Holding Ground

A Relational Space for Trans, Non-binary, & Gender Expansive Leaders

a 3-month container
FACILITATED BY ALEX IANTAFFI X TRISTAN KATZ

July 18, 25 | August 8, 22 | September 12, 26
11-1pm PST | 1-3pm CST | 2-4pm EST | 7-9pm GMT

live | online | sliding scale pricing
no one turned away for lack of funds

In a world where trans, non-binary, and gender expansive people continue to experience erasure, tokenization, and violence—this space will be a co-weaved offering of resistance, care, and compassion.

Facilitated by Tristan Katz and Alex Iantaffi, this circle invites trans, non-binary, and gender expansive leaders to gather in mutuality—to be witnessed, to process, to build genuine relationships, and to practice collective care.

This is not a training, workshop, or networking event. It is a relational space where your full self is welcome.

We’ll explore themes such as: 

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Navigating leadership and visibility in increasingly violent times

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Resourcing, boundaries, protection, and more

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Holding space for complexity

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Embodiment exploration and somatic activities

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Practices of self and collective care

We meet twice a month for 2 hour-sessions, over the course of three months. Each session is gently held but co-created: we will offer grounding, structure, and themes, and trust that the wisdom in the room will guide the conversation. Note: this is not a drop-in container—we expect participants to attend as much as possible given…life.

Meet the Co-facilitators

  • Alex Iantaffi, PhD, MS, SEP, CST, CST-S, LMFT is an author, family therapist, WPATH certified gender specialist and mentor, AASECT certified sex therapist and supervisor, Somatic ExperiencingⓇ practitioner, AAMFT approved clinical supervisor and supervisor mentor. Alex is a Founding Member and Past Chair of the Trans and Queer interest network of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and Past President of the Minnesota Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT). They were the recipient of the 2023 AASECT Humanitarian Award, the 2019 MAMFT Distinguished Service Award, the 2013 Twin Cities Deaf Pride Community Organization Award, the 2012 Breaking the Silence Award at the University of Minnesota, and the 2000 Best Dissertation Award from the British Educational Research Association. Alex has researched, presented and published extensively on sexuality, gender, disability, relationships, and HIV, including how technology can support both prevention and treatment. They are a conditionally white, trans masculine, nonbinary, bi queer, polyamorous, disabled, neurodivergent, Italian immigrant with citizenship privilege and a parent who has been living on Dakota and Anishinaabe territories, currently known as Minnesota since 2008. Alex is the author of award-winning book "Gender Trauma: healing cultural, social, and historical gendered trauma", editor of “Trans and Disabled”, and co-author, with MJ Barker, of the books "How to Understand Your Gender: a practical guide for exploring who you are",  “Life Isn’t Binary”, “How To Understand Your Sexuality”, “How to Understand Your Relationships”, and “Hell Yeah Self-Care: a Trauma-Informed Workbook”. They also host the podcast Gender Stories. You can find out more about them at www.alexiantaffi.com or follow them on Instagram, Threads or BlueSky at @xtaffi and @genderstories

  • Tristanis a business consultant, conscious marketing strategist, and equity-inclusion facilitator with a lifelong commitment to human rights and justice. Tristan supports individuals and organizations in aligning their values with their messaging through an intersectional, anti-oppression lens. Their work centers authenticity, relationship, and accessibility, and they’ve collaborated with authors, educators, and cultural leaders, as well as organizations like Stanford University, HubSpot, Portland Public Schools, and Port of Portland. Currently, Tristan serve as COO and Director of Programming at Fruition Growth Network. He is a longtime student of yoga (and occasional yoga teacher), a Yoga Journal game-changer (2021), and former board member of Accessible Yoga, a non-profit dedicated to ensuring accessibility and equity in yoga spaces to people of all backgrounds. At the core of everything Tristan offers is the belief that marketing can be a tool for connection, truth-telling, and cultural change—not just sales. They are a white, trans masc, non-binary, queer, polyamorous, neurodivergent and mostly abled human who currently resides on the land of the Cowlitz, Clackamas, Umatilla, and many other tribes—colonized as Portland, Oregon. You can learn more about Tristan and their work here.

+ You identify as trans, non-binary, or gender expansive

+ You are in a role of leadership, care, education, or facilitation

+ You long for deeper connection with peers who share lived experience

+ You’re navigating burnout, visibility tension, or isolation—and craving support

We believe in relationship over transaction, and in liberation through community.

This space is for you if…

Schedule, Details, + Registration

Dates: July 18, 25 | August 8, 22 | September 12, 26
Time: 11-1pm PST | 1-3pm CST | 2-4pm EST | 7-9pm GMT

Access: Live, online, captioned; optional camera use; come as you are.

Pricing: Pay what you can; suggested sliding scale: $20-$200.
No one turned away for lack of funds. Sign up for a low as $1.

FAQs

  • If you’re asking this question, this space is likely for you. There is no one way to be trans, non-binary, gender expansive, or gender nonconforming. We welcome the messy, evolving, expansive truth of gender. If your identity or experience doesn’t fit neatly into boxes—and you long for connection in an affirming space—you belong here.

  • We define leadership broadly. You don’t need a title or platform. If you’re someone who holds space for others, guides, teaches, facilitates, organizes, heals, creates, nurtures, or otherwise shows up in service—especially within your community—you are a leader in our eyes. Leadership can be quiet, relational, emergent, and grassroots.

  • No. While Alex is a licensed therapist and Tristan is an experienced facilitator, this space is not therapy. It’s a peer support circle—relational, spacious, and non-clinical. We'll explore embodiment, care practices, and community connection, but this is not a substitute for mental health care.

  • Each session will offer grounding, themes, and structure—but we’re not here to lecture or teach. You’re invited to show up as you are. We’ll collectively shape the tone and flow of each gathering through sharing, silence, witnessing, and curiosity. Your voice, pace, and presence matter.

  • Absolutely not. There is no pressure to speak. Participation can look like listening, being in the space with your camera off, typing in the chat, or showing up silently. All forms of engagement are welcome and valid.

  • All sessions will include live captioning. You are welcome to keep your camera off, take breaks as needed, and move or stretch during our time together. If you have access needs you'd like to share in advance, we’ll do our best to accommodate—please reach out.

  • No. To protect confidentiality and foster a sense of presence and safety, we will not be recording the sessions. This space is meant to be ephemeral, relational, and rooted in real-time experience.

  • That’s okay. Life is complex. While we hope you’ll attend as consistently as possible to build trust and community, you are not required to attend every session. You are always welcome to return whenever you’re able.

  • No. This is an affinity space exclusively for people who identify as trans, non-binary, or gender expansive. We love and need our allies—and this offering is meant to center and affirm our own collective experience and care.

Ready to join us?

If you're feeling the call to be part of this co-created space of mutual support and care, we invite you to register below.

Have questions or need more information? ↴