GLBT & Allies Responds to Homophobic Email on USF Health Mailing List

An email was sent today to the USF Health Student Mailing List (College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Public Health) that contained a homophobic cartoon (Link). The email was sent from a non-USF Health email address. Executive Board members immediately contacted the Associate Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Steven Specter and asked that he respond to the email and take action to limit this from happening again. Dr. Specter immediately responded to our request by (1) emailing the sender of the original email and expressing his concern about the message and (2) requested that USF Health IT block the sender from emailing the mailing list again, and also requested that all future messages that do not originate from an @health.usf.edu mailing address be blocked. An Executive Board member also responded directly to the sender of the email (message below).


GLBT & Allies Executive Board Response to Homophobic Email

Subject: RE: Finals week got ya down?
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 12:00 PM
To: Stress Guru [stressguru@hotmail.com]
Cc: Specter, Steven; Hoad, Michael

Dear "Stress Guru",

I am writing to tell you that your most recent email to the USF Health email list was highly offensive and, quite frankly, disturbing. My classmates were all shocked that someone would think that was an appropriate "motivational poster" to send out, especially to medical professionals. If you do not understand why your email was offensive (and homophobic), please email me back and we can discuss further. I know all of USF Health would appreciate you sending an apology email out. On behalf of the GLBT & Allies group, I invite you to explore our website (http://www.GLBTmed.org), where you can educate yourself on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender issues.

Sincerely,

Craig Levoy, MS-I
Executive Board, GLBT & Allies at the USF COM
University of South Florida College of Medicine
clevoy@health.usf.edu

http://www.GLBTmed.org



Homophobic Email:

Subject: Finals week got ya down?
From: Stress Guru [stressguru@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 11:26 AM
To: List: CON Student List (constu); List: COM Student List (comstu); List: COPH Student List (cophstu)

Here's a little motivational poster for your enjoyment.

Link to homophobic cartoon

GLBT & Allies Members at Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Rally in Washington, DC

GLBT & Allies Members Craig Levoy and Cara Sullivan were present at Sunday's Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Rally in Lafayette Park by the White House. Over 100 people gathered to protest DADT. Six protesters handcuffed themselves to the White House fence and were soon arrested and sent to jail by U.S. Park Police. More information can be found here: http://www.towleroad.com/2010/05/six-arrested-in-front-of-white-house-at-dadt-protest.html.





Picture of Rally by Craig Levoy




Lt. Dan Choi, discharged under DADT, with GLBT & Allies Board Member Craig Levoy

AMSA's 'The New Physician' Article "On Talking About Sex with Your Patients"

http://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Homepage/Publications/TheNewPhysician/2010/0510SexEffects.aspx

AMSA's 'The New Physician' Article on Being "Out" in Medical School

Waiting to Come Out

Discrimination, and the potential for it, still keeps many medical students and residents from being out about their sexual orientation or gender identity.


http://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Homepage/Publications/TheNewPhysician/2010/0510WaitingtoComeOut.aspx