Speakers

Ellesse-Roselee Akré, PhD, MA

Racism and cisheterosexism: The root causes of health disparities at the intersections of race and ethnicity and sexual orientation and gender identity

In this keynote talk, Dr. Akré will delve into the rich and diverse tapestry of the LGBTQIA+ community, exploring the myriad experiences, identities, and disparities within this heterogeneous group. With a particular focus on the intersectionality of Black people and people of color within the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, she will elucidate the unique challenges faced by these individuals.

Join us as we explore the current state of LGBTQIA+ health, unveiling the intersectionality that defines the experiences of Black LGBTQIA+ individuals. We unravel the public health impacts of structural racism within the community and propose frameworks aimed at transforming clinical and public health efforts. Recognizing the unique struggles faced by Black LGBTQIA+ persons, we shed light on the consistent disparities shared with other marginalized groups and offer recommendations of how we can begin to redress these issues.

Ari Drennen

Social media and the new reality for providers of gender-affirming care

In the summer of 2022, a series of violent threats swept children's hospitals across the nation, leading to rushed evacuations and disruptions of care. Anti-trans social media figures with millions of followers have figured out how to use even the most benign public statements from doctors with transgender patients to generate rage, clicks, and lots of money – using a dangerous playbook first deployed against abortion providers. Learn how internet disinformation warps the realities of transition-related care and what to be aware of as a medical provider in the age of unwanted virality.

Natasha L. Poulopoulos, PhD

How Are You All Handling It? Advocating for LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Healthcare Environments in the Current Socio-Political Climate

A record number of bills targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth continue to be introduced this year, including the criminalization of gender-affirming care and banning of affirming school environments and/or classroom discussions regarding sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI), emphasizing the need for hospital-based provider LGBTQ+ competencies. With the current socio-political climate in the United States, providers and hospitals have experienced harassment, threats, and challenges navigating clashes between accredited medical and psychological organizational guidelines and state laws. Healthcare systems are at the forefront for implementing system training to ensure clinicians are equipped to provide LGBTQ+ affirming care for youth. Clinicians are uniquely positioned to improve health care processes and outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth through education, advocacy, and clinical practice. The current presentation serves as a roadmap of hope and strategies for navigating challenges faced by affirming providers and inclusive hospital systems.