Events & News

Check here for information about LGBTQ health-related events. Please let us know of events that should be included!

Upcoming Events:

Call for Applications: The National Mentoring and Fellowship Program of the Center for Population Research in LGBT Health
The Center for Population Research in LGBT Health is seeking applications from pre-doctoral and advanced masters’ students interested in careers in LGBT health research. The program connects students with expert faculty mentors from the national network of faculty of the Center. An ideal candidate will have an interest in working with a mentor to better incorporate population health research methods and/or concerns in their projects.

Applications for pre-doctoral mentoring are accepted on a rolling basis until February 15. Post-doctoral training and mentoring opportunities are also available through the Center’s program. For more information, go to fenwayhealth.org/populationcenter. Contact Aimee Van Wagenen, Program Manager of the Center for Population Research in LGBT Health at 617-927-6348 or Avanwagenen@fenwayhealth.org with questions.

News:
LHRC congratulates the 2007 awardees of the Chancellor's LGBT Leadership Awards. Ellen Haller, MD, Cindy Lima, and Ammon Corl are this year's winners in the faculty, staff, and student categories.

Dr. Haller provides leadership as one of LHRC's co-directors. Her acceptance speech is printed here:

"Thank you Chancellor Bishop; this is a huge honor, and I’m quite humbled to be standing here. I must say that a few decades ago, after a rather complex and difficult conversation in which I came out to my mom, I certainly never, never imagined being part of a ceremony like this one.

I dream of the day when an LGBT Leadership award is no longer needed. But, we are still far from that day… As you all know, LGBT citizens lack equal civil rights in this country in so many ways…we don’t have access to civil marriage or national protection against discrimination in housing or employment. And, although racism, sexism, ageism, classism all still exist, the vast majority of Americans decry their existence, yet prejudice against LGBT people remains acceptable and institutionalized such as in the military, as but one example.

We are still far from the day that an LGBT award will no longer be needed. Right now, in 2007, some students and faculty in our schools of dentistry, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy feel it’d be unsafe for their careers if they were out and open about their true selves. Some are ashamed of who they are and struggle mightily to reconcile their sexual orientation or gender identity with their internalized homophobia or transphobia.

We are still far from that day. LGBT issues in health care cry out for our attention, and much change is still needed. For example, I heard of a recent case of a Trans person in the ED who lived her life as a woman. A staff person was overheard saying in a very sarcastic way, “The pt’s legal name is David, but he says he would prefer to be called Barbara.”

We are still far from that day. It’s been demonstrated that LGBT patients may experience delayed care, sub-standard care, or be refused care simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

We are still far from that day. As a psychiatrist, I can’t help but comment on the mental health consequences of prejudice and discrimination against LGBT people. Although the vast majority of LGBT people have no mental health difficulties whatsoever and we are actually a fairly resilient population, rigorous epidemiologic studies have identified higher rates of substance abuse, depression, and anxiety disorders in LGBT individuals compared to heterosexuals. No longer is the etiology of these disorders thought to be inherent psychopathology of homosexuality itself, rather, the increased prevalence is due to consequences of living in a prejudiced society.

We are still far from that day…but we are getting closer. I recently heard a lecture by Larry Hartman, past president of the Amer Psychiatric Assoc. In his talk, he described how society has historically viewed homosexuality…first as a difference, then as a sin, then as a crime, then as an illness, and now, again, as a difference. What an evolution of thought!

I never saw myself as an activist of any sort. However, as my career has progressed, I felt an increasing need to speak out and to be visible for students, residents, and junior colleagues. It became clear that with visibility comes authenticity for our lives.

I am deeply honored by this recognition for my work, but I am also so deeply humbled by the work of those who came before. Past award winners Patty Robertson, Don Abrams, Marylin Dodd, Sue Dibble, Jim Dilley, and Tim Kelly are simply giants; I’m in awe of their accomplishments. Two of those giants were instrumental in creating a new organization, The Lesbian Health & Research Center (LHRC), which is the only organization of its kind housed within a premier health science institution. LHRC’s Mission is to enhance clinical practice, inform public policy, and improve the overall health of lesbians, bisexual women, transgender people, and our families through a comprehensive program of research, education, training, public events and community collaborations. I am so proud to follow in the giant footsteps of Sue and Patty in helping to lead this organization.

Because we are far from the day when an award like this is no longer needed, I am dedicating this award to students, residents, colleagues, and pts who have felt forced to hide their true selves or suffered consequences by not hiding. Thank you to UCSF and to you, Chancellor Bishop for this award; it is unique in the country for a health science institution to recognize the importance of this work by the provision of an LGBT leadership award. This uniqueness is truly something of which UCSF can be very proud! Thanks also to my Department Chair, Craig Van Dyke, who truly understands these issues and actively supports the work of his LGBT faculty. I also thank my LGBT and straight colleagues, my patients, students and residents from whom I’ve learned so much, and last, but certainly not least, my family. Who would have thunk it, eh Mom? I am so appreciative of the support of my parents, my brother and sister, my nephews, my son, Danny, his two dads, Paul and Mike, and especially, my son Danny’s other mom and my partner of nearly 21 years, Joanne Engel. Thank you."