Laurier expert alert: Pride Month

May 27, 2019
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – June is Pride Month, a time when cities across Canada celebrate the LGBTQ community. In Waterloo Region, tri-Pride celebrations began on May 22 and run through June 2. The Brantford community will celebrate Brantford Pride during a series of events taking place June 10 to 15.

Wilfrid Laurier University has experts who can speak about Pride Month and topics related to the LGBTQ community.

Jeffrey Aguinaldo, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology, is an expert on gay men’s health, in particular sexual health, recreational substance use, harm reduction and service provision. Aguinaldo is also available to comment on the experiences of individuals coming out as LGBTQ and the disclosure of HIV/AIDS. Contact: 519.884.0710 x3031 or jaguinalo@wlu.ca.

Michael Woodford, an associate professor in Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work, is an expert on the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ youth. Woodford’s research explores how discrimination can increase LGBTQ youth's risk for poor mental health and other negative outcomes, as well as the factors that can foster resilience to discrimination. Woodford is leading the Thriving on Campus Study, an Ontario-wide survey exploring the experiences, mental health and academic success of LGBTQ university students. His team, working in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity, recently submitted a brief to the federal government advocating for policies and services that would foster LGBTQ inclusion and wellbeing. Contact: 519.998.4514 or mwoodford@wlu.ca.

Todd Coleman, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Sciences, is an expert on LGBTQ community health, HIV/AIDS and sexual health. He is available to comment on LGBTQ community health, the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as how health issues and access to health care differ according to sexual orientation and gender identities. Contact: tcoleman@wlu.ca or 519.884.0710 x2127. 

Simon Coulombe, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, is an expert on the resilience and wellbeing of people in marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ community. His research focuses on the role of housing and community mental health services in understanding and reducing inequality. Contact: scoulombe@wlu.ca or 519.884.0710 x3082.