The Gender Education Center is a Minnesota-based advocacy and education organization working toward understanding, acceptance and support for the transgender community. We provide presentations, workshops, training & specialize in coordinating workplace transitions for transgender employees.

       In the years 2011 through 2014 we gave 64 presentations and workshops involving nearly 1,800 participants. In the last twenty five years we have been to colleges and universities over 500 times, over 80 High Schools, Middle Schools and Elementary Schools, given 200 workshops to members of the medical field and other helping professions, 209 presentations and workshops at conferences through out the country, held 182 training sessions for companies and corporations, 87 presentations at religious institutions, 183 workshops for educators and teachers and dozens of other presentations to a wide variety of diverse groups. We have been interviewed in the media by radio, television and newspapers 162 times about transgender issues. Over the last 25 years we have given 1,240 presentations involving nearly 47,000 participants.

    Over the last 25 years we have given presentations at 129 different Colleges and Universities in 29 states through out the country including: (number of different schools in each state)

Minnesota - 37, New York - 15, Wisconsin - 11, Iowa - 9, Virginia - 5, California - 5, Illinois - 5, Massachusetts - 5, Indiana - (5), Pennsylvania - 5, Virginia - 5, Michigan - 3, Missouri - 3, Kansas - 3, Florida - 2, North Carolina - 2, North Dakota - 2, Ohio - 2, South Carolina - 2, Delaware, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Montana, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and the Netherlands.

       For a complete list of all the places we have been in since our beginning in 1991 click here.

Highlights from
the last 8 years include:

*    Keynote / Featured Speaker at:
University of Minnesota, Law School - MN
College, Ohio Wesleyan - OH
Church, Good Samaritan, Edina - MM
Slippery Rock University of Penn. - PA
University, Northern State - SD
College, Lincoln Land, Springfield - IL
College, St. Scholastica, Duluth - MN
College, Westminster - PA
College, Gustavus Adolphus - MN
University, California State - Chico - CA, Feature Presentation
College, Worcester - MA, Feature Presentation
College, Coe - IA, Feature Presentation
University, Moorhead State - MN, Keynote - Women's Studies Graduation
UW - Stout, Menomonie - WI, Feature Presentation
University, Longwood - VA, Feature Presentation
College, St. Olaf - MN, Feature Presentation
University, Morrisville State - NY, Feature Presentation
University, Virginia - VA, Feature Presentation
University, Millikin - IL, Feature Speaker
College, of the Holy Cross - MA, Feature Speaker
College, Elmherst - IL, Feature Presentation
UW Oshkosh, WI, Coming Wut Week Keynote
UW Rock County - WI, Millikin - IL, Feature Presentation
College, Beloit - WI, Feature Presentation
University, Bemidji State, MN, Feature Presentation
University, St. Thomas, MN, Feature Speaker
University, SUNY Potsdam - NY, Pride Week Keynote
College, Grinnell - IA, Feature Speaker
University, Marquette - WI, Feature Speaker
University, Drake - IA, Pride Week Feature Speaker
College, Elizabethtown - PA, Women's Month Feature Speaker
College, Elmira - NY, Pride Week Keynote
University, Alfred - NY, Feature Presentation
College, Coe - IA, Feature Speaker
University, MN State Mankato - MN, Feature Presentation



*    We Trained Employees at:
Minnesota Corrections Department - MN
US Department of Justice
Laura Baker Services, MN
Pentair/Hoffman Technical Products, Inc - MN
Winona State University, Law School - MN
Hennepin County Juvenile Advisory Committee - MN
Hospital - VA - Minneapolis, MN
At-Home Apartments - MN
Millikin University, - Staff Ally Training- IL
Macalester College, Staff workshop & training - MN
Bloomington Human Rights Commission - MN
Cypress Semiconductor Inc. MN
Cargill, Wichita - KS
CalOptima - Orange County, CA
Grinnell College, Faculty, Staff, Administration Training - IA
North Hennepin College, MN
PFund - Board of Directors - MN
Hamline Univ. Faculty LGBT Issues Forum - MN
University of Minnesota - Orientation Leaders, MN
Best Buy Corporation, MN
Bloomington Public Schools Health Conference - MN
Ramsey County Social Services - MN
RAAN Youth Support Network, Bemidji - MN
CADA Shelter/Women's Center, MN
Bloomington Human Rights Commission, MN
Tennent Co, MN
University of Virginia, VA
XCel Energy, MN
State of Minnesota - Department of Agriculture, MN
United Way, MN
Minnesota Public Television - KTCA, Staff Training, MN
Pentair Technical Products, Inc
PPG Industries, OH
Maple Grove High School, MN



*    High School presentations for students:
Minneapolis Public Schools - Southwest MN
Minneapolis Public Schools - Henry MN
Minneapolis Public Schools - Anthony Jr. High MN
Irondale High School - MN
Buffalo High School - NY
Eden Prairie High School - MN
Harding High School - St. Paul, MN
Maple Grove High School - MN



*    Conferences we presented at and/or had booths:
MN Public Defenders Office Conference
Creating Change Conference - MN
Education Minnesota Teachers Conference '11
School Health Educators - MN (2)
Midwest MBLGTACC - '07 & 08
Multicultural Forum 19th - MN (3)
U of M - All Gender Health MN (2)
Minnesota Social Service Assocciation - MN
SUNY Potsdam - NY
Minnesota OUT Campus Conference, Mpls. - MN;
Education MN - State Teachers Conference - MN
MN Adol. Pregn. Prev. Conference - MN
Edge Life - Fargo & Duluth & Minneapolis - MN (2)
Minnesita Holistic Conference - MN
Mankato Spirit Conference - MN
LGBT Health Conference - MN
Spirit Spectacular Conference - MN



*    Media Interviews/Articles - Newspaper:
Lavender Magazine - MN, P fund Newsletter - MN, Minneapolis Star/Tribune (2), St. Paul Pioneer Press - MN, Rainbow Reader - IN, Coe College "Cosmos" Newspaper - IA, Marquette University Tribune - WI, Grinnell College S & B - IA, University of St. Thomas - MN, San Francisco Times - CA, Bemidji Pioneer - MN, Janesville Gazette - WI, Media Matters for America - Newark, NJ - St. Cloud Times, MN


*    Radio & Television:
Spirit Talk Radio - MN - Feature Presentation, Host KFAI's "'T' Time with Debbie Davis" - monthly radio program for 14th year & Co-Host "Fresh Fruit" Radio - MN, KFAN - FM -107.1 - MN, Television - "BiCities" MN (2), Minnesota Public Radio, KSTP-FM - Kevyn Burger show - MN, WAIH "Naked Issues" - NY, KFAI - "Old timers show & interview" - MN


*    Publications - Book Chapters
Davis, Debra (2009). "Transgender Issues in the Workplace: HRD's Newest Challenge/Opportunity"

In Rocco, T., Gedro, J., & Kormanik, M. (Eds). GLBT issues in HRD: Balancing inquiry and advocacy. Single issue journal of the Advances editorial board of the Academy of Human Resource Development.

Davis, Debra & Hill, Robert (co-authors) (2009). "Transsexuality: Challenging the Institutionalized Sex/Gender Binary"

In Hill, R.. Groce, A. (Eds). Adult and Higher Education in Queer Contexts: Power, Politics, and Pedagogy.




*    Feature Film
""T" is for Teacher" Debra was one of the subjects of the feature film - UCLA, CA



*    Professional Plays and Shows:
Play, "Looking for Normal" - The Garage Theater, cast member and resource - MN
Play, "Other" - Pillsbury House Theater, cast member and resource - MN



       We were also consulted by employers, law enforcement, human rights agencies and nonprofit service providers regarding policies that affect transgender people. We have worked with elementary, middle schools and senior high schools, training students, staff and parents on LGBT issues and on how to integrate these issues into their policies and curriculum. We have helped dozen's of transgender people with workplace transitions, accessing health insurance for gender reassignment services, name changes, obtaining replacement birth certificates and passports.

       This award winning web site, www.debradavis.org, has been very successful. More than 150 pages of information. We update the site often with new information, photos of events and colleges we visit and new articles of interest.

       Our Executive Director, Debra Davis, has also been honored for her work and activism in the LGBTA communities. Some of her awards include:


*     "2014 Debra Davis Transgender Advocacy Award" UW Stout, WI. Named after Debra & given each year starting in 2013"

*     "2010 Woman of Distinction" award - Century College, MN

*     "2009 - Diversity speaker of the Year" award - Millikin University, IL

*     Curve Magazine's "2006 - Making Waves Award" - "One of six trans activists every dyke should know about."

*     "2005 PRIDE Award" for people who "embody PRIDE: rallying individuality, diversity & equality."

*     Human Rights Campaign - "2001 Bryan Coyle Leadership Award."

*     Lavender Magazine’s “1999 Person of the Year.”

*     Twin Cities Pride 2000 celebration's "Grand Marshal" (Minnesota’s summer LGBT celebration with over 400,000 participants).

*     Voted Best of GLBT Community Activist in 2000 by a “Creme de la Creme” reader’s poll.

*     Recipient of the 1999 “Human Rights Fund Award” by Philanthrofund Foundation.

*     Recipient of the “1998 Acts of Resistance Award” by GLBT Youth Network Building Conference.

*     2004, 1998, 1996, 1995, “Spokesperson of the Year” by the City of Lakes Crossgender Community.

*    "Strength, Courage & Leadership While Working for Equality & Justice Award" in 2003 by OutFront Minnesota.

*     2004 ”Outstanding Leadership in Community Activism Award”, by Madison Transgender Association.


       We are leading the way in the transgender community in our fight to keep the human rights we fought so hard to acquire, for ALL people. We continue to play a major roll in defending these rights. There is still much work to do.




Gender Education Center

www.debradavis.org
gec at debradavis.org
P.O. Box 1861
Minneapolis, MN 55311 USA
(763) 424-5445


A non-profit Minnesota corporation of differently gendered people dedicated to support, advocacy and education.







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