Dr. Rothblum Kicks Off Gender and Sexuality Seminar Series 

Dr. Esther Rothblum kicked off the Center for Research & Education on Gender and Sexuality's (CREGS) Fall 2011 Gender and Sexuality Seminar Series on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 with her engaging talk on same-sex couples in legalized relationships. Her presentation, “I Do, or Do I?”, explored methodological issues in same-sex couple research and a wide range of data from her past and current projects.

Along with many members of the CRGS and NSRC, Dr. Rothblum drew a large crowd from our community to create a diverse and supportive audience. She first focused on some of the challenges she’s faced in her own studies, such as outdated research findings, non-uniform recruitment sources, and gaps in previous research. To tackle some of these methodological issues, Rothblum and her team developed an innovative approach, comparing data from people who identify as LGB to data from their heterosexual brothers and sisters.

With rainbow accented slides and a lighthearted tone, Esther moved through her findings from large survey studies on the first same-sex couples that legalized their relationships through civil unions in the US and related her unique insider’s perspective. She spoke about her consideration of the heavy media coverage of her study in her analysis to facilitate a simple presentation of findings, and mentioned some of the humorous and thought provoking comments participants wrote on their surveys.

Dr. Rothblum closed her talk with a lively question and answer session and left her audience smiling as they conversed around the table of refreshments at the end of the night. The National Centers on Sexuality are so pleased to have her as a visiting scholar with us this year, and so grateful to have her voice in sexuality research.

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Esther Rothblum is currently a visiting faculty member at SFSU. She is editor of the Journal of Lesbian Studies and former president of Division 44 (Society for the Psychological Study of LGBT Issues) of the American Psychological Association. Her research focuses on LGBT relationships and mental health. Dr. Rothblum is a professor of Women’s Studies at San Diego State University.

SAVE THE DATE! Upcoming CRGS Seminars:

Tuesday, October 4th, 6-7:30pm: Mickey Eliason

Tuesday, November 1st, 6-7:30pm: Emily S. Mann

Tuesday, December 6th, 6-7:30pm: Sonya Arreola

*All seminars are held at the CRGS at San Francisco State's Downtown Campus, 5th Floor, Suite 517.