Gay, lesbian issues to be debated at teleconference

A national teleconference and a University panel discussion on issues related to sexual orientation will be held this Thursday in the Annenberg School. The conference, titled "Understanding and Meeting the Needs of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students," will focus on the concerns of these groups, as well as the development of non-discrimination and anti-harassment campus policies. The panelists of the teleconference will include Kevin Berrill of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force of Washington, D.C. and Kathy Obear of The Human Advantage of Amherst, Mass.. In addition, professors from the University of Maryland, the Teachers College of Columbia University, and the University of Vermont will be serving as panelists. The teleconference will start with issues of sexual awareness, such as coming to terms with sexual identity, special issues for ethnic minority gay youth, developmental issues of teenagers and the implications of these issues for gay, lesbian and bisexual students. The teleconference will then deal with the current climate for gay, lesbian and bisexual students on college campuses. Topics include the absence of sexual minority role models, homophobia and discrimination. The teleconference will close with the discussion of the direction to be taken in improving gay, lesbian and bisexual life on campus. Following the teleconference will be a reception and panel discussion led by University faculty, staff and students. Assistant Director for Student Life Robert Schoenberg will moderate the discussion. Demie Kurz, the Co-Director of the Women's Studies Program, and David Boyd, Assistant Professor of English, will serve as faculty participants in the discussion. Zoila Airall, Assistant Director of Residential Living, and Tomas Leal, Director of South Campus Residences, will serve as staff panel members. In addition, three University undergraduates and one University graduate student will act as panelists. The panel discussion will consider case studies of discrimination against gay, lesbian and bisexual students. The program at the University is sponsored by Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson, the Program for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Students, the Penn Women's Center and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. The program, which will be held in the Annenberg School room 111, is open to the public.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.