Michael C. LaSala, PhD, LCSW is associate professor and Director of the Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) Program at the School of Social Work at Rutgers University, where he has won several awards for innovation in teaching. He has been a practicing family therapist and teacher/trainer for over 30 years, and his research and clinical specialties are the couple and family relationships of gay men and lesbians and the role of family influences on the sexual behaviors of gay and bisexual youth. Dr. LaSala’s book entitled: Coming out, coming home: Helping families adjust to a gay or lesbian child (Columbia University Press) describes the findings and practice implications of a National Institute of Mental Health funded qualitative study of 65 gay and lesbian youth and their families. Other examples of Dr. LaSala’s work can be found in over 30 journal articles and his blog for Psychology Today (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/gay-and-lesbianwell-being). He is a recipient of the American Family Therapy Academy’s 2017 Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice Award. Dr. LaSala is a much sought after speaker on gay and lesbian couple and family issues and has recently presented workshops, keynotes, and plenaries in Romania, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Estonia, and throughout the US.