Spring Break
Program celebrates sexual diversity
Health science holds yearly lecture
Michael Pasaoa
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: News
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It was created to make sure that San Jose State had a healthy climate during the early days of the AIDS epidemic and during the start of activism for gays and lesbians, she added.
"Ten years ago, students came to us and said they weren't comfortable," Roe said, "that there weren't many gays on campus that were open, and they didn't feel well represented."
Every April, the department commits a full day to address four lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, issues in a positive way, Roe said.
She said there are four items the health science department considers in its curriculum:
1. Cover how being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender contributes to public health - not just HIV issues.
2. Address resilience to social alienation.
3. Make sure the department is a safe place for students.
4. Unify strong allies for human rights in the profession.
Around 15 alumni who were gay activists in the '80s and '90s returned for the annual reunion Monday.
Among them were Amy Brinkman, who started the needle exchange program in Santa Clara, and fellow SJSU alumnus Andrew Gans.
There was also an LGBT luncheon where 35 faculty, staff and alumni gathered and presented SJSU President Don Kassing with a gift for his influence on human rights, regarding Kassing's decision to suspend blood drives on campus, Roe said.
At 6:30 p.m. in Sweeney Hall, there was a sexual diversity lecture that has been held every second Monday of April for the past 10 years.
Ron Stall, professor and chair of the University of Pittsburgh's department of behavioral and community health sciences, presented health disparities affecting gay and bisexual men in the United States as part of this year's lecture.
It was an opportunity for students to hear from an international researcher, Roe said.
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