West Hollywood mayor speaks to USC social workers (in 2008)

From 2006 to 2008 I participated in a graduate program for clinical social work at USC (University of Southern California).

Each year USC puts on an "All School Day" where all three USC campuses come together at the Radison Hotel across from the Los Angeles USC campus. L.A., Orange County and Skir Ball all unite to listen to different panels speak about something that applies to social work.

All School Day began in 1992 after racial tensions from the Los Angeles riots. Each year since, the School of Social Work has brought all campuses together to discuss and exchange ideas about diversity.

In 2008 the panel consisted of four people.

Sharon Franklin Brown is a transgender activist who works at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. She told her story of growing up in a southern African-American community, feeling trapped as a girl in a boy's body. After telling her parents she was going to make the physical changes to complete her transition from a man to a woman, they disowned her for 18 years.

Reverend Neil Thomas, senior pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church in Los Angeles is a gay man who provided a perspective homosexuality existing withi religion.

Miguel Martinez manages the risk reduction program at Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles that provides HIV care and prevention education to youth. He is an advocate for gay rights and encourages student youth to fight against stigma.

The keynote speaker was the mayor of West Hollywood, John Duran.

I found his speech on USC's social work Youtube channel and I will allow their nicely wrapped summery to introduce Mr. Duran.

"Mayor John Duran was elected to the West Hollywood City Council on March 6, 2001. Throughout his legal career he has worked to defend human rights, including the prominent legal case Kolcum v. L.A. County, where he successfully sued Los Angeles County for denying medication to inmates with HIV/AIDS. Mayor Duran was identified as one of the 20 most influential members of the gay community by "In Los Angeles Magazine." Besides leading the effort for marriage equality in California, he also serves as a role model for HIV positive people as one of four HIV-positive elected officials in the United States. Mayor Duran has been a gay activist since 1985 and is currently writing a history of the gay rights movement in Southern California. "


West Hollywood Mayor John Duran speaks about LGBTQI community to USC social workers

I was told that 2008 was the first time this topic was addressed. I'm surprised it took USC so long to do this. I am glad that I was able to be a part of it. I loved listening to all of the speakers of the panel and the mayor's speech in particular was very moving.

I remember wishing that everyone I know was in that room witnessing what I was witnessing. I was hearing the personal stories of brave individuals. Their stories are not just beneficial to social workers but I believe would be beneficial for everyone.

Discrimination comes in many many forms and I think it is not just the job of social workers but of all individuals to fight against it for ourselves and others.