In November, Soulforce, Truth Wins Out, Box Turtle Bulletin, Equality Florida, Beyond Ex-Gay, and the National Black Justice Coalition are coming together to peacefully challenge the harmful practice of “reparative” therapy espoused by the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). We’ll be holding a groundbreaking conference the same weekend and in the the same city as the NARTH conference because we must educate the public about the dangers associated with sexual orientation change efforts and challenge the toxic notion that being straight is superior to being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
At the 2009 Anti-Heterosexism Conference, powerful keynote addresses will be delivered by Dr. Sylvia Rhue, Dr. Jack Drescher, and Rev. Deborah Johnson, and conference participants will return to their communities with concrete skills for ending the harm caused by heterosexism and reparative therapy. In the coming weeks we’ll be unveiling a full line-up of mental health professionals, social science researchers, activists, and spiritual leaders who will present at the conference. You won’t want to miss this important event and early registration is open now until October 5th.
From Straight Rackets to Straight Jackets
November 20-22, 2009 - Crowne Plaza Hotel, West Palm Beach, Florida
After reviewing nearly two dozen workshop proposals from a variety of mental health professionals, behavioral researchers, clergy, activists, journalists, and survivors of reparative therapy, Soulforce is pleased to announce a final line up of workshop titles and presenters for the Anti-Heterosexism Conference this November. Keynote addresses and concurrent workshops include:
Straight Rackets: Why the Religious Right Needs Reparative Therapy
Sylvia Rhue, Ph.D.
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.
Pray Away the Gay?
Wayne Besen
Genocidal Intentions: Public Policy and the Ex-Gay Movement
Christine Robinson, Ph.D.
“It Just Ain't So”: Debunking the Myth of Gender Polarity
Rev. Deborah L. Johnson
Heterosexism and Transgender Oppression
Virginia Stephenson & Jordan Johnson
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.
Getting It Straight: Ex-Gay Survivors and Their Therapeutic Needs
Christine Bakke and Jallen Rix, Ed.D.
Media 101: How to Build and Deliver an Effective Message
Brian Winfield
Body & Soul: Integrating Sexuality & Spirituality
Timothy Palmer, M. Div.
Heterosexual Interrupted: What the Ex-Gay Movement Really Means By “Change”
Jim Burroway
Media Access: Getting Through the Noise
Gabriel Arana
Spiritual Self-Defense for LGBT Christians
Rev. Candace Chellew
Queering Youth/Young Adult Activism
Andi Gentile and Asher Kolieboi
Lessons Learned This Weekend: A Conversation About Implementing Effective Strategies In Our Communities
Marsha McDonough, Ph.D.; Paul W. Dodd, D.Min., L.P.C.
Straight Jackets: A Psychiatrist Deconstructs Sexual Conversion Therapies
Jack Drescher, M.D.
For a complete conference schedule, presentation abstracts, and speaker bios, go to
www.Anti-HeterosexismConference.org.
To register for the conference, purchase an exhibit table, or become an individual or corporate sponsor, please click here. Early registration continues through October 5, 2009.
The weekend includes a special Saturday evening performance of M.U.D. (Men In Dirt) by the Ollom Movement Art, complete with champagne and chocolate.
The Anti-Heterosexism Conference is brought to you by the generous donations made by the Carpenter Foundation, Deer Oaks: A Behavioral Health Organization, and Dr. Paul Boskind, PhD.
