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Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner Cruise — April 30
Thursday Night, the entire conference moves down to the river for a scenic cruise along the Delaware River. Read more about this special evening on the Conference Home Page.Musical Evenings
Melissa Clark — Friday, May 1 at the Dinner Buffet
Melissa Clark brings a unique perspective to her audience through her music. An activist in the LGBT community for years, she has spoken on behalf of transgender rights in churches, colleges, and in her home state capital of Albany, New York since the mid 1990's. Her life experience has included transitioning on the job in 2002, and facing the threat of colon cancer three years later.Through two tumor surgeries and chemotherapy, Melissa kept a positive attitude, which is reflected in her music presentations. Always keeping music as a part of her life, since she learned to play guitar, "in another life, completely," Melissa's songwriting took on new depth and her guitar playing found another dimension as she recovered from medical crises. A church guitarist for an LGBT Catholic liturgical group for over ten years, her faith as well as her pride were brought into focus in sharing a powerful and positive message of hope for transgender individuals as well as anyone who listens to her words.
In addition to her twice monthly Catholic Masses in Syracuse, Melissa has performed at Pride Events in Syracuse, Utica, and Sayville, Long Island. She's played in coffeehouses in Syracuse, Hamilton, Clinton, Schenectady, Ithaca, and Erie, Pennsylvania for LGBT and "Mainstream" audiences. Her message of unity through diversity reminds us of how similar our various journeys are, even under differing circumstances — in short, how small a world it really is!
Melissa brings her various messages to the listener in ways that evoke responses from the audience: rhythmic foot tapping to her blues, a smile sharing her humor in such songs as "I Am Not A Lesbian," or simply enjoying the music to words that linger on afterwards. Melissa's presentation has been described as being something of a Sesame Street for grownups — in that it entertains, educates, and remains with the listener, all as part of the show.
Imagine a vocal blending of Tracy Chapman, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Bonnie Raitt, and you will have an idea of Melissa's singing voice. She adds in some acoustic blues, older rock, folk and pop styles, all influenced by a variety of artists from the 60's to the present, and filtered by her own perspective, words, and music. Sit down and listen, and you will get the full force of her take on life itself. As they say, life is not a dress rehearsal, and Melissa has brought the "real deal" in her songs to sing, to share, and for you to enjoy!
Read more about Melissa at her MySpace Page and from the Syracuse New Times
Georgie Jessup — Saturday, May 2 at the Gala Banquet
Georgie Jessup is a three time WAMMIE (Washington Area Music Association award) nominated singer-songwriter, a 2004 Indian Summer Music Awards nominee, and musician of extraordinary passion. S/he has an equally extraordinary ability to encourage audiences to look deeply into their prejudices and other transgressions. Consequently, audiences tend to respond emotionally, if not always lovingly.Georgie has developed a successful career by challenging musical styles, personal identifications, and storybook history lessons. S/he has released four CD's: American Holocaust, Sweet Grass Smoke, Winkte & Crazy Sacred Dogs, and Woman in A Man's Suit.
Georgie's American Holocaust is a controversial CD. The title caused the album to be banned at many radio stations before anyone listened to the music. Those who listened heard carefully crafted songs illuminating the dignity of all people, and they heard an artist pleading for the preservation of a country founded on the principles of life, liberty, and justice for all.
"Georgie sings from the heart, like a rare flower in a wilderness. She speaks to us about the deepest issues. Issues that all of us should care about, but so many of us pretend don't affect us. Georgie reminds us that we are all related in our human condition and struggle. And Georgie reinforces that we are all trapped by gender and physical being, and that the brightest life and light we have is our soul." — Candye Kane, Sire Records r&b/blues singer-songwriter
Georgie Jessup's new album, Woman In A Man's Suit is a complex, love-filled tribute to all who walk through a black and white world in their Technicolor sneakers. The idea for the album began in a dream she had in 1988 in which her maternal grandmother appeared with a personal message. Ten years later, Georgie came across a photo circa 1912 of her grandmother proudly dressed in a three-piece man's suit. That photo started the creative process that became this album. Still, it took more then six years for the album to be produced.
As a singer-songwriter, Georgie is well-known for somewhat outrageous, politically-tinged, a bit vitriolic and always funky rock, so some people will be surprised to learn the thread that connects this multi-layered journey of Woman in A Man's suit is ultimately love.
Read more about Georgie at her home page and at CD Baby