Charlene Arcila's struggle began the moment she was born with male sex organs. The midwife who delivered Arcila told her family she'd grow up to be gay. Arcila identified with the female gender as early as nine; despite this, she presented as a man, married a woman and had a child by age 20. A year later, she left the marriage to pursue life as a female. "I needed to get acceptance with me first and foremost," Arcila explains. Now 43, she's dedicated her life to embracing her true identity.

Trans-Health Conference PLanning committee

Arcila's story reflects the challenges that thousands of transgender Americans face every year. As a minority within a minority, one of their biggest challenges is proper medical care. Arcila, an AIDS survivor, co-founded Philadelphia's Trans-Health Conference (THC) to act as an intermediary between health professionals and the city's TG community. The conference is primarily funded by the Mazzoni Center, a clinic that serves the specific needs of LGBT individuals.

The three-day conference offers a variety of health resources for TG people. There are free wellness clinics, and one full day is dedicated to educating health care providers on how to accommodate TG patients. There are also workshops dealing with topics like spirituality and TG tendencies during adolescence. Keynote speakers include Bodies Like Us co-founder Betsy Driver and FTM transgender advocate Alex Leffers.

First held at the Arch Street Friends Meeting House, the THC's considerable success necessitated a move to a larger venue. THC 2006 will be held at the Convention Center. "It's grown every year by half a day," says FTM conference treasurer Joe Ippolito. Gender-neutral bathrooms will be provided to address the public facility issue, often an area of immense frustration for TG people.

The THC instructs transgender people how to work effectively with doctors, assist with research and ask pointed questions. "It's very important for TG individuals to advocate on behalf of themselves," THC co-chair Jayden Sampson says. The event will also address insurance, where standards of coverage are sometimes blurred. "Often, if you have a job that offers health care to you as Betty Jones, [and] then you become Bob Jones, the health company still views you as Betty," explains Ippolito. "Bob now has female anatomy, but he can't receive a pap smear as Bob Jones. It's tough to get through the system."

Improving TG health care takes effort from both sides of the exam table. Accordingly, Providers' Day ensures that area physicians, social workers and counselors are trained in offering proper services. Dr. Marci Bowers, a transsexual surgeon who pioneered modern gender reassignment procedures, will present on the surgery.

Arcila, who reconnected with her now 23-year-old daughter in 2003, is confident the THC provides a foundation of knowledge for those still searching for their own form of acceptance. "This is a conference for them, put on by people like them," she says. "We have a great deal of differences. This is an opportunity to learn about these differences."

Fifth Annual Trans-Health Conference Thu.-Sat., March 2-4, hours vary, free, Philadelphia Convention Center, 12th and Arch sts., 610-247-7586, www.trans-health.org.