Comments taken from workshop evaluations or sent directly from participants.
With warmth, humor, and passion, Mr. Lurie opened this audience's heart so that they could also open their minds to information that challenges our culture's fundamental binary organization of sex and gender categories. Mr. Lurie succeeded in opening minds with skill and grace, making him a superior presenter on transgender issues, perhaps the best of the best. Mr. Lurie's compact, engaging, and accessible presentation to a lay audience at my agency succeeded in conveying in only a few short hours virtually all of the key concepts related to American transgender history and experience.
-D. May, Training Supervisor, AIDS-Related Community Services, May 2008.
I wanted to send you a letter to thank you for presenting to us the other day. First of all, you are a highly skilled presenter and educator. You're a natural and completely authentic. You speak with the perfect balance of information/facts and sensitivity/caring. The listener can't help but become invested in what you are presenting. Your materials and personal stories were thought-provoking and moving and throughout this week I have been continually thinking of many of the subjects you raised -- another sign of an effective trainer/advocate. I want to thank you for coming to speak with us and hope to work with you again. -Detective Sergeant, Vermont State Police, March 2008.
American College Health Association, Annual Meeting 2007 ("Transgender Issues for Mental Health Providers")
Best session I’ve been to so far! Very educational and engaging.
This was a fantastic presentation that brought a ton of insights for me as well as tools and techniques in my practice. The presenter was fantastic, informative and well-spoken.
Wonderful presenter
Excellent! Excellent speaker and information. This information will change the way I approach and support transgender patients in our clinic. Extremely helpful. Best session of this conference.
The best presentation I have attended.
Wow! 20 years of being a sexual health educator and this was one of the BEST I’ve ever seen. Thank you!
Excellent presentation! Everyone should participate in this presentation who is in Student Health.
Very well presented and good practical information (especially for Best Practices). I wish there was more time.
Thank you for enlightening me! I will take this info back and hopefully make changes to our non-discrimination statements.
Would like a longer session, or one that continues where this left off.
Thank you. Very informative and good activities.
Excellent presentation. Terrific exercises.
Great info, well presented. Thank you.
American College Health Association, Annual Meeting 2006 ("Transgender Issues in College Health")
Excellent, thought-provoking, fun.
Good info! I’m still processing this in my mind, but have a better understanding because of your info.
Excellent speaker—Keep him coming back to conference!
Great Presentation. Recommend speaker to all campuses.
The information presented was just right and was very informative.
Of all the selected sessions I went to, I’ve learned the most from your session. Thank you.
Very good distinctions and definitions between gender identity, sexual orientation, etc.
The presentation was amazing and informative. It’s nice to hear the information that is often overlooked. The stories of violence and injustice to transgenders effectively conveyed the speaker’s ideas. Great job! Great interaction with audience.
Excellent lecture. Extremely informative
This was one of the best sessions I’ve attended. I hope he goes to Texas! Thank you!
Sam was a fascinating presenter. I learned so much about transgender issues. The most interesting presentation I have been to!
One of the most informative presentations I’ve ever seen at ACHA in the last 8 years. Thank you very much!
Best presentation of conference.
Excellent, excellent presentation! Very helpful! Lots of good info delivered quite well.
Excellent. Have him back!
Transgender Health Conference, 2007: "Transgender Issues in College Health"
Great educator.
Samuel is a phenomenal presenter. He is able to weave together these issues in a way that is accessible and enjoyable. The group exercise was great!
It was presented in a very engaging, understandable language.
Very useful. Our university is about to really work hard on gender identity.
Experienced presenter
Knowledge and experience of presenter.
Great definition of terms, showed complexity
HIV/AIDS Service Providers:
"Thanks again. My agency really needed this (and I was getting exhausted being the only resource here.) You're awesome.!" --Outreach worker, ASO in Western NY
"I do not have enough words to describe your training session. Awesome! Continue to advocate, continue to educate, continue to open the eyes of others on the needs of this population. I will always remember this training." --HIV Advocate, Indianapolis, Indiana
"Thanks for an excellent presentation. Wish it could have been longer. Your passion, care, sensitivity and knowledge are wonderful! I'd love to attend all your workshops." --Nurse Practioner, CT
"You explained things so clearly and with patience and love. It is nice to sit in a room and not feel defensive for my ignorance. " --Counseling and Testing provider, CT
"You made such an impression on everything for me. As I nurse, I will not be the same again. My care of patients will be impacted greatly by your training and it has taken me to a much higher level. Thank you." --Nurse and Clinic Coordinator, New Haven, CT
"Oh my God...This workshop was awesome! Informative, useful. Samuel was great--playful, knowledgeable, articulate, humorous. His own stories and self-disclosure added a genuineness to the workshop." --Maine Social Worker
"I have attended many workshops on sexuality and gender issues and have presented a few of my own. I have never experienced a workshop as empathic, compelling and informative as yours. I do not believe it is a stretch to say your workshop/presentation was mesmerizing.... what are your thoughts about coming to Michigan to present the same or a similar workshop? ...I cannot imagine another presenter/trainer who would be more qualified/talented to do this for us." -Michigan HIV/STDs Outreach Worker
Comments following presentation at the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association annual meeting, Toronto, Canada:
"I really appreciated your talk, and I would say that it was the most significant and inspiring workshop session I attended during the conference." -MD, University Health Center
"Your enthusiasm and bright outlook are contagious. I really enjoyed your presentation at the workshop. You are a talented and engaging teacher. It would be great if you were part of the plenary sessions next year". -MD, private practice in Pennsylvania
New York State DOH AIDS Institute Trainings, 2003 (Full day trainings)
Long Island:
I was able to ask questions in a comfortable, non-judgmental setting. I love the quote "secrets make you sick"!
This trainings made me think out of the box. I was reluctant about the role play, but after it was ok-I felt good and my education was expanded. This training was wonderful. Thank you!
The personal experiences of the trainer added to its importance.
I learned a tremendous amount and the presenter was excellent. I will be able to be an advocate to transgendered individuals.
Manhattan:
The realness and honesty of training.
I'll be able to ask more open-ended questions with compassion.
The information had me overjoyed because of the population I work with. I will be able to be less judging and offer more listening to clients.
Helped me realize that I have to face my own personal bias to address these issues
Openness, honesty, respect and well-informed presenter.
I want more and more info. This was very consciousness raising
Coming from a position of compassion is essential
The speaker had a wealth of information and had an openness in presenting. This was also a great networking opportunity.
I will be able to bring ideas back on how to make my programs/agency more trans-friendly
The world of transgender people was explained. I liked the seminar and will be more tolerant in working with transgender people.
Nothing needs to be improved. This training was very clear and effective.
I appreciated the organization of the presentation, with time for explaining grey areas.
I will recognize my preconceptions and try to be a more effective provider. Would like training to be more than one day.
Trainer was dynamic and clear as a bell!
The Bronx:
The syllabus gave very good definitions and the trainer was really informative.
I appreciated the safety, confidentiality and intimacy amongst the group.
I will be able to advocate for trans people at my agency on a more comfortable level.
The ease of the trainer in making everyone comfortable.
This gave me a foundation to begin to understand trans people and issues effecting them. The trainer was engaging and knowledgeable. I liked everything.
New York State Department of Health workshops in Buffalo, Bronx and Manhattan, NY, Sept, 2002:
Great training, great trainer.
Instructor was highly responsive to questions.
Well organized, well-developed, well disbursed.
One of the BEST trainings I have ever attended!
Samuel Lurie was the perfect choice to facilitate this training. I walked away with a better understanding of the "trans" community.
Great training-very educational and increased my awareness.
This material needs to be presented to anyone who is a provider.
Samuel was a great trainer and it seems that there is a great demand for this sort of training. I would love to send additional staff from my agency-if they could get off the waiting list!
A follow-up (i.e. Part II, Part III, a MUST!) Train the trainer program also necessary.
Samuel Lurie was extremely insightful and engaging.
Through this training I am able to service transgendered community with a better understanding of their needs.
Iowa Department of Health Statewide HIV Prevention Conference (October 2001):
The presentation was very clear. When terms or situations were confusing the presenter would restate in a helpful manner. He would also use personal examples that put things together. The presenter did not assume we knew what he knew. Thank you.
This workshop has been very helpful. There are complex issues. Samuel did a wonderful job presenting. He is definitely right calling the workshop "Beginning...".
Excellent introduction to the transgendered world--great overview of issues regarding living as a transsexual.
He is a brave and awesome young man. This world has few heroes--Samuel is one of them!
The speaker gave a wonderful understanding of basic terminology. Bring this guy back next year.
Samuel has a wealth of information and is a natural speaker.
His second presentation was even more informative than the first. Both were very powerful and enlightening.
Once again, the speaker was very interesting. You should have Samuel as a main speaker.
He helped me to find myself. I'm left with a thirst for more.
Bring him back next year.
From San Francisco, training for grantee organizations of HIV/AIDS Program (October and November, 2001):
Established comfort level where I felt I could express myself.
Thank you for sharing your experience. The training was great!
Great "101" for TG issues to a varied room full of providers
Samuel is fabulous. I liked the dialogue within this diverse group of providers.
Make it longer! We had too many things to discuss.
The trainer is so well informed, compassionate, great listener and keeps on task.
