WASHINGTON (June 2, 2025) – Sunday, June 1 marked the beginning of Pride Month 2025.
Organizers of Pride Month in Washington DC told ABC News that they are “emphasizing messages of resistance, resilience and, above all, hope at a time when LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly the transgender community, are being targeted on various fronts by the Trump administration.”
The George Washington University has experts available who can discuss many areas of LGBTQ+ rights. If you would like to schedule an interview, please contact GW Media Relations at gwmedia
gwu [dot] edu (gwmedia[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Law
Joan Schaffner, ssociate professor of law, has taught Sexuality and the Law for eight years. She can speak on the implications and legality of many LQBTQ+ and trans regulations made in recent years.
Jason Belk, associate Dean of Students for GW Law, brings over a decade of experience in administrative law. He has spearheaded program development for wellness, support and diversity and inclusion for students studying the law and the importance of inclusion and representation in the industry.
Health
Jeffrey Akman, associate professor and interim chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He is recognized as a pioneer in HIV/AIDS psychiatry and for his expertise in LGBTQ mental health.
David Huebner, associate professor of prevention and community health, and is an expert on psychology and public health. His recent research focuses on how discrimination affects lesbuan, gay and bisexual adults. He can also talk about health risks, including suicide, the LGBT youth face face during a coming out period and how to reduce those risks.
Jonathan Rendina, associate research professor of epidemiology, can talk about high risk behavior in young gay and bisexual males and how to reduce the risk of HIV and other health issues. He can also talk about how stigma, stress and other factors can lead to LGBTQ+ health disparities.
Carlos Rodriguez-Diaz, associate professor of prevention and community health, is an expert on health inequities among vulnerable populations including people with HIV and sexual and gender minority groups. He is also studying how to enhance HIV prevention services and improve primary care for Latinx and transgender populations.
Rhonda Schwindt, associate professor of nursing, leads efforts to prepare future nurse practitioners in providing affirming mental health care to transgender and gender-expansive patients. She can discuss this work and the mental and physical health disparities in the LGBTQ population as well as the impacts of discrimination in healthcare overall.
Billy Mullins, clinical assistant professor of nursing, is an expert on mental health and medical-psychiatric inpatient care. Mullins can discuss importance of suicide assessment and prevention and therapeutic communication and relationships as well as mental health disorders such as anxiety, schizophrenia, depression and substance use disorders. He can also discuss LGBTQIA+ history, terminology, and health disparities.
LGBT Health Policy & Practice
Stephen Forssell, assistant professor and the founder and director of the LGBT Health Policy & Practice Graduate Certificate Program at the George Washington University. Dr. Forssell studies sexual orientation development, HIV/AIDS risk behaviors, and high-risk sexual behavior interventions. Other areas of expertise include same-sex romantic relationships and parenting, adolescent and young adult romantic and sexual relationships, and health psychology.
Business
Vontrese Pamphile is an assistant professor of strategic management & public policy. Her research focuses on the management of business-society tensions and how employees respond to their organization's prosocial initiatives. Her recent studies focus on the experience of Chief Diversity Officers, corporate philanthropy professionals, and whether employees perceive their organization's values as authentic. Pamphile can discuss companies making announcements for Pride Month and the impact those decisions have on employees if actions don’t follow.
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