Danielle Kayden Garnich

Danielle Garnich has been employed with Boeing since 1979. She has been married 31 years and has 3 adult age children. Danielle came out as a Male-to-Female Transsexual to her spouse in 2002 and employer in 2003. She had her GRS surgery 9/9/05 with Dr. Marci Bowers in Trinidad, Colorado. Danielle and partner enjoy art, reading, Shakespeare and Celtic Festivals, music, and is actively planning their retirement on their 15 acres in Los Lunas, New Mexico.

Danielle and Michelle Smith teach the following class:

Preserving the Marriage, Family and/or Committed Relationship Involving a Transgender Partner/Spouse

All too often upon the disclosure of being transgender from cross-dressing to transition do marriages, families, and committed relationships fall apart. This strain manifests itself both personally as well as professionally with a resultant loss in productivity both in your personal life as well as on the job. This workshop examines the key elements discovered by the presenters in their own transitions and from talking to others to arrive at strategies for increasing the likelihood that a marriage and a family can survive.

This workshop will include: 1) An exercise to help the transgender participants understand themselves and their ability to relate to their spouses, family, or significant other what is going on in their lives with respect to being transgender and the level of understanding and support this important part of the transgender individual's life is capable of exhibiting; 2) the lessons learned by the presenters during their journeys as a transgender individual; 3) some strategies to employ during the participant's journey as a couple with a transgender partner; and 4) Open discussions of issues on the minds of the audience.