Conference Advances LGBTQIA+ 健康 and 健康

今年6月, millions of us will attend pride parades, 野餐, 方, 音乐会, and other events to celebrate National LGBTQIA+ Pride Month.

Originally a yearly observation to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in support of equal justice and opportunity for LBGTQ Americans, the month also recognizes the impact of LGBTQ individuals on society locally, 在全国范围内, and inter在全国范围内.

As part of that celebration, 6月3日, the 健康y Lee Behavioral 健康 Coalition will host a conference for healthcare practitioners in our community. 这次事件中, Pride, Not Prejudice, Developing LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Practices and Care, aims to encourage and train mental health clinicians and other healthcare professionals interested in caring for the LGBTQIA+ community, according to licensed clinical social worker Adam Larivee.

“The conference kicks off what we intend as a yearly meeting to encourage and train mental health professionals and clinicians who work with or are interested in working with the LGBTQIA+ community,亚当说, who will also present at the half-day conference. “One of our goals is to cultivate best practices, increase access to care, and address the health inequities in this population.”

更具体地说, 亚当说, the conference will expose behavioral healthcare providers and others to the cultural dynamics of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“Culture shapes our attitudes. It is what determines how we perceive the world. We all have a culture, even within our family unit,” he says. ”The LGBTQIA+ community has its own culture, too. For healthcare professionals who are unfamiliar with this specific patient population, the conference is designed to provide learning and education. Despite our country’s progress toward granting equal rights to those who identify as LGBTQ+, this community continues to experience worse health outcomes and reduced access to care compared to heterosexual and cisgender people.”

The conference is free. Members of Southwest Florida’s community are encouraged to attend.

“Our goal is to unite, empower and celebrate our diverse LGBTQIA+ community by providing a safe and welcoming space for education, partnerships and services which advance everyone’s collective health, 健康, 和成功, regardless of how they identify,亚当说.

Six speakers will present on a variety of topics, including keynote speaker Carol Clark, Ph.D. Board-certified both as a sex therapist and 变性人 care therapist. Dr. Clark is a senior instructor at the International Institute of Clinical Sexology, Sex Therapy Training Institute, and the Addictions Therapy Training Institute.

Upon completion of the conference and request, a certificate of attendance will be offered.

Topics and presenters

• Keynote speaker - You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know:  Carol Clark, Ph.D, lmhc, cap
• Event Moderator: Alyssa Lemay
• LGBTQIA历史 & Culture: Adam Larivee, LCSW, MSW
• Medical/Science Standards of Care: Omar Rieche, M.D.
• LGBTQIA Spirituality: Rev. 麦格雷戈，m.s. Div.
• The Double Closet:  Domestic Violence in the LGBTQIA+ Community: Laura Streyffeler, Ph.D, lmhc, cap, BETCS, CCDVC, QS
• Trans 健康 and Primary Trans Care: Frances Haas, MSN, AGPCNP, APRN

时间和地点

For more information, contact (电子邮件保护)

LGBT and LGBTQIA+ are acronyms that describe the community of people who don’t identify as heterosexual, 直, 或cisgender. Many sources refer to the LGBTQIA+ community, which stands for lesbian, 同性恋, 双性恋, 变性人, 酷儿, 双性, 和无性. Intersex people are not the same as 变性人 people, which is why the “T” and the “I” are both included in LGBTQIA+. The use of appropriate terminology and naming helps ensures an accurate and inclusive representation of people’s diverse identities.

Adam adds a final note: “Ultimately, we wish to empower people to be their authentic selves, to enable healthcare practitioners to actively support their LGBTQIA+ patients and create a positive culture to collaborate resulting in a sustainable change for 酷儿 identities.”