Organizers hope the conference, "Cross Talk II," a follow-up to a similar event hosted by the university five years ago, will provide attendees with networks and resources whether they provide assistance to someone in need or are conducting research.

"These are issues that don't often get a lot of attention and we hope to provide a forum for people to talk about what they are doing and share information," said Gina Masequesmay, an Asian American studies professor at Cal State Northridge and co-organizer of the event.

Masequesmay said sexuality issues in the Asian/Pacific Islander American communities are often taboo subjects.

The conference is designed to encourage "crosstalking" among biomedical researchers, health care providers, humanists, social scientists, writers, artists, activists, teachers and students, social service providers, community and outreach workers and funders. "All the people who come across various aspects of the subject," she said.

The conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Grand Salon of the University Student Union on the east side of the campus, 18111 Nordhoff St., off Zelzah Avenue.

Workshop topics include sexual health and the immigrant; popular culture and stereotypes of Asian sexuality; homophobia; sexuality, gender and religion; relationships and violence; sex and the workplace; and sexual trafficking.

The day will culminate at about 6 p.m. with a reception and art exhibit at the university's West Gallery in the Art and Design Center at the north end of the campus off Halsted Street. "emBodyment" is an exhibition of art dealing with issues of physical form, sexuality, spirituality, identity, the mind and health of Asian Pacific Islander Americans.

Registration for the conference is $15 for students and seniors and $30 for non-students.

For more information about the conference, visit its Web site http://www.csun.edu/crosstalk or call Masequesmay at (818) 677-7212 or Teresa Williams-Leon at (818) 677-5688.

California State University, Northridge has more than 32,500 full- and part-time students and offers 59 bachelor's and 41 master's degrees as well as 28 education credential programs. Founded in 1958, it is the only four-year university in the San Fernando Valley and the third largest in the 23-campus CSU system. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges recently said CSUN "stands as a model to other public urban institutions of higher education."