LGBT HEALTH PIONEER TO SPEAK AT BRYN MAWR

Caitlin Conor Ryan, a nationally recognized pioneer in the study of health and policy issues relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sexuality, will give a public lecture on Monday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. in Thomas Great Hall. The lecture is free and open to all; registration is encouraged (register by e-mail at sw-rsvp@brynmawr.edu, specifying "9/27 Ryan Lecture).

Ryan's lecture, "Sexuality & Social Work: The Missing Discourse," will argue that human sexuality is a core aspect of development and expression across the life span, and that social work has an important role to play in addressing sexuality in terms of practice, policy, research, advocacy and education. The presentation will explore how the profession of social work addresses human sexuality and training, and how key areas of scholarship are incorporated into social-work education and practice.

During her three-day visit to Bryn Mawr, Ryan, who is a founder of both the National Lesbian and Gay Health Foundation and the National Association of People With AIDS, will serve as a scholar-in-residence. She will lead discussions with both graduate and undergraduate students, facilitate an integrative seminar for GSSWSR students specializing in the area of child and family well-being, meet with field instructors and work as a master teacher with the social-work faculty.

As Director of Adolescent Health Initiatives at the César Chávez Institute at San Francisco State University, Ryan studies sexual orientation, ethnicity and health and supervises internship training. Her recent research includes studies on the effect of gay-straight alliances on school climate and the care of LGBT youth in publicly funded, faith-based institutions. In 2002, with Rafael Díaz, she launched the Family Acceptance Project, an applied-research and community-intervention project to study the impact of family acceptance on health outcomes for lesbian, gay and bisexual youth. The project will develop resources and interventions to support healthy adolescent development, to strengthen families and to increase the cultural competency of school-based and community health and mental health providers. A biography of Ryan is available on the GSSWSR Web site.

Ryan's visit is supported with a gift from L. Diane Bernard, Ph.D. '67. The lecture is free and open to the public; two Social Work Continuing Education credit hours will be available for a $10 processing fee.  Sign-up and forms will be available at the event.

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