Professor Hahm’s Research Suggests Caring Teachers May Decrease Early Sexual Initiation in Black LGBTQ Youth Exposed to Violence
Exposure to peer and neighborhood violence can cause early sexual initiation among young people, which puts them at higher risk of harassment, assault, trafficking, exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancy. A recent study co-authored by Professor Hyeouk Chris Hahm from BU School of Social Work suggests that teachers may mitigate the risk […]
The 19th: Professor Jacobson López Discusses O’Shae Sibley Tragedy & Historical Discrimination Against Black LGBTQ Adults
While popular culture has begun to celebrate Black gay, bisexual, or queer identified men, the recent murder of dancer O’Shae Sibley shows the dangers Black LGBTQ individuals face outside of curated spaces. Professor Daniel Jacobson López from BU School of Social Work spoke to The 19th about the long history of violence against Black queer […]
Love Letters to the LGBTQIA+ Community Project
In celebration and recognition of Pride Month and eternal LGBTQIA+ pride, we dedicate these love letters of support and affirmation to you – our LGBTQIA+ friends, students, colleagues, family members, and peers. We write these letters to let you know that you are welcome, needed, valued, respected, and honored, and we hope they give you […]
Professor Jacobson López’s Research in Ghana Improves Access to Preventative HIV Care
Professor Daniel Jacobson López traveled to Ghana this summer to consult on how intersectional stigma prevents vulnerable populations from accessing healthcare and preventive HIV care. This research was conducted as part of the Promoting Reductions in Intersectional StigMa (PRISM) initiative, an organization of researchers and healthcare providers exploring how multiple stigmatized identities create barriers to […]
Fatherly: Lecturer Rebecca Minor (MSW’15) Debunks Misconceptions of Gender Dysphoria in Trans Youth
A 2018 study by a professor at Brown University introduced a misguided hypothesis that trans youth experience gender dysphoria due to conflicts between social identities and self identities. BUSSW lecturer Rebecca Minor clarifies the trans youth experience and harmful misconceptions around the difficult process of coming out in a recent Fatherly article. Excerpt from “‘Social Contagion’ […]
PinkNews: Lecturer Jessica Kant Says Alabama’s Trans Healthcare Ban Is a Human Rights Crisis
A recent Alabama law making it a felony for medical providers to provide gender-affirming care has resulted in a devastating ripple effect for families throughout the state. The law is one of many legislations that have been proposed across the United States. Families with trans youth must now decide whether they can afford to move […]
Swampscott Reporter: James Fishman (SSW’78) Discusses His Social Work Legacy
As an alum of BU School of Social Work, James Fishman (SSW’78) has become a leader in improving the lives of Bostonians with AIDS. A recent profile of Fishman in the Swampscott Reporter celebrated his work as a therapist for those affected by AIDS, as well as his history-making appointment as the first social worker […]
Insider: BUSSW Lecturer & Alum Rebecca Minor (SSW’15) Says Children Know If They Are Trans
While some parents may struggle with their young children identifying as trans, BUSSW Lecturer Rebecca Minor (SSW’15) explains that the most important thing a parent can do is provide unconditional love and support: “Kids know themselves a lot more than adults tend to give them credit for, and we need to listen.” In her latest […]
Sexual & Gender Minorities Need Social Media-Based Interventions to Improve Mental Health Outcomes, Researchers Find
The prevalence of social media and its built-in engagement tools make it a compelling platform for health interventions. From smoking cessation Facebook groups to sexual health “webisodes” on YouTube, many of these interventions have shown success. However, a lack of research on the overall engagement of social media-based interventions among sexual and gender minority (SGM) […]
The Network: CADER Launches Free Course to Prevent Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
The Center for Aging and Disability Education & Research (CADER) at BUSSW is dedicated to improving the healthcare system for the aging LGBTQ+ community. To that end, CADER has recently collaborated with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) to create a free online course for all providers in Massachusetts that contract with, receive […]