Past Events

The Adler School's LGBTQ Mental Health and Inclusion Center in affiliation with Affinity presents Cruel & Unusual.

Cruel & Usual is a 64 minute documentary focusing on the experiences of transgender women who are placed in all-male prison facilities that still prescribe to a genital-based classification system. Transgender inmates are often prevented from accessing hormones while incarcerated, frequently harassed and assaulted by prison inmates and employees, and placed in “protective custody” (solitary confinement) and cut off from all human contact, supposedly for their own protection. The documentary explores the ways in which transgender female prisoners are forced to survive in order to maintain their right to gender self-determination while in such hostile environments, and their incredible resilience.

To register, email ce@adler.edu.

Please join us for a panel discussion on the Quran’s teachings of what it means to be a sexual orientation and/or gender identity minority.  We will further discuss the impact of those teachings, and what efforts are being made to help those who are excluded or in physical danger from these teachings.  Panelists will share how they have reconciled their faith and identity. Finally, the specific needs of LGBT refugees and asylum seekers will also be addressed.

The Panelists are:

• Maher Alhaj: Born in Jordan and creator of www.homosexualityishalal.com
• Dalia Fridi: Born in Algeria and Chair of Equality Illinois Education Project
• Daniel Weyl: Heartland Alliance International and Rainbow Welcome Initiative Coordinator

Location: Community Hall. This event is free! Light dinner and refreshments will be served.

RSVP is required.  Please send email to ce@adler.edu  to register.

In partnership with the PRIDE Institute and Chicago Lakeshore Hospital. Identifying and Treating Maladaptive Sexual Behavior of LGBTQ People.  Learn how to identify and treat maladaptive sexual behavior.  Breakfast provided.

Alternative Sexualities Conference sponsored by the Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities.  Learn about clinical issues present in providing care to the Leather/BDSM/Kink communities (both heterosexual and LGBTQ).  Day-long conference with lunch and refreshments included.

Join us for a discussion about internal and external conflicts for African-American sexual minorities that are created when religious and sexual orientation identities do not reconcile with each other. Learn about coping strategies used to bring about a more harmonious coexistence of those separate identities and how ministers are actively counseling African-American sexual minorities to bring about spiritual healing and identity cohesion. Presentation and discussion 8:00am - 9:15am. Breakfast will be served.

Please RSVP by May 14th to ce@adler.edu.  

About the Speakers

Rev. Kevin Tindell: An ordained minister and life coach, Rev. Tindell is active in Black SGL spiritual groups and counsels and coaches many who struggle with their identity, especially with regard to their spirituality and sexuality. He is the founder of Centered Ministries, a coaching practice, and is also currently on the ministry staff of New Dimensions Worship Center Chicago, a metaphysical Christian ministry.

Rev. Benjamin Reynolds: With over 36-years of preaching, Rev. Reynolds has been called “The People’s Preacher.” He served in a pastoral role within the Baptist church of his upbringing for nearly 16 years, resigning and “coming out” to the congregation about his sexual orientation. He has completed two interim positions within the United Church of Christ. He is seeking Privilege of Call within the denomination at Pilgrim Congregational UCC in Oak Park. Most recently, he has been called to serve as Interim Pastor for the First Church of Brethren in Chicago.