your actions became more of a factor then any positive things you have done for us. We reached that point. This was a business decision, and you were bad for business.