About

What are the Moving Trans History Forward conferences?
Moving Trans History Forward conferences (MTHF) are biennial, international, interdisciplinary, and intergenerational conferences put on by the Chair in Transgender Studies at the University of Victoria. MTHF conferences are not just for scholars, or just for community people. They are a unique blend that create opportunities for cross-fertilization among members of the general public, students and faculty, artists, activists, Trans+ people, family members, allies, and service providers. MTHF conferences address both our history and the crucial issues that impact us today and into the future—locally, nationally, and globally.

These highly-anticipated four-day gatherings happen every two years in the early spring. MTHF 2025 will take place both in person at the University of Victoria's NEW Conference Centre, Sŋéqə ʔéʔləŋ (Sngequ House), and online March 27–30 (#MTHF25).

How is MTHF hybrid?
The online part of the conference will be hosted on Zoom Events. In-person registrants will have access to both the on-campus experience as well as the online portal. However, those who purchase an online registration will only access the conference via Zoom. Regardless of how you join, everyone will have simultaneous access to the same content.

Scheduled programming runs from Thursday evening to Sunday midday. Events will include:
  • An opening reception on Thursday evening.
  • Concurrent sessions throughout the day on Friday and Saturday. During these sessions, two or more panels of speakers or workshops may occur simultaneously, requiring you to choose what you would like to attend.
  • Plenaries, which are special programming like keynote speakers and our elder and youth panels that everyone can attend at the same time; nothing else is scheduled during these blocks of time.
  • Food, included with in-person registration. 
Check out our 2023 program to see what a typical MTHF conference schedule looks like.

Moving Trans History Forward 2025 is one event with two ways to experience it. A main goal of the conference is to provide an integrated experience for both online and in-person registrants; both groups will feel as if they are participating in the same event in the same room.

  1. If you purchase an online registration, your experience of the conference will be entirely digital, accessed through Zoom Events.
  2. Please ensure you have Zoom downloaded on your device. We recommend a computer or laptop with a stable internet connection for the best experience.
  3. Through our Zoom Events hub, you will be able to browse and select the sessions you are interested in attending.
  4. To help connect the in-person audience with the audience at home, conference organizers will encourage online participants to contribute during question periods via the chat, and allowing you to keep your camera on.
  1. If you purchase an in-person registration, you will have access to the conference both online via Zoom Events, and on campus at the University of Victoria.
  2. All concurrent sessions and plenaries will happen at the University of Victoria's NEW Conference Centre, Sŋéqə ʔéʔləŋ (Sngequ House)
  3. The conference schedule will be available online through our website, as well as through our Zoom Events portal and in the form of physical copies distributed at the in-person part of the conference.

Sessions in the past have included topics ranging from Trans+ history, hormones and healthcare, gender euphoria, the future of Nonbinary, Two-Spirit traditions, to the visibility of trans women in heavy metal. We have also featured presentations focusing on the intersections of gender identity, race, and ability, as well as analyses of various experiences of being Trans+ on the Internet. We encourage the submission of creative works, whether they be art for display or workshops involving group participation. Please note that our venue will have limitations regarding publicly displaying creative works.

September 2024 – March 2025

Decide what format/style your contribution will be

  1. How you will be presenting?
    1. Online via Zoom
    2. In-person at the University of Victoria
  2. Individual presentation
    1. This means that you will be assigned to a panel with other speakers discussing related topics.
    2. For an individual presentation, expect 15 minutes for speaking time, plus additional time for questions at the end of the session.
    3. There will be a moderator to introduce the speakers and to facilitate a short question-and-answer period afterward.
  3. Multi-person panel
    1. For this option, you will organize your own group to present on a panel together.
    2. Each person will have 10-20 minutes to speak depending on how many speakers are on your panel.
    3. There will be a moderator to introduce the speakers and to facilitate a short question-and-answer period afterward.
  4. Interactive workshop
    1. For this option, you will come prepared to lead an activity or group discussion.
    2. You will be given approximately 30 minutes.
  5. Pre-recorded 5-to-7-minute presentation
    1. For this option, you will prepare a pre-recorded video presentation of no more than 7 minutes.
    2. We will make it available to attendees to watch online at any point during the conference.
  6. Creative work
    1. This could be visual art, sculpture, poetry, music, theatre, etc.
    2. Please note: limited in-person display/performance space will be available.

Respond to our Call for Proposals (CFP)

  1. Review the CFP Invitation.
  2. Fill out the CFP SurveyMonkey form by November 12, 2024.
  3. Wait for our response. Replies will be sent out in December, 2024.
  4. If your proposal is accepted, you must register for the conference by January 20th, 2025.
    • All presenters whose proposals are accepted will need to register and pay registration fees to attend the conference (online or in person). A limited number of financial subsidies will be available.
  5. Send us your bio(s), abstract, and headshot(s).
    • In early February, 2025, conference organizers will send instructions on how to submit your bio(s), abstract, and headshot(s). 
    • In late February or early March, conference organizers will notify you of your placement on the schedule and your allotted time.
  6. All concurrent sessions will be recorded in Zoom; however, they will NOT be publicly posted without presenter permission. If your presentation is part of one of the concurrent sessions, we will contact you after the conference for permission to publicly post your presentation materials online.

Prepare for MTHF

  1. Join our newsletter (send an email to mthfcon@uvic.ca and ask to join).
  2. Finalize your presentation (please keep your allotted time in mind).
  3. Book travel & accommodations if needed.
  4. Follow us on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Tell your friends!
  5. Keep an eye on the MTHF website for details.
  6. Ensure you have Zoom downloaded on your computer and that you are signed up as a user. A Basic (free) account will be sufficient for the conference.
  7. The conference platform is Zoom Events. We will use the email address associated with your Zoom account to add you to the conference's Zoom Event.

March 27 – March 30, 2025

Log in to Zoom Events

  1. Review the conference schedule and select the sessions you wish to attend. 
Deliver your presentation
  1. If presenting in person, note your time/location and arrive at least 15 minutes early.
  2. If presenting online, note your time/Zoom meeting link and arrive at least 15 minutes early.
  3. We will provide more detailed instructions closer to the time.
Meet other Trans+ people and allies
  1. Participate in the online and/or in-person networking opportunities available throughout the conference.
Attend other events and activities throughout the conference

April 2025 - May 2025

Post-conference communications

  1. A survey will be sent out to all attendees.
  2. You will be invited to share your presentation video/slides to be archived and publicly posted for future reference.