Trans America

Friday, Jan. 24 — The East Lansing Public Library will host a one-day workshop next Wednesday entitled “What Does it Mean to be Transgender?” The goal of the workshop is to heighten awareness and clear up misconceptions about the transgender community. 

“What Does it Mean to be Transgender?” is jointly-presented by Jennifer Grzegorek, and staff psychologist at MSU's counseling center; Deanna Hurlbert and director of the LGBT Resource Center at MSU; and Cadence Custin, a transgender woman attending the MSU College of Law. Custin is also the president of communications for the Triangle Bar Association, a student law group dedicated to educating the public and advancing LGBT rights.

The event will start with a screening of “Sexuality & Gender 101,” an eight-minute educational video created by Hurlbert and the MSU's Department of Telecommunications. Following the video, Grzegorek, Hurlbert and Custin will engage with the attendees in a discussion about modern gender issues, including identity vs. biology; challenges faced by gender nonconforming people; medical conditions vs. mental health issues; and how to make schools and communities safer for gender-variant kids and adults.

The event will end with book recommendations and a Q & A session.

“What Does it Mean to be Transgender?”

7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29

East Lansing Public Library

950 Abbot Road, East Lansing