Introduction
To honor LGBT Pride Month we asked Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) social workers to tell us why they chose social work as their profession and to describe the unique challenges facing their community.
Kelly Exley-Smith, MSW, LCSW
Student Services Manager
Year Up – Boston
Boston, Massachusetts
Ms. Exley-Smith
Q. Ms. Exley-Smith, where did you earn your social work degree, what is your area of specialization, and where are you employed?
I earned my MSW from Simmons College in 2008. Prior to that I attended Boston University and earned a BS in Elementary Education in 2003 and a Master of Urban Affairs in 2005. I am currently working at Year Up, which is a one-year, intensive training program for urban young adults ages 18-24.
Q. Why did you choose social work as your profession?
Prior to going back to school for my MSW, I had been working in various administrative jobs that left me feeling unfulfilled. I felt like I was just "pushing paper". What I really wanted was to have a job that I felt good about at the end of the day, a place where I could really feel that I was working towards a greater good. Social work was always a field that had been in the back of my mind, so I finally made the decision to go for it! Being in this field allows me to work for social justice in multiple ways with a diverse population.
Q. If you could resolve just one ongoing challenge affecting the LGBT community what would that be and how would you go about it?
Although the GLBT community faces many challenges, one that is a priority to me is continuing to work for marriage equality and the rights that come with it. As someone who is fortunate enough to live in a state where marriage is allowed, I have experienced the benefits of it firsthand. However I know that once my wife and I step outside of the marriage "safe zones" that exist, we may be faced with a multitude of problems. I can't bear to imagine my wife being ill and having someone tell me I can't see her because I'm not considered family. Working to enact full marriage equality throughout the country, with all of the rights it entails, will help protect all US citizens. Marriage may not be for everyone, straight or gay, but it should not be denied to those seeking to enter into it.
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