The 2009 Anti-Heterosexism Conference
Building Community to End the Harm Caused By Heterosexism & Reparative Therapy
Presentation Abstracts (Session 1-4)
The Effects of Homophobic Stress in Childhood and Adolescence on Later Adult Psychological Functioning in Gay Men: A Model for Treatment
Dominic Carbone, Ph.D.
Chronic psychological stressors experienced in childhood and adolescence can result in pronounced disturbances in adulthood functioning. Through the use of case presentations this workshop will explore how chronic homophobia is experienced by gay male youth and why homophobia is particularly stressful for this group. Coping responses to homophobia will be discussed, including how some responses can result in self-destructive outcomes and psychological disturbances in adulthood. The workshop will explore a psychotherapeutic treatment model designed specifically to address the needs of the gay male client and will conclude with prevention strategies for future generations of gay youth.
Getting It Straight: Ex-Gay Survivors and Their Therapeutic Needs
Christine Bakke & Jallen Rix, Ed.D.
Ex-gay survivors Christine Bakke and Jallen Rix, Ed.D., recognize firsthand the complications and complexities of receiving therapeutic help after enduring the ex-gay process. Ex-gay survivors often resist or even avoid treatment from LGBT-affirming therapists. Designed for all types of mental health workers, this workshop will provide essential background information to help clinicians create a safe and understanding environment that will lead ex-gay survivors to regain trust in a therapeutic process.
Media Access: Getting Through the Noise
Gabriel Arana
Even with the rise of blogging, reaching people on a large scale requires access to major media organizations. This presentation will give you the tools to effectively maneuver the media world and gain access to the print and online publications, PR reps, and journalists that will help you broadcast your story and become a more effective advocate.
Microaggressions and the LGBT Community: Advocating for Social Justice on Individual, Institutional, and Societal Levels
Kevin Nadal, Ph.D.; David Rivera, M.S.; Melissa Corpus, M.A.; Lauren Fisher, M.A.
Sexual orientation and transgender microaggressions are brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities (whether intentional or unintentional) that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative heterosexist and transphobic slights and insults toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Microaggressions have been found to have negative impacts on individuals’ mental health and well-being. This interactive workshop will encourage discussions on personal experiences with microaggressions while providing recommendations for preventing microaggressions on individual, institutional, and societal levels.
Heterosexual Interrupted: What the Ex-Gay Movement Really Means By "Change"
Jim Burroway
The Ex-Gay movement claims that there are no homosexuals, just heterosexuals with a homosexual problem. This "Ex-Gay 101" workshop explores the heteronormative narrative which our culture expects young people to follow as they date, marry, and have families. When that narrative is interrupted, the ex-gay movement is there to explain what went wrong and how to fix it. But for many ex-gays and their families, the fix is not what they hoped for.
Heterosexism and Transgender Oppression
Virginia Stephenson and Jordon Johnson
Many cultural assumptions exist and force transgender people into undesired identities. These assumptions may prevent transgender people from exploring their preferred relationship with gender and their bodies. In looking at cultural assumptions, it is vital to discuss how racism and sexism operate in relation to transgender people. This presentation offers both male to female and female to male perspectives, as well as ways to support transgender people to end heterosexist oppression.
Genocidal Intentions: Public Policy and the Ex-Gay Movement
Christine Robinson, Ph.D.
When considering harm and the ex-gay movement, attention has largely been devoted to the harm posed to individuals who pursue various forms of "change" promised by "ex-gay" ministries and "reparative" therapists. This presentation addresses the potential for extreme harm posed to LGBT people world-wide, by examining the rhetoric and public policy positions of prominent ex-gay organizations and representatives. This presentation seriously considers the genocidal intentions and implications of the movement’s rhetoric and policy agenda.
Body & Soul: Integrating Sexuality & Spirituality
Timothy Palmer, M.Div.
Early in Christian history, the body became disconnected from the soul and physicality began to carry the taint of sin and shame. Today, growing numbers of theologians, clergy and people of faith recognize sexuality — in all its diversity — as a sacred part of creation. This workshop will explore the dimensions of sexuality, with attention to the current science on sexual orientation and gender. Participants will contemplate how spirituality infuses each dimension of our sexuality.
Pray Away the Gay?
Wayne Besen
This session is an overview of the history of the ex-gay myth. It explores the main players, the harmful treatments, the bizarre techniques and the political players behind these programs.
Media 101: How to Build and Deliver an Effective Message
Brian Winfield
Over the past eight years, Brian Winfield has trained hundreds of people how to make the media work for them. While the world of news delivery is rapidly changing around us, the fundamentals of successfully working with the media remain the same. This interactive course will teach participants the skills to build a strong values-based message, frame it for the broadest audience, pick the right messenger, and consistently stay on message no matter what.
Spiritual Self-Defense for LGBT Christians
Rev. Candace Chellew
LGBT people and their allies don’t have to be at the mercy of those who preach condemnation. We can empower ourselves and recapture our connection to God. In this workshop, pastor and author Candace Chellew teaches participants how to answer hatred or condemnation, how to avoid pointless religious debates, how to see opponents as God’s gifts, and how to use spiritual practices to reclaim an authentic self.
Queering Youth/Young Adult Activism
Andi Gentile and Asher Kolieboi
Starting with an historic lens, we will discuss the power and potential in youth/young adult-led social movements, specifically queer and anti-racist movements. We will shine light on innovative ways young people can organize and network, using new technology, the university system, and youth led grassroots organization structures. We will emphasize the role of intersectional coalition building within social movements. This workshop will include an outline of youth empowerment models and models of successful youth organizing using specific examples. We will draw on resources from pioneering radical organizing thinking to present inventive ways youth and young adults are mobilizing to create change.
