Social Justice Speaker Series Presents
The History of the Stonewall Uprising and Still Under Pressure:
How Psychiatric History and Today’s Political Climate Shape LGBTQ+ Mental Health
Presenter: Robin P. McHaelen, MSW, Founder of True Colors Inc., and Zoe Beardsley, BA, Park Ranger at Stonewall National Monument in New York City
Date & Time: Â Thursday, June 18th, 2026 from 4:30 – 6:00 pm EDT
**Â Important: This session starts at 4:30 PM Eastern, earlier than our typical Social Justice Speaker Series time. Mark your calendar accordingly.**
Location: Live Via Zoom (Zoom Link: Emailed with ticket)
Cost:
FREE to attend
FREE CE for CPA Members (Log in to your account to access the discount!)
$15.00 CE Processing Fee for Non-members
Continuing Education: Â Eligible for 1.5 CE
Webinar will be recorded (recording not eligible for CE)
Abstract:
The History of the Stonewall Uprising will cover what happened during the Uprising at the Stonewall Inn that took place from June 28-July 3, giving context to the events leading up to the Uprising and its effect on Gay Rights history then and in the present.
Still Under Pressure: How Psychiatric History and Today’s Political Climate Shape LGBTQ+ Mental Health will trace the evolving medicalization of LGBTQ+ identities across successive editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III through DSM-5), examining how psychiatric classification has functioned as both a mechanism of pathologization and a site of political contestation. The DSM-III (1980) introduced “ego-dystonic homosexuality” as a compromise diagnosis, nominally removing homosexuality as a disorder while preserving a diagnostic pathway rooted in social stigma; by 1987, the DSM-III-R eliminated this category entirely. Simultaneously, the DSM-III introduced “Gender Identity Disorder,” inaugurating a parallel history of transgender medicalization that would persist through the DSM-IV (1994) and its text revision. The DSM-5 (2013) reframed gender-related distress as “gender dysphoria,” shifting diagnostic focus from identity to suffering — a meaningful but contested reform. This presentation argues that across all five editions, diagnostic revisions have reflected not purely clinical consensus but ongoing negotiations among psychiatric authority, activist pressure, and structural healthcare access — revealing the DSM as a fundamentally socio-political document. The presentation will conclude with an overview of the Sexual Minority Stress theory and the implications of its impact work with LGBTQ+ people in the current political climate
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:
- Describe at least three significant events of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising and explain why the Stonewall Inn is considered a historically significant site in LGBTQ+ history.
- Identify at least two major diagnostic changes affecting LGBTQ+ populations across revisions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
- Describe at least three ways that professional organizations, advocacy movements, cultural norms, or legislative changes have influenced LGBTQ+ diagnoses within the DSM.
- Explain the major components of Meyer’s Minority Stress Model and identify at least two ways the current political climate may contribute to minority stress among LGBTQ+ individuals.
Research Citations
Aria, M., D’Aniello, L., Grassia, M. G., et al. (2024). Mapping the evolution of gender dysphoria research: A comprehensive bibliometric study. Quality & Quantity, 58, 5351–5375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-024-01902-0
Baumann, J. (Ed.). (2019). The Stonewall reader. Penguin Classics.
Carter, D. (2004). Stonewall: The riots that sparked the gay revolution. St. Martin’s Press.
Crocq, M. A. (2022). How gender dysphoria and incongruence became medical diagnoses: A historical review. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 24(2), 87–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/19585969.2022.2065376
Droubay, B. A., Lefmann, D. D., Zhang, S., Snow, J. L., & Hoy-Ellis, C. P. (2025). A new avenue to pathologize sexual minority populations? Internalized sexual stigma and endorsement of compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 40(4), 773–793. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681994.2025.2507799
Frost, D. M., & Meyer, I. H. (2023). Minority stress theory: Application, critique, and continued relevance. Current Opinion in Psychology, 51, 101579.
McHenry, S. E. (2022). “Gay is good”: History of homosexuality in the DSM and modern psychiatry. American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal, 18(1), 4–5. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2022.180103
Presenter Biography
Robin P. McHaelen, MSW is the founder and former Executive Director of True Colors, Inc. The recipient of numerous State and National awards, Robin has co-authored two books, a book chapter, several articles on LGBTQ+ youth and is considered a nationally recognized thought leader. Robin is a nationally known trainer regarding the unique concerns, challenges, and strengths of LGBTQ+ youth. She has provided interactive, universally well-received training to more than 30,000 teachers, administrators, child welfare professionals, health care providers, corporations, and various non-profit organizations over the past 25 years. She is an adjunct professor at Central Connecticut State University, teaching Intergroup Communications, Human Sexuality and Social Work with LGBTQ+ Clients. She is an appointed member of Connecticut’s Hate Crimes Commission and is a voting member of the LGBTQ Justice and Opportunity Network.
Zoe Beardsley, BA is an Interpretive Park Ranger at Stonewall National Monument in New York City. She is originally from Arlington, Virginia and has worked at 2 other National Park Sites before coming to Stonewall.
Post-Webinar Evaluation Form:
Post-webinar evaluation form will be provided during the event and must be completed to receive a Continuing Education (CE) certificate.
Closed Captions:Â Live audio captions are accessible for this event. If you need additional disability-related accommodations, please contact us by email us at info@connpsych.org or by phone (860) 404-0333. Requests should be made at least two weeks in advance of workshop date.
Refund Policy: Participants may direct questions to CPA by email at info@connpsych.org or by phone at (860) 404-0333. Registrants may cancel and receive a full refund up to two-weeks in advance of workshop date. Â An administrative fee of $30 will be charged for cancellation of registration within two weeks of the workshop date (Social Justice events will not be charged an administrative fee). Please note, no refunds will be granted within 24 hours of workshop date.
Continuing Education Approval:
The Connecticut Psychological Association (CPA) is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to offer continuing education for psychologists. CPA maintains responsibility for the program and its content. CPA will issue certificates of completion. APA CE rules require that we only issue credits to those who attend the entire workshop. Those logging into the Zoom webinar more than 15 minutes late or logging off before the entire workshop is completed will not receive CE credits (i.e., partial CE credit will not be issued).
CPA GRIEVANCE POLICY:
The Connecticut Psychological Association (CPA) is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists. The CPA will comply with all legal and ethical guidelines for non-discrimination in promotional activities, program content, and in the treatment of CE participants.  While the CPA strives to assure fair treatment for all participants and to anticipate problems before they occur, occasionally grievances may be filed. In cases where a participant files a written or oral grievance, the following actions are taken:
If the grievance concerns the content of the workshop, a CPA representative will mediate and will be the final arbitrator. If the participant requests action, the CPA will either provide a credit for a subsequent CE offering or provide a partial or full refund of the CE fee already paid. Â Actions involving a credit or a refund will require a written note documenting the grievance for record-keeping purposes. The aggrieved individual need not sign the note. If the grievance specifically concerns the CPA, the CPA will attempt to arbitrate.
Direct correspondence to: The Connecticut Psychological Association, P.O. Box #1167, Old Saybrook, CT 06475 or by email to executivedirector@connpsych.org.
