Dismantling Privilege and Oppression Wit hin LGBT Communities

Catalog description

This class is designed to provide students with culturally competent affirmative methodology to work clinically with LGBT people of color and other people struggling with oppressions related to identity, difference and disadvantage. In keeping with the LGBT Specialization mission, the class will employ an integral approach based in psychodynamic/Jungian methodology that also utilizes strength-based methodologies such as CBT, family systems, narrative therapy and existential humanist Interventions. This synthesis will assist in effectively and therapeutically honoring the unconscious and feeling life as it relates to LGBT core traumas and the attempt to survive homophobic and heterosexist world cultures, alongside the effects of multiple oppressions such as racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, and the intersection of religion/spirituality/family and other psychosocial concerns impacting LGBT clients. Students will be asked to explore LGBT multiculturalism through theory (via a mastery of the existing literature) and application (in the treatment planning assignments). This will include a validation on the cultural contributions in contemporary and ancient times by LGBT people of color. And, throughout the class, there will be significant focus on student self-awareness in regard to one’s own personal/cultural/sexual history vis-à- vis cultural diversity, as well as biases and attitudes related to LGBT people of diverse cultures and backgrounds through an attitude of ongoing attentiveness towards one’s own internalized homophobia, lesbianphobia, biphobia, transphobia, hetersosexism, sexism and toxic shame as it intersects with racism and resulting multiple oppressions in the lives of LGBT people of color. To this aim, postmodernism and Queer Theory can be supportive in deconstructing heteronormativity and unjust power and other forms of colonialism. However, the class goals are in line with the LGBT Specialization’s stance that these orientations are best employed in support of LGBT Studies and the study of the unconscious psyche, in an effort to not reinforce dominant heterosexist attitudes undermining LGBT affirmative identity and healing.