Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Another first: GLBT talk at AVMA meeting

Just one day following Professor Joan Roughgarden's groundbreaking lecture on "Sexual Diversity in the Animal Kingdom", the LGVMA marked another historic moment. As part of the official program of the American Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention, GLBT issues were brought front and center for the first time into an AVMA-sponsored forum.

As part of the AVMA's Third Annual Diversity Symposium on Monday, July 16, current LGVMA President Michael McElvaine offered a presentation entitled "Reaching a Broader Client Base: How to Make Your Practice More Attractive to the GLBT Community":

Dr. Michael D. McElvaine, president of the Lesbian and Gay Veterinary Medical Association, offered ways to attract and retain the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.

"Display brochures and signs of local events of GLBT interest," Dr. McElvaine said. For example, he said, in Washington, D.C., where he resides, businesses often display promotions for an annual AIDS walk in the area.

Dr. McElvaine also recommended having a written non-discrimination policy that all of the clinic's employees are required to follow and participating in a referral program or advertising in the local gay media.

All who attended felt the presentation was well-received by the AVMA audience. Congratulations & thanks to Michael for his participation in this symposium on our behalf!

Dr. Michael McElvaine at AVMA Diversity Symposium
As our LGVMA festivities in Washington DC started to wind down, Dr. McElvaine also reported that he was approached by a wide variety of folks including "current, past and future AVMA presidents" and Board members, offering their congratulations to him and to "LGVMA for everything that has happened this week".

Once again, thanks to everyone whose hard work made this year's AVMA convention a milestone, a truly ground-breaking year for LGVMA!

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