4th Annual
October 12, 2012 Presented By
Event Program
Welcome to EDGY 2012
EDGY stands for “Embracing the Diversity of GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning) Youth and Families.” The conference is a powerful, one day event, dedicated to informing educators, social service and mental health professionals about dynamic and innovative practices proven to be most effective when working with the GLBTQ population. Past conferences have included topics such as basic gender non-conformity, “LGBT 101”, religion and transgender services. The conference has consistently been referred to as a “must attend” for anyone who works with GLBTQ youth. EDGY brings to light the unique problems that GLBTQ youth face in the child welfare and probation system and how governmental agencies, social service and mental health professionals, community and family members can create a child-centric wheel of support through initiatives, education, and enlightenment.
Penny Lane Centers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1969 to serve abused teenage girls. Since that time, Penny Lane’s programs and services have expanded to serve thousands of children, youth and families annually. Our services include: Mentoring, Foster Care and Adoption, Transitional and Permanent Housing, Family Preservation, Wraparound, Residential Treatment Facilities, Therapeutic Behavioral Services and Mental Health Services. Penny Lane is proud to have received the “All Children, All Families” Seal from the Human Rights Campaign. facebook.com/pennylanecenters
@pennylanecenter
Dear Friends, Thank you for coming to Penny Lane’s 4th Annual EDGY Conference! Your presence here demonstrates your commitment to improving lives of GLBTQ youth in our foster care system. The past year has seen a lot of debate around so called “gay issues” and it feels in many ways that things are starting to improve for GLBTQ people of all ages. But our work is far from done. We hear of GLBTQ youth continuing to struggle with acceptance in their families and communities, battling depression, low self-esteem and some, tragically, still being bullied. Some of these young people feel so hopeless that suicide is their only escape, or so they believe. This hurts us all on a very deep level as we feel that somehow we have failed these children. Our theme this year revolves around creating “safe spaces” for our GLBTQ youth. Penny Lane wants to create and help you to create places where the beauty, talent and potential of GLBTQ youth can be nurtured and grow. That has been the guiding force for this year’s conference. Penny Lane has implemented many practices and created staff positions dedicated to nurturing the GLBTQ population. We continue to share our knowledge of GLBTQ youth in placement and what our day to day experiences and research have shown us to be “best practices” for this group. We are extremely proud to be a part of Penny Lane and have our agency on the forefront of this movement. Penny Lane is grateful to Lifeworks and the Gay and Lesbian Center, the lead agency for the RISE initiative, for inviting us to hold this conference in conjunction with their Models of Pride. At Penny Lane we have staff that are working year round through our involvement with the RISE initiative, the planning of the EDGY conference, researching evolving practices and emerging information and working day to day with GLBTQ youth in all of our programs. Penny Lane staff is truly dedicated to this issue and mission. Seeing all of you here today is very moving as you become our partners in improving those lives that have for so long been overlooked. We hope that you enjoy your day and that you learn a great deal. There will be a lot of information for you to take back with you to your respective agencies and work places. Penny Lane and the EDGY task force thank all of our presenters and sponsors, past present and future, for their participation and contribution to making EDGY the amazing event it has grown to be. We are always looking to improve the EDGY conference so if you have some ideas or suggestions, please feel free to share them with any of the many Penny Lane staff members you will see throughout the day. Penny Lane prides itself on our collaborative approach to building and strengthening communities. Thank you for collaborating with us to strengthen the GLBTQ community!
Thank You,
The EDGY Task Force The EDGY 2012 Task Force: Cameron Glasgow 2012 Chairperson Bernie La Fianza Bill Shepard Cameron Cline
Nydia Barakat
Mark Abelsson
Amy Fernandez
Cristian Valencia
Patricia Galindo
Michael Ferrera
Megan Benton
Daniel Rothenberg
Richard Willens
Jaime Ocon
Monica Smith
Wendy Carpenter
Sylvia Duarte
Judith Sandino
Zamira Pla
Laurie Rein
Event Schedule 9:00-9:15
Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:15-10:15
Keynote Speaker Presentation
10:15-10:30
Break
10:30-12:00
Breakout #1
12:00-1:00
Lunch
1:00-1:15
Creating a Collaborative LGBTQ Brave Space– Ballroom
1:30-2:45
Breakout #2
2:45-3:00
Break
3:00-4:15
Breakout #3
4:15-5:00
Closing Remarks– Ballroom
Ivelise Markovits, CEO Penny Lane Centers
Adam Pertman- A Revolution in the Family: Adoption in the GLBTQ Community
GLBTQ Therapist Panel– Facilitator Megan Benton Rick Clemons and Stacey O’Byrne– Unlocking the Energy of Coming Out and Being Free To Be Don Kilhefner– Stepping into a Leadership Role: Promoting Safety and Well-Being in your own Community Joey Hernandez– Know Your Rights: The Civil Liberties of LGBTQ Students Dave Reynolds, MPH and Pauline Tan, MPH– Project TIC Talk: Bringing Trauma Informed Care to Trauma Exposed LGBTQIA Youth
Megan Benton, Penny Lane Centers LGBTQ Advocate and Trainer Arnold Pomerantz– Queer Time Travel and The Underpinnings of Homophobia Fish Out Of Water (film)- Q&A with Reverend Dr. Neil Thomas Erica Woodland, LCSW– Transforming Mental Health for Brown Bois Judy Chiasson, Ph.D– Partnering With Schools to Support LGBTQ Youth Jerome Rabow, Ph.D– The Prink Triangle Project: Increasing Awareness and Consciousness Among Students
It Gets Messy In Here– Q&A with Treva Ellison Catherine Forbes, Ph.D and Shann Collotzi, LCSW– Transitioning to Healthy Futures: Supporting Transgender Youth John Sovec, MA, LMFT– Coming Out For Gay Teens: the Pain and the Process Judy Sandino and, Ph.D and Monica Smith– Promoting Cultural Awareness and Competency to Better Serve the GLBTQ Latino Population
Ronald Tutor Campus Center
Lower Level
1st Floor
Ballroom
2nd Floor
3rd Floor Room 350
Room 352
Room 232
Room 227
Breakout Sessions Each room is assigned the following colors. Make sure to find a volunteer in an EDGY shirt if you are having trouble locating your breakout session.
Breakout #1
Ballroom-Dave Reynolds, MPH and Pauline Tan, MPH– Project TIC Talk: Bringing Trauma Informed Care to Trauma Exposed LGBTQIA Youth
Room 350-GLBTQ Therapist Panel– Facilitator Megan Benton
Room 227-Rick Clemons and Stacey O’Byrne– Unlocking the Energy of Coming Out and Being Free To Be
Room 352-Don Kilhefner– Stepping into a Leadership Role: Promoting Safety and Well-Being in your own Community
Room 232-Joey Hernandez– Know Your Rights: The Civil Liberties of LGBTQ Students
Breakout #2
Ballrooom-Judy Chiasson, Ph.D– Partnering With Schools to Support LGBTQ Youth
Room 350-Erica Woodland, LCSW– Transforming Mental Health for Brown Bois
Room 227-Fish Out Of Water (film)- Q&A with Reverend Dr. Neil Thomas
Room 352-Arnold Pomerantz– Queer Time Travel and The Underpinnings of Homophobia
Room 232-Jerome Rabow, Ph.D– The Prink Triangle Project: Increasing Awareness and Consciousness Among Students
Breakout #3
Ballroom-Dr. Judith Sandino and Monica Smith– Promoting Cultural Awareness and Competency to Better Serve the GLBTQ Latino Population
Room 350-John Sovec, MA, LMFT– Coming Out For Gay Teens: the Pain and the Process
Room 227-It Gets Messy In Here– Q&A with Treva Ellison
Room 352-Catherine Forbes, Ph.D and Shann Collotzi, LCSW– Transitioning to Healthy Futures: Supporting Transgender Youth
2012 Presenters
Presenter Bios and Breakouts
Adam Pertman Keynote Speaker
Adam Pertman is the Executive Director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, a national nonprofit that is the pre-eminent research, policy and education organization in its field. Pertman, a former Pulitzernominated journalist, is also Associate Editor of Adoption Quarterly, the premier research journal dealing with adoption and foster care. He is the author/editor of two newly published books, Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming Our Families – and America (which has been reviewed as “the most important book ever written on the subject”) and Gay and Lesbian Adoption: A New Dimension in Family Diversity. He has also written many other chapters and articles on adoption and family-related issues in books, scholarly journals and mass-market publications. Pertman has delivered hundreds of keynotes, trainings and other presentations in this country and internationally. Pertman’s commentaries on families and children have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, Boston Globe, Baltimore Sun, Miami Herald and on National Public Radio, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox News, among others. Articles about him, his book and the Adoption Institute have appeared in numerous publications nationwide, including the New York Times and People. As a leading expert on adoption and family issues, he is widely quoted in the media and has been a guest on many programs, including “Oprah,” “Today,” “The View” and “Nightline.” Pertman was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his writing about adoption in The Boston Globe. His other honors include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Adoption Council, an Angel in Adoption award from the U.S. Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute; the Special Friend of Children Award from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; the Dave Thomas Center for Adoption Law’s first award for “the nation’s greatest contributor to public understanding about adoption and permanency placement issues;” the Friend of Children Award from the ODS Adoption Community of New England; a Family Builder Award from the American Fertility Assn., the Century Foundation’s prestigious Leonard Silk Journalism Award; the President’s Award from the African American Cultural Council of Virginia; the Year 2000 Journalism Award from Holt International Children’s Services; and the American Adoption Congress’ first award for the journalist who most informed the nation on adoption issues and “for his eloquent witnessing of contemporary adoption.”
Don Kilhefner, PhD Don Kilhefner, Ph.D., played a pioneering role in the creation of the Gay Liberation movement. He is a founder of the Gay and Lesbian Center, Van Ness Recovery House, Gay Men’s Medicine Circle and numerous other seminal organizations in the gay community including (with Harry Hay) the Radical Faeries, an international gay spirituality and consciousness movement. With Roberto Blain, he writes a column titled “Edging Out: Exploring the Frontiers of Gay Consciousness” for Frontiers, Southern California’s leading gay newspaper. Don is a Jungian psychologist and shamanic practitioner in West Hollywood.
Joey Hernandez Joey Hernández has been the LGBTQ Student Rights Advocate since August 2011. Joey is the full time staff member dedicated exclusively on the Student Rights Project, which focuses on stopping the unlawful bullying and harassment in California schools and to create school communities that promote safety and respect for all students. He regularly works with schools and school districts to provide resources and guidance on how to handle instances of bullying and how to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students. Before joining ACLU of Southern California, Joey worked at several LGBTQ non-profits, including the Gay Straight Alliance Network, Point Foundation, UCLA LGBT Campus Resource Center and currently sits on the board of directors for the Delphi Foundation.
Dave Reynolds, MPH Dave Reynolds is the Contract Compliance Officer for The Village Family Services and assists in the growth of Project Q to better meet the needs of LGBTQ youth accessing services. He joined TVFS after serving as the Project Director for the CDC-funded Safe & Healthy LGBT Youth Project at Gay-Straight Alliance Network and several years in various programming and, education and policy roles at The Trevor Project. Dave attended Occidental College in Los Angeles and earned his master’s degree in public health from Columbia University.
Pauline Tan, MPH Pauline Tan has worked in the field of child abuse and neglect prevention for over 5 years. She earned her Master of Public Health degree from California State Northridge. Pauline has been involved with numerous collaborative efforts across Los Angeles County to reduce child maltreatment. She has provided support to University of Southern California’s exploratory research on the efficacy of intervention programs and children’s outcomes. Pauline has presented her research findings around child maltreatment at the American Public Health Association’s national conference.
Judy Chiasson, PhD The Los Angeles Unified School District has nearly 1000 schools serving over 750,000 students. Judy Chiasson of the District’s Human Relations, Diversity and Equity office supports creating safe and affirming campuses for all LGBTQ students and families by reducing bias, bullying, hazing, and intergroup bias, and advocating for inclusive policies, practices and curriculum.
Southern CA Foster Family & Adoption Agency 155 N. Occidental Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 213.365.2900 or 888.888.1183
www.scffaa.org www.facebook.com/scffaa
Jerome Rabow, PhD Jerome Rabow is Professor Emeritus, at UCLA where he has taught, race, education and social psychology for over 35 years. He is also a lecturer at CSUN, and a licensed MFT in private practice. He has produced a documentary on his teaching racism, Voices of Pain Voices of Hope and has a book of the same name. Professor Rabow is also the President and founder of CCCODE, an organization devoted to diversity education.
Stacey O’Byrne Stacey O’Byrne is a business owner in Long Beach and was the President of the Long Beach LGBT Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. She is a speaker, trainer and soon to be published author. Growing up, Stacey struggled with physical and sexual abuse, drug use and her own identity. After being admitted to the Scripps Adolescent Recovery Center, she became drug free and started her coming out process. As an adult, Stacey struggled with her personal internal dealings as well as discrimination professionally. Through her NLP & DiSC Courses, she has learned a lot about people and herself. This knowledge has proven to be a powerful tool for her both personally and professionally. She knows her journey was purposeful and she is ready to share what she has learned.
John Sovec, MA, LMFT John Sovec is a therapist in Pasadena California who specializes in working with LGBT teens and their families during the coming out process. John is the clinical consultant for The Life Group LA, an HIV/AIDS service organization and supervises interns in the Post Modern Program at Phillips Graduate Institute. John is a highly respected author and speaker in the educational, corporate, and non-profit arenas who motivates his audience to discover their own strengths and experience their life.
Arnold Pomerantz A former Fortune 500 (closeted) V.P. is a late blooming activist who is currently a lead speaker and board member of GLIDE (Gays and Lesbians Initiating Dialogue For Equality) He has addressed the myths surrounding homophobia with thousands of students, and professionals at LAUSD, colleges, universities, hospitals, and the Museum of Tolerance. He created a GLBTQ history workshop for annual presentation at Models of Pride. He also recently created a scholarship fund for gifted GLBT students in conjunction with LAUSD.
Monica Smith Monica Smith is the Regional Director and Quality Assurance Manager at Penny Lane Centers, Foster Care and Adoption Programs. She was among the founding collaborators in bringing Penny Lane Centers to the forefront on LGBTQ support for children and families, and was an active participant in the efforts to obtain the All Children All Families seal which was awarded to Penny Lane Centers in 2010. She is a passionate ally of the LGBTQ community.
Judith Sandino, PhD Dr. Judith Sandino is the Director of Foster/Adoption and Family Preservation programs at Penny Lane Centers. She has been with the organization since 1995. She has extensive experience working with children, families and communities from diverse cultures and in fostering collaboration and building alliances with other community based and governmental agencies. Dr. Sandino has been instrumental and one of the founding collaborators in bringing Penny Lane Centers to the forefront of GLBTQ support for children and families. She chaired the Penny Lane GLBTQ task force from 2009 to 2011; during this time the EDGY conference was created and Penny Lane was awarded the “All Children, All Families Seal”, a symbol of what the HRC considered the gold standard of practice when serving Adoptive families from the LGBT Community. She has also been a participant on the RISE Training & Coaching Institute Workgroup. She is a firm believer that “human services leaders play an important role in helping society move past violence, intolerance, and inequality toward a more open culture that increasingly accepts and embraces LGBTs”.
Erica Woodland, LCSW Erica Woodland, LCSW, MSW is a healer, activist, trainer and clinical social worker who works in communities most impacted by the prison industrial complex and HIV/AIDS. She is a co-founder of Power Inside, a harm reduction organization in Baltimore city that serves women who are survivors of gender-based violence, incarceration and abuse. She has done extensive work with youth, people of color and the LGBTQ community providing direct services and advocacy rooted in social justice and self-determination. She believes that using harm reduction strategies and community organizing will lead to healthy and powerful families and communities. Erica currently serves as the Field Building Director for the Brown Boi Project. She is also an Intensive Case Manager at HIV Education and Prevention Project of Alameda County and provides direct services to youth in Oakland and Richmond, CA most at risk for HIV/AIDS.
Rick Clemons Rick Clemons is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) from the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching. He is also the creator of The T-Factor: Step Out, Step Up, And Step Into Living Your Truth. He specializes in a gender-neutral “coming out process” for adolescents and adults. When Rick Clemons was 38, he faced his fears, stepped into his truth, and began living life as a gay man without regrets or shame. Now he is dedicated to helping people embrace their own version of the coming process and step into living their powerful truth their way.
Megan Benton Megan M. Benton is a therapist, activist, poet and entrepreneur. She graduated from Antioch University with a Masters in Clinical Psychology with a LGBT Specialization. Megan identifies as an African -American, masculine of centered, lesbian, boi. Currently, she is the LGBTQ Advocate and Trainer at Penny Lane Centers. Her talent for bringing people together to create thought-provoking dialogue has led her to facilitate groups at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center as well as LifeWorks, LGBTQ youth center. Over the years, Megan has been an active member in the community, assisting organizations such as the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, the L.A. Food Bank, the AIDS Project and she is currently a member of the Brown Boi Project.
Reverend Dr. Neil Thomas Reverend Dr. Neil Thomas is currently the Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church, Los Angeles, the founding church of Metropolitan Community Churches, an international movement of churches reaching in and beyond the gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, and inter-sex community. Well known for his social activism, he has been instrumental in feeding programs for the homeless, night and day shelters, safer sex initiatives, establishing relations with police and LGBTQ communities, Over the Rainbow, (a drop in center offering counseling, support and information), LGBTQ youth services, as well as challenging laws that continue discrimination and intolerance.
Shann Collitzi, LCSW Shann Collotzi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker that has been working with transgender and HIV positive youth at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles since 2004. Shann graduated from Cal State Long Beach in the MSW program and he has been working in HIV prevention and with HIV positive individuals for the past 13 years as a case manager and a mental health therapist. Currently Shann provides Individual, couples, family and group therapy for HIV positive and transgender youth. He started up one of the first transgender therapy groups with both MTF and FTM clients. At the time he saw a need that wasn’t being met in the community for clients that weren’t at a high risk for HIV, but still needed guidance and support. Shann enjoys working in the transgender community because he sees so much resilience and strength within the community.
Micheal Ferrera Michael has been a champion for LGBT youth for over 15 years. He is the founder of LifeWorks Mentoring, which provides one-on-one, peer and group mentoring to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people.
Treva Ellison Treva Ellison is a student, artist, and aspiring apothecary. Treva is currently a fourth year graduate student in American Studies and Ethnicity at USC and has been a member of Critical Resistance Los Angeles for the past three years.
GIVING HOPE ITS SECOND WIND
Catherine Forbes, PhD Catherine Forbes is a Clinical Psychologist in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Her clinical interests include depression, anxiety, anger, substance abuse, adolescent and young adult development, HIV, gender identity and family relationships. She currently works with the Transgender Services Program at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles which has offered interdisciplinary, comprehensive services for transgender youth since 1996.
Special Thanks to the following individuals that continue to make EDGY a success Penny Lane Executives: Ivelise Markovits, MFCC Founder and Chief Executive Officer Peter Padin Assistant Executive Director Wendy Carpenter, MA Associate Executive Director Bernie La Fianza, MBA Chief Financial Officer Clark Souers, MBA Director of Human Resources
Rosana La Fianza, MBA Director of Clinic Operations Dr. Judith Sandino, LCSW Director of FFA, Adoption and Family Preservation Programs Ingrid Hines Director of Permanent/ Transitional Housing Nydia Barakat Director of Fund Development
Penny Lane Board Members: Dr. W. Robert Crigler, Ph.D. President Annick Derrick-Hamon, L.L.B. Vice President Arthur Barr Treasurer James Ocon Sergeant at Arms Dr. Bruce Hector, M.D. Secretary
Margee Menell Kathi Atkinson Nathalie Blossom Adrienne S. Khorasanee Olga Moretti Bobby Smith Pam Kunisawa Wayne Traylor
Thank you for providing vulnerable LGBTQ youth with hope.
2012 Presentations Presenter Bios and Breakouts
A Revolution in the Family: Adoption in the GLBTQ Community Adam Pertman- Keynote Speaker
Adam Pertman will explore the gamut of historical, legal, sociological, psychological, social casework, and personal issues related to adoption by sexual-minority individuals and couples. He will address the controversies, myths, and misconceptions hindering efforts by these individuals to adopt and raise children. He will also provide insight and specific recommendations – based on research – for establishing empirically validated best practices for working with an important sector of our society, for treating all prospective and current parents fairly and equally and, perhaps most importantly, for increasing a still largely untapped resource for providing families for children who need them.
Breakout #1
GLBTQ Therapist Panel Facilitator: Megan Benton Join this panel of experts as they discuss best practices for working with GLBTQ youth. The panel is a mix of students and professionals who are excited to share what they have learned and experienced. The panel will be facilitated by Penny Lane’s LGBTQ Advocate and Trainer, Megan Benton. Panelists include: Brock Barbosa, MFT Intern Cassie Najarian, an LGBTQ Ally Caitlin Rose, MFT Intern Eric Arimoto, MA Susan Landon, LMFT
Unlocking the Energy of Coming Out and Being Free To Be Rick Clemons and Stacey O’Byrne Gripped by the thoughts of “Why me?,” or struggling with the gut wrenching shame of “Being gay isn’t cool,” many people, regardless of their age, find themselves trapped in jail cell of “pretending to be something they're not.” On the opposite end of the spectrum are the family members who suddenly find themselves center stage, living the reality show of a lifetime, as their child, brother, sister, even a husband or wife, comes “out of the closet.” Shocking and challenging as it seems in the moment, there is a joy that comes, provided that’s the choice that is made, when everyone involved steps into an authentic space of acceptance, love, and desire to let the energy shift. This workshop unveils new strategies and modalities for mastering personal energy, developing a masterful personal rapport with self, and advancing communication amongst all concerned in the “coming out” process. You’ll walk away with unique perspectives and tools for empowering individuals – those coming out, and their inner circle – to step out, step up, and step into living their powerful truth on the other side of the closet door.
Stepping into a Leadership Role: Promoting Safety and Well-Being in your own Community Don Kilhefner, Ph.D Are you looking for a way to create positive change in your community? Join Don Kilhefner, an expert in community organizing and involvement, as he speaks about his experience playing a pioneering role in the creation of the Gay Liberation movement. Don is a founder of the Gay and Lesbian Center, Van Ness Recovery House, Gay Men’s Medicine Circle and numerous other seminal organizations in the gay community including (with Harry Hay) the Radical Faeries, an international gay spirituality and consciousness movement. Whether you are looking to start something from the ground up or strengthen an existing program, Don Kilhefner has the advice and experience you need to hear.
Know Your Rights: The Civil Liberties of LGBTQ Students Joey Hernandez Do you have the right to come out at school? Do you have the right to form a gay-straight alliance at your school? May you take a same-sex date to the prom? This workshop will provide answers to these and other questions regarding the legal rights of LGBTQIA students. Participants will take home information about legal rights and how educators can help create safer environments.
Project TIC Talk: Bringing Trauma Informed Care to Trauma Exposed LGBTQIA Youth Dave Reynolds, MPH and Pauline Tan, MPH Studies show that a majority of youth experience trauma, and trauma is proven to have negative consequences into adulthood. TIC-Talk is a curriculum designed specifically for providers working with GLBTQ trauma -exposed youth. This presentation includes background education as well as specific steps required to bring trauma informed care to GLBTQ youth. The information provided is useful for both clinical and nonclinical settings including schools, community based organizations, juvenile justice providers and GLBTQ faith based organizations.
Breakout #2
Queer Time Travel and The Underpinnings of Homophobia Arnold Pomerantz
An illuminating roller coaster ride of through the last century of living life in this country being “queer”. Revealing the roots of homophobia in our history while honoring the countless valiant men and women so many of whose shoulders we stand on today. Examining the event’s that shook the world and helped propel the revolution that became gay liberation, and where on that journey to eliminate homophobia we stand today.
Fish Out of Water (film) Q&A by Reverend Dr. Neil Thomas Fish out of Water is a genre-bending documentary that uses animation and academic interviews to dissect bible verses used to condemn homosexuality and justify marriage discrimination. Director Ky Dickens shows through animated illustrations of the oft-quoted Bible passages and revelatory commentary on them by celebrated scholars, that the Bible is misinterpreted and misquoted regarding same-sex relationships. Fish out of Water, which takes the subject but not itself too seriously, explodes the conventional arguments of hate.
Transforming Mental Health for Brown Bois Erica Woodland, LCSW
This interactive workshop will focus on the emotional, spiritual and psychological needs of masculine of center (MoC) people of color. The medical and mental health fields struggle to provide adequate service and support for MoC people of color. Participants will learn about The Brown Boi Project, a program offering a radical mental health model for MoC people of color, and their groundbreaking health guide “Freeing Ourselves: A Guide to Health and Self Love for Brown Bois”. This workshop will provide an opportunity for providers and community members to increase their knowledge and skills regarding the mental health needs of MoC people of color and engage in critical dialogue and strategic thinking about how to best support healing in this community. The Brown Boi Project is a leadership development program which promotes economic self-sufficiency and health for young masculine of center queer womyn, transmen, straight and queer men of color. Our work aims to transform our privilege of masculinity into tools for racial and gender justice.
Partnering With Schools to Support LGBTQ Youth Judy Chiasson, Ph.D Was your high school a haven where you felt safe and affirmed? Schools provide a variety of experiences and opportunities for youth. Besides endowing students with the academic knowledge to enhance their futures, schools are the places where students learn about themselves and each other. Schools are bound by laws, policies and ethics, but are shaped by the communities in which they reside. Schools can be either risk factors or protective factors for LGBTQ youth. This workshop will assist service providers in partnering with schools to support LGBTQ youth.
The Pink Triangle Project: Increasing Awareness and Consciousness among Students Jerome Rabow, Ph. D
For over 15 years Jerome Rabow, a professor at UCLA, has engaged students in an educational experience in which they volunteer to wear a pink triangle and a rainbow ribbon for a week. During WWII, the Pink Triangle was one of the Nazi concentration camp badges used to identify Gay and Lesbian prisoners. Over the many years of conducting this social experiment with a variety of students, Professor Rabow has found it to cause an increased awareness and consciousness among heterosexual students about GLBTQ oppression and also an increased willingness to oppose such oppression. Join this interactive presentation as Professor Rabow presents his findings and hear from a panel of students who participated in the Pink Triangle Project. Student Panelists Include: Kian Behmanesh Evan Cochran Manpreet Dhillon Maria Dominguez Jennifer Moore
Breakout #3
It Gets Messy In Here (Film) Q&A with Treva Ellison “It Gets Messy in Here” explores the gendered experiences of non-normative LBGT women of color must navigate when using the public restroom. Through in depth interviews with her subjects the film injects honesty, humor, self-reflection, and public accountability into transgender discourse on acceptance within society. This hour long film is a must see for anyone who wants to recognize and improve their perspective on gender relations, homophobia, and social expectations.
Transitioning To Healthy Futures: Supporting Transgender Youth Catherine Forbes, Ph.D and Shann Collotzi, LCSW Catherine Forbes and Shann Collotzi explore the affirming treatment model implemented through Transgender Services at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The model seeks to assist youth in exploring their gender identity and understanding themselves, provides support during transitioning, and addresses psychosocial challenges and mental health issues. The program aims to promote healthy development, encourage positive life choices, provide necessary support during the transitioning process and provide a safe and supervised hormone treatment.
Coming Out For Gay Teens: the Pain and the Process John Sovec, MA, LMFT As gay adolescents come to terms with their own sexuality they find themselves exposed to the social constructs of a straight privileged environment. As professionals working with the LGBTQI population, it is important to understand how biases and agendas develop and how the pervasiveness of these constructs influences the therapeutic alliance as well as family and school systems. Issues of sexuality, intimacy, sexual needs and HIV status disclosure and more will be explored in this highly interactive workshop which provides exploration, discussion, and tools to address these challenging issues.
Promoting Cultural Awareness and Competency to Better Serve the GLBTQ Latino Population Judy Sandino, Ph.D and Monica Smith Dr. Judith Sandino and Monica Smith are GLBTQ allies and advocates who will be sharing real stories and information derived from their work in Social Services at Penny Lane Centers Foster Family and Adoption Agency. The presentation will help participants to gain a better perspective on how the Latino culture throughout history has impacted and changed the acceptance of the GLTBTQ Latino community. The presenters will share their own experiences working with professionals, youth, foster and adoptive families with the GLBTQ population. In addition, the presentation will show interviews that will provide a direct perspective of growing up within a Latino family.
Thank You
Los Angeles County Probation Officers Union
GLBTQ Vocabulary 101 Ally Any heterosexual person who opposes heterosexism and homophobia and actively supports LGBT individuals and causes. Bisexual A person who has significant romantic, emotional, physical and sexual attractions to members of both sexes. The frequency, intensity, or quality of attraction is not necessarily directed toward both sexes equally. Biphobia Fear of bisexuals, often based on stereotypes, including inaccurate associations with infidelity, promiscuity and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases Cisgender A term used to describe those who are not-transgender; having a gender identity or performing in gender roles that society considers appropriate for one's sex Civil Union State-Based Relationship recognition for gay and lesbian couples that offers some or all of the state (though none of the federal) rights, protections and responsibilities of marriage Coming Out Coming to terms with one’s sexual or gender identity. Can also mean stating openly that one is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. The term is usually applied to members of the LGBT community, but heterosexual people can experience a similar process of coming to terms with their sexual orientation and/or their identity as an ally Closeted Describes a person who is not open about his or her sexual orientation. Cross-Dressing To occasionally wear clothes traditionally associated with people of the other sex. Cross-dressers are usually comfortable with the sex they were assigned at birth and do not wish to change it. "Cross-dresser" should NOT be used to describe someone who has transitioned to live full-time as the other sex or who intends to do so in the future. Cross-dressing is a form of gender expression and is not necessarily tied to erotic activity. Cross-dressing is not indicative of sexual orientation. FTM Female-to-male. Indicates a transgender individual who was originally assigned the gender of female at birth, but has claimed a male identity through clothing, surgery, or attitude changes. Gay a man whose primary romantic, emotional, physical and sexual attractions are to other men. This term can also be used to apply to lesbians, bisexuals, and on some occasions, be used as an umbrella term for all LGBT people. Gender Expression External manifestation of one's gender identity, usually expressed through "masculine," "feminine" or gender-variant behavior, clothing, haircut, voice or body characteristics. Typically, transgender people seek to make their gender expression match their gender identity, rather than their birth-assigned sex. Gender Identity How one thinks of one’s own gender. This conviction is not entirely contingent upon the individual’s biological gender/sex.
Gender Identity Disorder (GID) A controversial DSM-IV diagnosis given to transgender and other gender- variant people. Because it labels people as "disordered," Gender Identity Disorder is often considered offensive. The diagnosis is frequently given to children who don't conform to expected gender norms in terms of dress, play or behavior. Such children are often subjected to intense psychotherapy, behavior modification and/or institutionalization. Replaces the outdated term "gender dysphoria." Gender Non-Conforming refers to people who do not adhere to society's rules about dress and activities for people that are based on their sex. A gender non-conforming person may choose to present as neither clearly male, nor clearly female, but rather as a gender-free individual. Some gender non-conformists are transgender, gay, lesbian or bisexual. Others do not identify with any of these categories. Also Known As: Gender-Queer Genderqueer A rejection of the gender binary (male/female) in favor of a more fluid, nontraditional identity. Heterosexism The system of oppression that reinforces the belief in the inherent superiority of heterosexuality and heterosexual relationships, thereby negating gays’, lesbians’, and bisexuals’ lives and relationships. Heterosexual a person who is emotionally, romantically, sexually attracted or committed to members of the opposite sex. Heterosexual Privilege The societal assumption and norm that all people are heterosexual. The basic civil rights and social privileges that a heterosexual person automatically receives, that are systematically denied to gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons, simply because of their sexual orientation. Homophobia Negative feelings, attitudes, actions or behaviors towards anyone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or perceived to identify as any of the above. Internalized Homophobia Fear of same-sex tendencies within oneself which can lead to repression Institutionalized Homophobia Refers to homophobic laws, policies, and positions taken by social and governmental institutions. Homosexuality Defines attraction to the same sex, and is one orientation on the continuum from homosexual to bisexual to heterosexual. Many prefer the terms “gay”, “lesbian”, or “bisexual” to describe their identities. Intersex Describes a person whose biological sex is ambiguous. There are many genetic, hormonal or anatomical variations that make a person's sex ambiguous (e.g., Klinefelter Syndrome). Parents and medical professionals usually assign intersex infants a sex and perform surgical operations to conform the infant's body to that assignment. This practice has become increasingly controversial as intersex adults speak out against the practice. The term intersex is not interchangeable with or a synonym for transgender.
Lesbian A woman whose primary romantic, emotional, physical and sexual attractions are to other women. LGBT (also GLBT) The acronym for “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender”. The acronym may be expanded to a variation of LGBTIQA to include intersex, questioning, queer-identified people and/or allies. Can also be used as an adjective (i.e. – “I am an LGBT person.”) MTF Male-to-female. Indicates a transgender individual who was originally assigned the gender of male at birth, but has claimed a female identity through clothing, surgery, or attitude changes. Openly Gay Describes people who self-identify as lesbian or gay in their personal, public and/or professional lives. Also openly lesbian, openly bisexual, openly transgender. Queer Not heterosexual. Originally used with negative connotations, but is currently being reclaimed by many within the LGBT community. Sex An act, series of acts, that human do as a part of the expression of their sexual nature and their desire for love and affection. Or the identification of biological gender. Sexual Orientation How one thinks of oneself in terms of to whom one is sexually or romantically attracted. Orientation is not dependent on physical experience, but rather on a person’s feelings and attractions. Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) Refers to surgical alteration, and is only one small part of transition (see Transition above). Preferred term to "sex change operation." Not all transgender people choose to or can afford to have SRS. Journalists should avoid overemphasizing the role of SRS in the transition process. Sodomy Laws Historically used to selectively persecute gay people, the state laws often re-ferred to as “sodomy laws” were ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas (2003). “Sodomy” should never be used to describe gay, lesbian or bisexual relationships or sexuality. Transgender Used both as an umbrella term and as an identity. Broadly, it refers to those who do not identify or are uncomfortable with their assigned gender and gender roles. As an identity the term refers to anyone who transgresses traditional sex and gender categories.
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