Originally published in Synapse on April 5, 2012. Over 200 students and community members flocked to a two-day UCSF LGBTQI Health Forum on March 2 and 3.
The fourth annual event aimed to educate budding health professionals about the health concerns of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI) communities.
The conference, which sold out rapidly, highlights the ever growing interest and need for health professionals to be educated about the concerns of the evolving LGBTQI communities. The event received rave reviews by the attendees, many of whom noted that they feel more prepared to treat and care for the LGBTQI population after the conference.
A screening of Gen Silent, which highlighted the struggles faced by aging LGBTQI people, was followed by a Q&A with Seth Kilbourn, director of Open House, the only LGBT housing services program for elderly LGBT people in the nation.
During another event, Shane Snowdon, director of the UCSF’s Center for LGBT Health and Equity, covered the health and social disparities currently faced by LGBTQI people. Then a panel of patients shared very personal narratives about their experiences with the healthcare system.
Students then attended three breakout sessions, which covered a wide variety of topics including transgender health, gender-creative children, bisexuality, and LGBTQI Parenting.
Noted sexologist made an appearance to Carol Queen discuss the multitude of sexualities in humans, assuring the crowd that sex will not get boring anytime soon. Then an “Outness” panel comprised of various health professionals discussed the challenges they faced as LGBTQI people in their training and work.
