CURED: Lessons from LGBTQ History for Creating Social Change and Fostering Workplace Authenticity
Documentary Film Series
Day 2
Session Code: DF1-AWhen: March 9, 2021
Level: Intermediate
Track: Social Responsibility
Presenters: Rev. Magora Kennedy, Unity Fellowship of Christ Church – New York City | Lisa Linsky, McDermott Will & Emery | Patrick Sammon, Story Center Films, LLC
Description
With an award-winning new documentary — slated for PBS broadcast in the fall of 2021 — as the centerpiece, this session uses a pivotal but largely unknown moment in LGBTQ history to offer a multitude of lessons for contemporary workplaces. Until 1973, doctors automatically classified every gay person as mentally ill. “CURED” tells the David-versus-Goliath story of the activists who challenged this diagnosis — and won. The film takes viewers inside the campaign that led the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in 1973.
At its core, this is a film about activism and the process of social change. It features a diverse group of crusaders who brought about a change that transformed not only LGBTQ people’s perceptions of themselves, but also the field of psychiatry and the social fabric of America. Following the screening, a discussion will examine the lessons “CURED” offers for creating organizational and societal change and inclusiveness.
Website: www.cureddocumentary.com
Learning Outcomes
• Examine how a handful of psychiatrists confronted homophobia and transformed their profession
• Use stories from LGBTQ history to offer a blueprint for creating change in today’s workplaces
• Explore the role of allies in bringing about systemic change
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