I had to write an essay on cultural diversity recently. Might as well share it here; that way, it looks like I'm blogging, but there's little effort! Here it is:

Cultural diversity is an inescapable reality in our increasingly globalized world, and learning to celebrate this fact is critical to the emergence of collective compassion and ecological sustainability. Institutional commitment to cultural diversity, even when “artificially” created, is paramount for building collective insight into the diversity of perspectives that encompass the human experience. We are empowered by this diversity of perspectives; attempting to step into the shoes of an Other often elicits fundamental shifts in what we previously assumed to be Truth

Internally, the shifting sand of my identity has brought forth a keen understanding of the Buddhist concepts of impermanence and interdependence: My ever-changing self is inextricably linked to the fabric of our society. The feminine persona that I projected during my twenties was constructed out of cultural expectations. The feminist lesbian identity that followed it was created in opposition to these same expectations. My current identity is one that holds the transcending of cultural constructs as an ideal. Regardless of the position I take in response to the norms of the day, I am in relationship with them.

My academic and professional experiences have occurred in environments that ranged from what appeared to be a single, monolithic perspective (corporate, white America) to a dizzying array of perspectives (San Francisco State University). Having been treated as an Other, and knowing the concomitant psychic pain, I am committed to bringing deeper awareness to the collective, in whatever small ways I can. Part of this effort is to strive to include as many diverse perspectives as possible in whatever environment I find myself. Embracing cultural diversity that includes all categories – race, ethnicity, gender, (dis)ability, religion, sexual orientation, etc. – is the first step to harnessing the enormous potential that comes out of a multiplicity of perspectives.

The more perspectives we include in the important conversations that are emerging, whether or not we act on them, the better prepared we are to meet the challenges that threaten our collective survival. The significance of this is (at least) two-fold: Including perspectives that were previously marginalized helps heal the wounds of oppression that exist in both our collective conscious and unconscious. Second, including diverse perspectives encourages new ways of thinking so that the power of our Creative Mind is unleashed. I am committed whole-heartedly to both healing and creating. I will bring this mind and heart into my communities, personally, academically and professionally, as a psychotherapist whose focus will be on healing in the marginalized queer community and helping create sustainable lives.