AGLBICAL
OVERVIEW
GLBT PRIDE
IN BIRMINGHAM
One of
Several
Rainbow Flags
Displayed in
Five Points Area
During Gay Pride Week
in Birmingham,
Alabama,
2005
"We are in era of
great diversity, and young GLBT students are emerging from the closet in
search of safety in the hands of the supposed security of teachers,
coaches, administrators, and counselors in schools."
DONNA MELDER
AGLBICAL PRESIDENT
2005-06
"I see the struggles of
the gay and lesbian members of our community to be a human rights issue.
I consider their treatment by our society as a form of discrimination.
Consequently, I believe it is the obligation of counselors, at very
least, to educate themselves about the critical issues related to this
population."
MICHAEL LEBEAU
ALCA PRESIDENT
2004-05
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CHRONOLOGY OF AGLBICAL
May 2004
ALCA Spring Retreat
New ALCA President, Michael Lebeau, in announcing agenda for 2004-05
administration, includes plan to raise awareness of GLBT issues.
May 2004
ALCA Spring Retreat
ALCA President, Michael Lebeau charges the Current Issues Committee to
take on task of addressing GLBT concerns and appoints Glenda Elliott to
the chairmanship of the committee.
November 2004
ALCA Fall Conference, Huntsville
ALCA President, Michael Lebeau highlights GLBT content sessions as
reflective of his current issues focus.
February
2005
ALCA Winter Meeting
Approval by ALCA Executive Council to establish official Interest
Section for Gay & Lesbian Issues in Counseling. Glenda Elliot
named President of new Interest Section.
July 2005
ALCA Summer Meeting
Approval by ALCA Executive Council to establish official AGLBICAL
Division. ALCA President Paul Hard presiding.
Parliamentarian Frank Hrabe called for vote.
October
2005
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
First Meeting of the AGLBICAL Division, in Birmingham, facilitated by AGLBICAL
President, Donna Melder.
November 2005
ALCA Fall Conference, Birmingham
AGLBICAL features information table. AGLBICAL sponsors content
sessions. Glenda Elliott wins the
Wilbur A.
Tincher Award for a Humanitarian & Caring Person.
PRESIDENTIAL COMMENTS
Donna Melder,
AGLBICAL President 2005-06
As I have
reflected on the 2005 ALCA Fall Conference, my thoughts have varied in
significance, implication, and need concerning our division and other
divisions and chapters in the ALCA, as well as mental clips of audio and
video memories. Each year I look forward to this conference as I
anticipate seeing friends and making new contacts with people involved
in the many aspects of counseling in the state. This year has been no
exception.
We set out to help educate the membership of ALCA on issues in counseling that impact GLBT people, and to create an equitable recognition of our accomplishments and contributions. As I recall conversations that I have had with various AGLBICAL members, I believe that we have heard the voice of the state association members, and have been challenged to look past our “agenda” and move toward addressing the needs of our colleagues.
School counselors were among the most represented group of attendees in the five GLBT content sessions offered at the conference this year. I heard them repeat time and time again that they acknowledge the presence of GLBT children and youth, and that they believe all students should have access to a safe educational experience. It has been our approach or “agenda” to convince others that this issue does exist and it should be handled with knowledgeable counselors who know and understand the language, identity, and development of GLBT students. We have even gone into detail about the coming out process and the effects this will have on the individual. All of these topics and facets of GLBT life are paramount to healthy development.
We are in era of great diversity, and young GLBT students are emerging from the closet in search of safety in the hands of the supposed security of teachers, coaches, administrators, and counselors in schools.
I walked wearily, yet enthusiastically, back to our information table outside the exhibition hall. Glenda Elliot and I, along with Michael Lebeau, discussed our new clarity and vision. We discussed the need and some possible ways to open dialog with the school counselors on how we can meet their needs and learn more about their difficulties. When we arrived at our table, flag still pinned to the front, literature stacked neatly in piles, and a few remaining ribbons holding their place in front, I paused to absorb all I had seen and heard. I am reminded of what Glenda had told me when I asked what she thought after attending a performance by a treatment groups I help lead. I asked, “So, what did you think?” Glenda looked at me and smiled as she said, “Well, I didn’t think, I felt.”
This was the
moment I experienced when I saw our table among the other tables outside
of the exhibition hall. We have indeed moved into an era of diversity.
Now it is time to act on that diversity and welcome the comments from
our friends and colleagues. Our central question in the coming months
will be, “how can we help.” I would also like to hear from all of you
individually on how you are “feeling.”
GLBT CONTENT
SESSIONS AT 2004 ALCA FALL CONFERENCE
Huntsville, Michael
Lebeau, ALCA President
Theme: "The Counselor as Leader: Courage, Compassion, Character"
Current Issues
in Counseling: Piloting the Course
Dr. Mark Pope
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counseling, Counselor
Education, and Clinical Supervision: A Round Table Discussion
Dr. Glenda Elliott, LPC, NCC (ALCA Committee Chair on Current Issues);
Dr. Cheri Smith, LPC, NCC
Promoting Safe Spaces for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth
in Our Schools and Colleges: An Update from the Field
Dr. Glenda Elliott, LPC, NCC (Private Practice); Gloria Anderson, LPC,
NCC, MAT (Mountain Brook Schools); Dr. Angela Stowe, LPC, NCC (UAB); Dr.
Angela Coker LPC, NCC (UAB)
Working with Gender-Variant Clients
Leila L. Nabors, M.Ed., ALC, Alabama
Psychologhical Services Center
Working
with Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Clients
Presenters: Leila L.
Nabors, ALC, Alabama Psychological Services Center; Donald F. Towle Jr.,
M.S., Counseling/Human Services, Crisis & GLBT Therapist, Mental Health
Ctr., Madison Co.
Faith Communities: Meeting
the Emotional & Spiritual Needs of the GLBT Client
Rev Richard Barham
Spirituality and Sexual Identity Formation: A Journey to Wholeness
Dr. Cheri Smith, PhD, NCC, LPC (Counselor Educator, CT) and Dr. Rebecca
Stanard, PhD, LPC (State University of West Georgia)
Gender
Variant Students: School Counselor and Mental Health Partnerships
Marty
Hulsey, Kay Sewell, and Rosa Statom
Special Populations: Meeting the Needs of the Diverse GLBT Community
Priscilla Wilson, MA, UA JUMP Program; Lynn Lawson; Dr. Janice Martin,
LPC
Gay and Lesbian Issues in Counseling: Developing Counselor Competence
Michelle Walker, Drug Program Specialist, and Wade Wofford, UAB Graduate
Student
GLBT
CONTENT SESSIONS AT 2005 ALCA FALL CONFERENCE
Birmingham, Paul
Hard, ALCA President
Theme: "We Are Family: One Vision ~ Many Voices"
Round Table
Discussion: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counseling
Dr. Glenda Elliott, PhD, LPC, Associate Professor Emeritus, Univ of
Alabama at Birmingham and Donna Melder, MEd, LPC, Clinical Supervisor,
Family & Community Services
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counselor Education
and Clinical Supervision
Dr. Glenda Elliott, PhD, LPC, Associate Professor Emeritus, Univ of
Alabama at Birmingham and Dr. Barry Stephens, PhD, CRC, Asst professor &
Rehabilitation Coordinator, UAB Counselor Education Program
Counseling Issues with Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, and
Questioning Youth
Nancy Wolfe, MA, High school Counselor and Leila Nabors, ALC
What To Say When Your Student May Be Gay
Dr. Mark Leggett, PhD, NCC, LPC and Dr. Jamie Satcher, PhD, CRC, NCC,
Univ of Alabama, Program in Counselor Education
Counseling Implications for Lesbian and Gay Families and Parents
Leila Nabors, MEd, ALC and Beth Cook, MS, ALC
PRESIDENTIAL
COMMENTS
Michael Lebeau,
ALCA President 2004-05
"I see the struggles of the gay and
lesbian members of our community to be a human rights issue. I consider
their treatment by our society as a form of discrimination.
Consequently, I believe it is the obligation of counselors, at very
least, to educate themselves about the critical issues related to this
population. We owe it to our gay and lesbian clients and to our gay and
lesbian members to be open-minded, non-judgmental, and appropriately
informed."
"One of the goals of my
presidential service is to raise awareness of GLBT issues. Stemming
from that goal was to designate GLBT concerns as the charge of the
Current Issues committee and to appoint Glenda Elliott as the Chair.
Also stemming from that goal was the intention of presenting various
content sessions on GLBT issues at the Fall Conference. And we are
hoping to form a GLBT interest group or division. All of these
objectives are concerned with education. None of these objectives have
anything to do with political action or legislative lobbying. It is not
my intention, nor is it part of my presidential platform, to issue any
kind of political statement to our legislators. And while we are wise to
avoid political lobbying, I still maintain that, as counselors, we
should be leading the cause of human rights and addressing the struggles
of the disenfranchised members of our communities. Despite our diverse
perspectives, I am confident we can find common ground in our shared
desire to seek understanding, to foster inclusiveness, and to show
respect for all people."
"Glenda Elliott and her
committee are to be commended for their exemplary efforts in
disseminating accurate and timely data concerning GLBT issues in
counseling. They have assembled an impressive number of members to
serve on their committee who have expressed their desire to learn more
about GLBT concerns and have committed themselves to help raise
awareness and increase understanding among our membership. Glenda
Elliott is a friend and colleague, distinguished counselor educator and
a highly revered member and officer in ALCA. She and her Current Issues
Committee have my full support."