Gender and Sexual Diversity SIG
Affiliated 2013
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Contact Information
Co-chairs: Janani Vaidya (they/them) and Michael May (he/they)
Administrative manager: OPEN
Members at Large: OPEN
Student Representatives: LaGriff Griffin (they/them)
Advocacy/Media Outreach: Hana-May Eadeh (they/them)
Social Coordinator: OPEN
General Interest Area to be Specifically Addressed by SIG
The Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD) SIG will focus on the following areas but is not limited to, building a supportive environment for GSD providers, researchers, scholars, and students within ACBS; to better understand issues of sexual orientation, gender diversity, and sexual minority communities including queer and trans people of color; applying contextual science to increase understanding of contexts that foster acceptance and alleviate heterocentrism, cissexism, transphobia, racism, and white supremacy. The group will also work to cultivate and maintain a safe atmosphere for GSD individuals to network, meet, and discuss their work at the annual conference of ACBS. Future goals include creating spaces for education, connection, and active projects to promote social change.
Mission Statement
The GSD SIG is oriented to better understand the role of contextual behavioral science in the unique experiences of GSD people and the role it can play in fostering acceptance, self-compassion, and well-being. We are also focused on using contextual behavioral science to promote values-directed change and recognizing the discomfort of our own experiences of heterosexism, transphobia, cissexism, racism, classism, ableism, and white supremacy. We plan to work at the intersection of several identities to dismantle and challenge the structures that continue to oppress and maintain the marginalization of GSD people from all communities and nationalities.
GSD people are often exposed early in life to cisgender, heterocentric cultures that marginalize, shame, and criminalize gender diversity and sexual diversity. Successful advocacy, activism, training, and research are required to help develop cultural humility and dismantle systems of oppression against GSD people. These competencies are broad and require considerable training and resources. The function of this special interest group is to help facilitate professional growth of GSD people and their allies who are also member of ACBS. This SIG will focus on the professional development of its members as well as the use of CBS technologies in this area. Contextual behavioral science offers a unique, non-pathologizing lens to better examine the concerns and barriers for GSD people in living a full life in a valued direction, as well as training allies and GSD people in recognizing how we all are a part of and perpetuate systems, and how to dismantle and actively disrupt these systems.
In this group, GSD providers, researchers, and scholars within ACBS will interact to mutually support and cultivate cultural humility and dismantling of oppression for GSD people.
Description of SIG membership
Membership in this group is oriented to GSD providers, researchers, scholars, and students who are ACBS members. This SIG welcomes members of all sexual and gender identities.
SIG Activities
A SIG meeting and evening outing occur each year at the World Conference. The SIG encourages panels, symposia, and workshops related to GSD concerns; sponsors presentations; and promotes collaboration with other SIGs. Further, the SIG creates a space for socialization and connection within the community. There is also a GSD SIG Resources webpage.