Multiculturalism, in its broadest terms, not only is defined by race and ethnicity but also involves topics of gender, sexual orientation, and disability. Underlying this notion is the assumption that there is no one way to conceptualize human behavior, no one theory that explains the realities and experiences of various forms of diversity, and no particular set of competencies that have been proven to be effective with every form of diversity. Yet, it is possible to seek and provide information that can move psychologists and other social scientists forward in the search for multicultural awareness, respect, and competence. The 2nd National Multicultural Conference and Summit, held in January 2001 in Santa Barbara, California, was designed to promote knowledge about multiculturalism in these broad terms. This introduction to the special section is designed to (a) provide an overview of the proceedings of the Summit, (b) identify themes that emerged throughout the Summit with a special focus on the major keynote addresses, and (c) recommend future directions for education, training, practice, and research in multicultural psychology.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning youth, and the children of gay and lesbian parents, are particularly vulnerable to harassment and other forms of risk. This paper reviews the literature and outlines common processes beginning to be used in some U.S. communities to meet the needs of these youth and families. An illustration of progressive community action is offered in the case of a church-initiated effort still ongoing in a small town in Massachusetts.

A B S T R A C T When gay and lesbian people choose to create families by adoption, there is a complex intersection of issues relevant to the work of clinicians treating such families, especially their children. This article identifies identity and responsibility as two clinical themes emergent in the confluence of these issues and gives special attention to those themes' importance to clinical work with children and adolescents in families, as they form and continue through their post-adoption years. The changing face of gay and lesbian parenting demands that researchers, educators, clinicians, and policy makers explore the issues of gay and lesbian adoptive parents and their children in their own right, not assuming that they are necessarily the same as those faced by other lesbian and gay families. K E Y W O R D S adoption, children, families, gay and lesbian, parentsA D O P T I V E FA M I L I E S FAC E a variety of special challenges as they form themselves and face the world together. Families led by lesbian and gay parents also have a unique place in the world. When gay and lesbian people choose to create families by adoption, there is a complex intersection of the issues relevant to the work of clinicians treating such families, especially their children. This article identifies identity and responsibility as two clinical themes emergent in the confluence of these issues and gives special

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