FEMME CONFERENCE 2012: Pulling the Pieces Together

Glitter, Difficult Conversations and Revolutionary Dreams EVERYWHERE…what else could we be talking about but FemmeCon 2012?

femme — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:34:50 +0000

Sigh. Its done. This year’s 2012 Femme Conference is done. You did it all with us: conference attendees, media outlets, donors, the city of Baltimore, hardworking volunteers, working committee members, keynotes, presenters, ASL Interpreters, performers, vendors, steering committee members, those that created the seed for the first femme conference and have stood near us in some capacity ever sense, faithful allies, our families, partners, friends, and loved ones. This year’s conference (like the few we already have behind us) was full of femmes who have faced internal and external struggles and who continue to work through the lenses of their varied identities to claim and find comfort, difficult politic, and love in femme identity. We saw the beauty and empowerment in workshops, in performance spaces, and sometimes just through sharing a hug in the hotel lobby. In organizing the Femme Conference we had to delve deeper into what Femme means to us and how we exercise our femme rights and how we fight to love ourselves, create femme community no matter what, and how we express to all kinds of people what this movement and identity mean to us. We are gracious and thankful for the space we were able to create as a community but its not completely over. We are reminded everyday there’s still so much work to do, conversations to be had,healing, ways to step up for ourselves and our communities. Contributions to make in the larger conversations about what this all means and how we move forward. So we’re looking for you if you’d like to be a part of the Femme 2014 steering or working committees or if you have questions or inquiries please contact us info@femme2012.com. We look forward to hearing from you and thank you again from the bottom of our big juicy femme hearts for taking this amazing journey with us!

En Mad Femme Love xoxo
Your Femme2012 Steering Committee

Livestreaming & Twitter!

femme — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:55:47 +0000

Watch the keynotes and featured speaker and performer on the livestream here. Or hey, just click the page above that says livestream.

Tweet & follow here: @femmecollective #femme2012

We’re having a clothing swap! Can you provide some fashion?

femme — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 20:00:14 +0000

This year, for the very first time, we’ll be hosting an official, femmetastic clothing swap and it’s going to be amazing! What’s making this clothing swap so great you ask? Well, it just happens to be a body-positive, femmes-of-all-genders, cooperatively fancy affair that’s all! We want clothes that are big and small and stretchy, clothes that are flannel and bedazzled and leopard-print lace studded with spikes–anything that makes you feel some varietal of femme!

The magic of clothing swaps only happens through participation though! Teeny tiny clothing swaps are a bummer, so let’s make this one great by all bringing a little something to pass on to another member of our extended femme family. For those traveling to FemmeCon from far away, remember that if you bring a piece of clothing in your suitcase for the swap, then you’ll have room to take another piece home! Please only donate clothes and accessories that are in “give to a friend” condition and clean (scent-free if possible).

The swap will be on Friday from 5-6:30pm. Please bring your swappable finery with you to Registration when you pick up your badge on Friday! We’ll have them all sorted and ready to go when the swap starts! We’ll stop accepting items at Registration at 4 p.m. More information about the location of the swap station will be available once you arrive at the conference. See you there!

More Than Childcare

steering — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:54:52 +0000

As you may have heard, FemmeCon will be offering FREE childcare during all programming times of the conference (9a – 5p, Friday, Saturday and Sunday). We believe that community support for parents/guardians/caretakers and children is crucial. Working together to support everyone’s rights and build intergenerational collective liberation is a radical act, not simply a “nice” thing. Like our Programming Chair, Cherry Poppins, said, “…kids are not just future active members of our community, they’re already part of our community!”

We absolutely could not have offered childcare this year without the Kidz City Baltimore Childcare Collective. The absolute best thing about Kidz City offering childcare during the conference is that they’ve actually put together a weekend of *programming* – like a mini-conference for the kids! Their programming, inspired by the Femme Shark Manifesto (swoon), is sea themed and they have put SO MUCH intention into it that I seriously considered flying in my nephew with me just for the experience he’d get to have.

Learn more about Kidz City’s programming and check out the results of their brainstorming session.

If you’re attending FemmeCon and will be utilizing our childcare/children’s programming, please let us know if you didn’t when you registered. You can email KidzCitydirectly at radkidcare@gmail.com.

If you’re on the fence about bringing your kids or the kids in your life, I strongly encourage you to do so – it will be an amazing experience for everyone involved. If you’re not already registered, not to worry! You can register for the entire conference or just a portion of it; we have tickets available on an individual basis for our film festival, performances and keynotes. We also offer registration on a sliding scale at the door.

I can’t believe we’ll all be together in just 8 DAYS. I can’t wait to see you – and the children in your life – there!

In solidarity and excitement,

jen, femme 2012 co-chair

Art, and skillshares, and workshops, and panels, and more, OH MY!

steering — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 20:00:41 +0000

My revolution has glitter!
A sample of work in the art show.

Femmes and Friends! Programming Chair Allison (aka Cherry) here. I can’t believe that the conference is almost here!

We on the Programming Committee have spent the past 9 months working really hard to secure a lineup of kickass, challenging, thought-provoking workshops, panels, lectures, and skillshares. It’s like we could have had a baby in that time, and it also kind of feels like we are about to! I’m so excited about the schedule. We met a lot of the goals that I personally wanted to see happen, as far as expanding the repertoire of programming. There’s also still stuff missing and areas where we can continue improving. We’d love to hear from you during or after the conference about what you loved and what didn’t work for you.

Please also take note of OPEN SPACE! This is specifically for spontaneous workshops – that burning topic that isn’t covered elsewhere, or maybe to continue a discussion from another workshop, or something brand-new that just came up for you. We have one room open Friday at 3:30 and then another room all Sunday morning for you, conference attendees, to organize your own spontaneous workshop or caucus. There will be a community board at registration for just this purpose. Rooms are also open during the lunch break times.

We are also still on the lookout for a few caucus facilitators / moderators, for “Femmes Who ID as Other Than Female”; “PoC Femmes”; and “Femmes with Dis/abilities.” Let me know if you are interested! And we have room for a few more Sunday caucuses, as well.

On that note, we do still have some room available in the (new this year!) Skillshare Fair, if you have a crafty or hands-on skill you’d like to share. Get in touch! Programming@femme2012.com.

I’m also excited about this year’s art show, another aspect of Programming. This year, in addition to highlighting the visual art of femmes in our communities, we are adding an ongoing, interactive art-making station. We hope you will stop by and make some art to display – and that you can take home at the end of the weekend!

See you next week (eek, can’t believe I just typed that!).

The Official Femme 2012 Film Festival Program!

steering — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 19:40:58 +0000

Ellie here, Film Chair for this year’s conference! I wanted to proudly announce the list of films playing this year at Femme 2012! I am SUPER excited to be screening all of these films for you, and I really hope that you will come on Saturday, August 18th at 5pm EST to see them with me!

And without further adieu….

A Fitting by Colleen Young
“a fitting” documents the making of a dress as a reflection on how the director has come to recognize and express her femme identity. Weaving together images and poetic narrative, this short film explores Colleen’s embodied experience of femme in/visibility, dressing, and desire.

The Heart’s Regeneration by Celeste Chan
A meditation on queer hapa femme identity, love, and re-birth.

Ride and Kiss by Courtney Trouble
Courtney and Bianca are different kinds of riders, but when their bikes collide, an explosion of grease and glitter forces them to get wet and wild. A queer femme collaboration.

With Conviction by Dulce Garcia
With fierce seduction, fat femmes of color discuss their desires, sexuality and empowerment.

Truth Taks Time by Ellie Krnich
A coming of age motion storybook about the trials and tribulations of gender identity and self-love.

Dear Femmes of the World by Paulie McDermid
A few of the ABCs of being a queer femme man are talked through by some guys of different ages and perspectives all living rural lives in Canada

Gold Moon, Sharp Arrow by Malic Amalya & Max Garnet
Adapting Stanley Milgram’s 1963 experiment on obedience to authority, “Gold Moon, Sharp Arrow” explores how queer communities reenact, resist, and respond to assimilation, coercion, and trauma. Utilizing the language of conceptual art and avant-garde cinema, “Gold Moon, Sharp Arrow” straddles the political, emotional, and sexual tensions of ever-evolving queer communities.

Transsexual Dominatrix by Shawna Virgo
San Francisco underground muse, Shawna Virago wails on her six-string and doles out lyrical pleasure-pain in this new leather anthem. This music video flashes a whole arsenal of toys.

Femmes Want Revolution by Haley K. Jude, Simone Jude & Allison Stelly
We were told that girls just wanna have fun. Songwriter/Director Allison Stelly thinks we can demand even more than that. Joined by Director Simone Jude and Producer/Director Haley K Jude for a collaborative, glitterfied, revolutionary romp.

Skate Bitches by Samuel Shanahoy
The Skate Bitches are a bad ass skateboarding girl gang. One day Josie, a femme who wears pastels and rides a long board comes to the club house. Some of the skate bitches are quick to judge her and don’t want her to join the gang which causes a rift in friendships. They later come to realize they were very wrong about judging Josie, but will she still want to skate with them?

So Slow by Lasha Mowchun
A meditation on the personal struggle for identity within closed circuit of gender

<3 Femme love and see you all very soon!

A Message and Special Request from FemmeCon 2012 Keynote nomy lamm

steering — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 19:24:29 +0000

greetings femme geniuses…
i am looking forward to being with all of you in just a couple weeks. i’ve been thinking about you every day for months as i create intentions and aspirations for how i want to be with you, what i want to impart. as the date gets closer i am getting more nervous, excited, feeling the amazing responsibility of being asked to speak to this community in a way that helps us ‘pull the pieces together’ and know ourselves collectively. wow, what an honor.

i would love if you would help me by bringing something of yourself to contribute to a collective altar/bird nest, which we’ll create together at the beginning of my keynote. it could be anything, a scrap of fabric, a bone, a note from your childhood best friend, a drawing, a leaf, a doll, a piece of wood, a jar of fingernails, a can of spam… this will help me feel connected to you, help me know more about who you are and feel held by you.

guidelines:
* your contribution should be an expression of who you are and where you come from
* it only needs to have meaning to you, and you don’t have to explain it
* the altar itself is not religious or spiritual in any specific way
* give some thought to how your contribution may impact others, positively or negatively.
* be mindful of cultural appropriation. share what is authentically yours to share.
* nothing burn-y or smelly. some people are sensitive to scents and/or smoke and we want everyone to be able to be present
* don’t contribute something super valuable or that you couldn’t stand to lose
* we will need to relocate the altar after the keynote, so keep it portable
* you can reclaim your offering at any point
* this is ours, we create it, collectively.

thank you for your time and attention… sending love! see you soon!
xoxnomy

What the Femme Conference Means to Me And You Too-Let’s Talk Video Contest

steering — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 17:22:36 +0000

I’m Aries Hines Media Co-Chair and I remember Femme Conference 2010 not because I was there but because I wanted to be and couldn’t. It was in Oakland, one of the many cities that helped nurture my queer sense of self. I had just moved from Oakland to San Diego. And I remember visiting the Femme Conference website; wanting to perform, gain community, join the chorus line of femmes that would be there in solidarity. I wanted to sparkle with fierceness, glitter with awareness, and be present to my community. But I was unemployed and had just moved, I could only afford to watch from the website. I felt crushed.

I watched the performance deadline slide past me, watched as new videos were uploaded from speakers and attendees glowing about workshops and performances. Even though it only lasted a few days when it was all over I felt like I had missed out on something detrimental to my queer femme education. I told myself no matter what condition my life was in I’d be a part of the next Femme Conference.

This year I’ll be attending my first Femme Conference as a performer, Media Co-Chair, and as myself. I’m going to see the community that I can’t find at my doorstep. I’m going to be around people who I don’t always have to explain my identity as African American/vegetarian/writer/person with a learning disability/spiritual mermaid goddess queer femme woman. I’m going be a visible. This is a little bit of what the Femme Conference means to me. This year I want to hear what it means to you. We’re encouraging all Femmes to visit the YouTube site and upload a video. Your video can be single or a group. It can be your story, a feeling, or inspiration. All the videos will be edited into a short film and screened at the Conference. Our Film Chair Ellie Krnich uploaded a great How-To video to get you started.

Guidelines

Must be femme
Must be attending the conference
Videos must be upload by 12 midnight August 10^th, 2012

The “What the Femme Conference Means to Me” Video Contest begins today Weds July 18, 2012 so get started!

The winning video will receive a dinner for two at the Femme Conference. The winning video will be based on Facebook likes and most watched.

Be visible and fierce. Upload your video now! Go to our YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/femmeconference

And check out Ellie’s video about it!

It’s heeere: The FemmeCon 2012 schedule has arrived!

femme — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:30:59 +0000

Have you been itching to get your hands on the FemmeCon schedule of events? I think we all have, and it’s finally here! Tucked demurely under the 2012 Conference tab in the navigation bar is the whole calendar of blow-your-mind workshops, performances, lectures, keynotes, skillshares, heartshares, film screenings, art shows, meet & greets, caucuses, play parties and plenaries. All I can say is wow!

We have been awed at the diversity and deepness of the workshops submitted by our community. Just a few highlights you can expect from the conference programming:

Featured speaker Bryn Kelly, cofounder of Theater Transgression and host of Gay Old Opry
The Fine Art of Dirty Talk
Does This Outfit Make Me Look Like I can Kick Your Ass? A Self-Defense Workshop for All Self-Identified Femmes
Femme of Colour Survivors: Badass Resilience
And much, much more.

Check it all out here!

And a quick reminder for anyone who hasn’t taken the registration plunge yet: Regular registrations ends July 25th! Sign up now to avoid late registration fees and to secure your spot for this brilliant, glittery, filthy, heartfelt weekend!

Exciting Vendor News from your FemmeCon Fundraising Chair!

steering — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:23:28 +0000

Hi Femmes & Allies! As your FemmeCon 2012 Fundraising Chair, I thought I’d focus today’s blog on our annual Vendor Hall, which gives attendees access to a wide variety of goods bought, made, and sold by members of our various queer communities! Each day of the conference from 9am-5pm, vendors will set up their tables and clothing racks with an array exciting products for your perusal. You can expect local businesses, independent artists, and crafters with a stunning array of items available for purchase.

Our 2010 Vendor Hall at the Oakland conference was a huge success and I have no doubt that this one will be as on point! I’ll give you a little inside peek of what we have in store for you. Attendees will be able to shop the awesomely innovative jewelery designs of Fussy Louise, the hanky flowers of Kinky Craft, and the huge variety of toys and sex-positive materials from Baltimore-based sex toy store, Sugar! Plus, for the first time ever, FemmeCon will have it’s very own table of schwag so that you can commemorate your attendance at the conference – whether it’s your first time or your fourth!

Are you a crafter, business owner, employee, or artist who is interesting in having a table in the Hall? We still have space available! You can vend for all 3 days or just the day(s) you select. We have the option of full or half tables depending on the amount of space you think you’ll need. Pricing and more detailed information can be found here or you can contact our Vendor Coordinator, Dana at fundraising@femme2012.com. Be sure to check out how you can get discounted conference registration by donating an item to our raffle when you vend!

I’m so excited for the conference and all that we have organized for attendees to make it the most fun, accessible space possible. If this is your first FemmeCon, you will be amazed at the amount of time and care put into the conference with you in mind. I can’t wait to see so many new and familiar faces and hope you’ll find the Vendor Hall to be as exciting a part of the conference as I do!

xoxo,
Jess G.
FemmeCon 2012 Fundraising Chair