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These files are maintained strictly for historical reference, research, and recordkeeping purposes, and the content has not been altered or updated since archiving.
Content on this site may not meet current digital accessibility standards.
If you require an alternative, accessible format of any information found on this site, please contact Bruce Jones, bjones@ucsd.edu to request an accommodation.
These files are maintained strictly for historical reference, research, and recordkeeping purposes, and the content has not been altered or updated since archiving.
Content on this site may not meet current digital accessibility standards.
If you require an alternative, accessible format of any information found on this site, please contact Bruce Jones, bjones@ucsd.edu to request an accommodation.
These files are maintained strictly for historical reference, research, and recordkeeping purposes, and the content has not been altered or updated since archiving.
Content on this site may not meet current digital accessibility standards.
If you require an alternative, accessible format of any information found on this site, please contact Bruce Jones, bjones@ucsd.edu to request an accommodation.
> > Statement of Concern and Protest
> >
> > Government funders within the Bush Administration at SAMHSA (Substance
> > Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) notified the Suicide
> > Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) that SAMHSA Administrator, Charles
> > Curie, would not be allowed to attend a SPRC regional conference on
> > suicide prevention if conference organizers went forward with a workshop
> > title that included the words "gay," "lesbian," "bisexual", and
> > "transgender". The conference is
> > scheduled to take place in Portland, Oregon, February 28-March 2. The
> > original title of the workshop was "Suicide Prevention Among Gays,
> > Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Transgender Individuals."
> >
> > On January 31, Lloyd Potter, SPRC Center Director, contacted workshop
> > presenters Ron Bloodworth, Joyce Liljeholm and Reid Vanderburgh and
> > requested that we come up with alternative wording for the workshop so
> > that the words "gay","lesbian","bisexual", or "transgender" did not
> > appear in the workshop title or descriptor.
> >
> > We worked with SPRC to create alternative wording so that the workshop
> > could continue to be offered but we expressed deep concern about
> > government intrusion to remove any reference to gay, lesbian, bisexual,
> > and transgender people in the workshop title and descriptor. After
> > agreeing to the title "Suicide Prevention in Vulnerable Populations",
> > we were told that the new title would be acceptable to SAMHSA and that
> > we could use the term "sexual orientation" in the workshop descriptor
> > but that the term "gender identity" would "not fly with SAMHSA."
> >
> > We are still planning to offer the workshop as originally planned even
> > though the workshop title and descriptor had to be changed but we will
> > not be quiet about the heavy handed efforts of SAMSHA to render gay,
> > lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgender people invisible. The action of
> > our government in this regard is the very reason a workshop on suicide
> > prevention with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgender individuals
> > is needed. How ironic! The discriminatory and intimidating actions of
> > SAMHSA and the Bush administration should not go unchallenged and should
> > be of concern to all Americans.
> >
> > It's important to note that Oregon Senator Gordon Smith is scheduled to
> > attend the conference as part of his support for suicide prevention
> > efforts in the U.S. We urge you to use the attached contact information
> > to express your concern to SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie, Secretary
> > of Health and Human Services, Mike Leavitt, Oregon Senator Gordon Smith,
> > and other members of Congress from your state that represents you.
> >
> > Thank you for your concern and support.
> > Ron Bloodworth, MA, LPC, Portland, OR
> > Joyce Liljeholm, MEd, Portland, OR
> > Reid Vanderburgh, MA, Portland, OR
> >
> >
> > Contact Information for Government Officials:
> >
> > Charles Curie,
> > Office of the Administrator, SAMHSA
> > Rockville, MD 20850
> > Tel: 240-276-2000
> > charles.curie@samhsa.hhs.gov
> >
> >
> > Mike Leavitt
> > Secretary of Health and Human Services
> > 200 Independence Ave. SW
> > Washington, D.D. 20201
> > Tel: 202-690-7000
> > Fax: 202-690-7203
> >
> > Senator Gordon Smith
> > 404 Russell Bldg
> > Washington, D.C. 20510-3704
> > Tel: 202-224-3753
> > Fax: 202-228-3997
> > http://gsmith.senate.gov/webform.htm
> >
> >
> > President George W. Bush
> > The White House
> > 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
> > Washington, DC 20500
> > Comments: 202-456-1111
> > Switchboard: 202-456-1414
> > president@whitehouse.gov
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