The Council on Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression, formerly the Commission on Gay Men and Lesbian Women, is a council of the Commission for Diversity and Social and Economic Justice. The council promotes the development of social work curriculum materials and faculty growth opportunities relevant to sexual orientation, gender expression, and the experiences of individuals who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or two-spirit. The council also works for the full participation of individuals who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or two-spirit in social work education, facilitating mentorship of students and junior faculty who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or two-spirit and offering assistance and consultation to educators and students concerning issues of sexual orientation and gender expression.
Charge from the Commission
The Council on Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression shall have the following functions:
- to further the development and availability of social work education curriculum materials and faculty development opportunities related to sexual orientation and gender expression (including all of the individual and systemic issues associated with them) and the experiences of persons who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or two-spirit;
- to recommend policy statements, procedures, and activities that advance inclusion and affirmation within social work education of persons who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or two-spirit;
- to facilitate mentorship of doctoral students and junior faculty who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or two-spirit; and
- to identify and advocate for change of any policies, procedures, or activities that impede full and affirming participation within CSWE and social work education by persons who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or two-spirit;
- to offer consultation and assistance to social work educators and students concerning issues of sexual orientation and gender expression in social work education and the experiences of persons who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or two-spirit.