Gwen Essex, RDH, RDHAP, MS, EdD, clinical professor at UCSF Dentistry.
GSDDA social gathering in 2019 at Dolores Park in San Francisco. During this year’s Pride month, we reflected upon and celebrated advancement toward equal justice and opportunity for the LGBTQQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual/aromantic/agender) community. Last month’s historic U.S. Supreme Court decision to remove the federal constitutional right to an abortion was a somber reminder of the assault on rights the LBGTQQIA community will likely continue to face. Inequities abound for this community, including in health care.
Equitable access to affordable and appropriate health care, including oral health care, is essential for all communities, but is oftentimes lacking in marginalized groups, such as the LGBTQQIA community. That is why the Gender and Sexual Diversity in Dentistry Alliance (GSDDA) at UCSF Dentistry plays such a key role in providing oral health information in authentic ways to the LGBTQQIA community and ensuring representation in the dental community.
I helped found the GSDDA in 2008 in collaboration with students, faculty and staff. The GSDDA provides free dental screenings to the LGBTQQIA community at events around the city. Earlier this year, GSDDA was thrilled to return to service in the community by providing screenings to people attending the Easter in the Park with The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence event in Dolores Park. More than 30 children were screened and received oral hygiene instruction and products, as well as fluoride varnish. On July 16, GSDDA will serve clients of Queer Life Space, a nonprofit counseling agency in San Francisco.
Groups like GSDDA play an important role not only in community health but in health sciences education. At UCSF, the GSDDA helps create a community for students to feel comfortable to publicly identify as LGBTQQIA. Within a safe, affirming community, people in our school are supported in showing up as their authentic selves. The GSDDA also supports the dental community by providing visibility, mentorship and allyship. Supporting more LGBTQQIA dentists helps ensure representation in the profession that reflects our diverse patient population, which will lead to improved patient care and satisfaction.
Freedom to be authentic is important. I serve many roles in my life as an educator, a diversity champion, and a dental hygienist. I am also known as Sister Amor Ah’Quality, a member of the San Francisco Order of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc. The Sisters are a worldwide nonprofit that began in San Francisco in 1979. A LGBTQQIA group of queer nuns, The Sisters work to uplift the LGBTQQQIA community in many ways, including advocating for health care. The power of this group is its members’ authenticity – we often use humor, wit, and passion in advocating for equity. Authenticity nurtures community.
The GSDDA recently secured both state and national nonprofit status, a significant accomplishment achieved by one of our dedicated student leaders, Eric Coy, DDS ‘24. We plan to take the organization national and connect with LGBTQQIA dentistry school alliances across the country. If you would like to help us launch this national dental student organization, let us know! You can reach us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GSDDAUCSF/ and on Instagram at @gsdda_ucsf.
– Gwen Essex, RDH, RDHAP, MS, EdD, Health Sciences Clinical Professor in the Division of Pre-Clinical Education, Biomaterials, & Engineering Prosthodontics in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences at UCSF School of Dentistry
