XVII Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association Symposium
31 October - 4 November 2001, Galveston, Texas, U.S.A.

Explanation of the Rikki Swin Institute

SWIN, RIKKI U.S.A.

RSI, a non profit foundation in downtown Chicago, works to improve the social acceptance of transpersons. Transpersons include those with gender identity issues from crossdressers to transsexuals. Transpersons are marginalized in large part due to sensationalist media treatment like that of Jerry Springer, Maury Povich and others. RSI has been formed to show transpersons as valuable, contributing, respectful and respectable members of society.

The Institute conducts itself in non-activist ways. Rather than fight for, and demand acceptance for transpersons, RSI prefers methods that enable transpersons to fit in. There are many activist organizations within the transperson community; RSI is not one of them. RSI also works within the community to suggest professional and less disquieting approaches to acceptance.

The Institute has four primary activities it engages in while working toward its goal.

1. Public library with archives, which is said to be the largest single collection of its kind.
2. Conference co-sponsorship, which brings professionals from all areas of transperson care to local area conferences.
3. Digital Video Education presenting quarterly, topic specific productions, distributed free to subscribing professionals on DVD format.
4. Anecdotal research involving transperson volunteers, undergoing contra-hormonal therapy, to shed light on interesting questions about hormonally induced gender differences.

RSI represents a 3 1/2 million dollar dedication and belief in its purpose. It recently (March 25 2001) held it’s grand opening, attended by over 400 people, including the media and members of the transperson community. The event received considerable local, national, and international coverage including a NPR feature that reached over 11 million listeners.