Call for Comments on LGBTIQ Health

NOT-OD-13-076 - Request for Information (RFI): Inviting Comments and Suggestions on the Health and Health Research Needs, Specific Health Issues and Concerns for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) Populations
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-13-076.html
 
As part of its efforts to advance LGBTI health, NIH is requesting input on challenges, opportunities, and outcome indicators related to LGBTI health to inform the development of an NIH LGBTI Research Strategic Plan.
All comments must be submitted electronically on the submission website:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/rfi/rfi.cfm?ID=34

Reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,

Incorporating LGBTQ Victims’ Needs Into Mainstream Victim Services

June 5, 2013—Join an Online Discussion Incorporating LGBTQ Victims’ Needs Into Mainstream Victim Services

On June 5, 2013, at 2 p.m. (eastern time), in commemoration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will present a Web Forum discussion with Robin Parker and Sharon Stapel on best practices for incorporating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) victims’ needs into mainstream victim services. Mr. Parker is the Executive Director of the Beyond Diversity Resource Center in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, and a diversity consultant committed to building a more inclusive society through diversity education initiatives for individuals and communities. He previously served as a deputy attorney general for the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice; and as chief of the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Department of Law and Public Safety, Office of Bias Crime and Community Relations. Mr. Parker also is the coauthor of the article We Can’t Talk About This: The Trouble With Discussing Sexual Orientation, 2 Honest Conversation 1. Ms. Stapel is the Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, an organization dedicated to ending hate, sexual, and intimate partner violence affecting people who identify as LGBTQ, as well as HIV-affected communities. Ms. Stapel is a member of the LGBT Advisory Committee to the NYPD, as well as various national stakeholder groups that address the inclusion of LGBTQ individuals in services provided for crime victims and survivors at local, state, and federal levels. Ms. Stapel is the former chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Domestic Violence Committee and the New York City LGBTQ Domestic Violence Task Force. Visit the OVC Web Forum now at http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ovcproviderforum to submit questions for Mr. Parker and Ms. Stapel and return on June 5 at 2 p.m. (eastern time) for the live discussion. Go to http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ovcproviderforum/asp/participate.asp for instructions on how to participate. OVC's Web Forum allows participants to tap into a national network of people with various backgrounds who all face similar challenges and experiences. It is the perfect place for crime victim service providers and allied professionals to gain peer insight and support related to best practices in victim services. Please be reminded that the Web Forum is a public domain and personal or case information should not be shared. JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS • JUSTICE FOR ALL OVC shares your mission and has a wide range of resources to help you accomplish it. Visit the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) online at http://www.ncjrs.gov to register for services or to find out more.

Point Foundation Invites Applications for LGBTQ Student Scholarships

The Point Foundation has announced that its scholarship application process will open online November 1, 2012.

Point Scholarships are designed to help promising LGBTQ students achieve their full academic and leadership potential despite obstacles. Scholars must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skills, community involvement, and financial need. Attention also will be paid to students who have lost the financial and social support of their families and/or communities as a result of revealing their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Point Scholars must agree to maintain a high level of academic performance and to give back to the LGBTQ community through the completion of an individual community service project each year. Some Point Scholars also benefit from internship opportunities related to their fields of study.

Scholarships provide approximately $25,000 per scholar, per year. Each scholar is paired with a mentor and participates in leadership development training with fellow Point Scholars, including an annual leadership conference. After graduating, Point Scholars become part of Point's growing alumni network. Point Scholarships are awarded on a "last provider" basis, providing funding to supplement other scholarships, grants, loans, work/study programs, etc. Point Scholars must secure as much outside funding as possible.

Students who will be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs for the 2013-14 school year are eligible to apply for the multiyear scholarships. Applications will be reviewed by a team of forty-five trained educators, school counselors, and foundation staff and board members. The selection process concludes with face-to-face interviews with Point's staff and Board of Regents during May 2013. The 2013 Point Scholar Class will be announced in June 2013.

Individuals may nominate a student online and download an application information flyer. Applicants will have until 11:59 p.m. PST on January 14, 2013, to submit Part I of the application. Qualifying applicants will be invited to then submit Part II of the application. Part II will made available November 2, 2012, and remain open until 11:59 p.m. PST, January 28, 2013. Applications are only accepted online.

Visit the Point Foundation Web site for complete program information and the online nomination and application forms.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

Posted at http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=398100003

Reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com

Depressed? Please seek affirming Support

LGBTIQ individuals are less likely to seek and less likely to receive culturally appropriate, patient centered support for depression and other mental health conditions. If you are experiencing depression or anxiety please seek help. On this website are resourses to refer you to affirming on-line or in person support across the country.

I lost my best friend in graduate school to suicide, because he did not have affirming support. It was devestating to lose a brilliant young man with such promise, because of sexual orientation issues. I think of him everyday.

If your friend expresses thoughts of suicide seek immediate assistance.
This is part of a Scottish National Campaign on mental health issues.  This segment is targetinging the LGBTIQ community. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSKZNYHoW1I&feature=youtu.be

One in the series of short films that 'see me' has produced to raise awareness of mental health and the stigma still too often associated with mental health problems. This film explores mental health issues, sexual orientation and gender identity.

13 Years Ago: November 1998

November 20 is the 13th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. Transgender and gender non-conforming people continue to face rampant discrimination in every area of their lives, from school to home, from health to even how they're treated by the police. Transgender people continue to be murdered for simply being who they are, and the Transgender Day of Remembrance was created to memorialize them. We'll remember them on November 20, and vow to keep up the fight against hatred and prejudice.

BREAKING – Joint Commission Releases Historic Field Guide on LGBT Health Care

Posted on November 8, 2011 by The Network for LGBT Health Equity

Daniella Matthews-Trigg, Program Associate
Exciting News, Joint Commission Releases New Guide to LGBT Health!
Drum roll, please…
Today the Joint Commission released a historic guide to LGBT health disparities: Advancing Effective Communication, Cultural Competence, and Patient-and Family-Centered Care for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community: A Field Guide.

The Joint Commission, the organization responsible for accrediting Health centers and Hospitals, has a history of going above and beyond for LGBT rights. If you may remember, last July the Joint Commission started to require that all hospitals have LGBT non discriminations policies in order to maintain their accreditation. This new guide is their most recent commitment to the health and well-being of our community.


The Field Guide is designed to help hospitals and health centers provide better, more culturally competent care for LGBT patients and their families. It focuses on identifying areas that need improvement, as well as provides resources and information to “strengthen outreach efforts to the LGBT community”. Additionally, the field guide can be used as an educational tool for training staff, and for “compliance efforts related to laws, regulations and standards”.

The Network is so excited to have been involved in the creation of this important resource, and we want to thank all of you for your suggestions and responses to our action alert related to the guide.

United we spoke, and our voices were heard… Let’s all keep up the good work!

For an expanded read, check out posting link at
http://lgbthealthequity.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/breaking-joint-commission-releases-historic-field-guide-on-lgbt-health-care/. Reposted at keystothecloset.blogspot.com

Free Handbook On Female Sexual Health And Wellness is Now Available

The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) published a new handbook in September, 2011. The Handbook On Female Sexual Health And Wellness provides clinicians with practical and clinical tools needed to care for women with sexual concerns. The handbook includes:
• Clinical Competencies: Screening And Starting The Conversation
• Elements Of A Complete Sexual History
• Clinical Competencies For Sexual Health: Top 10 Things You Should Know
• Emerging Sexual Pharmacology
• Sexual Dysfunctions Related To Commonly Seen Ob/Gyn Conditions

Free copies are available on ARHP’s website.
http://www.arhp.org/Publications-and-Resources/Clinical-Practice-Tools/Handbook-On-Female-Sexual-Health-And-Wellness

Latest News Stories from LGBT Health Digest

Have you told your LGBTQ health care story yet?
Rainbow Access Initiative, Inc. is committed to creating opportunities for LGBTQ health care consumers to tell their story. For too long LGBTQ consumers have been left out of the conversation. Contact us at mystory@rainbowaccess.org to tell yours. Find us on Facebook at Rainbow Access Initiative. - Why, because you matter! Help us build the largest video collection of personal health care stories specific to LGBTQ consumers!

Step 1: Contact us. Let us know you want to share your story. email: mystory@rainbowaccess.org
Step 2: Schedule an appointment (date/time) with an RAI representative that's convenient for you.

Step 3. Prepare. Think about your health care story. What is it that you would like to share?

Step 4: Document your story. Put it on video and help change the face of LGBTQ health care.
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WPATH Releases Revised "Standards of Care"
On September 25, 2011, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) released a newly-revised edition of the Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People at the WPATH conference in Atlanta.

First published in 1979, the Standards of Care (SOC) is considered the standard document of reference on caring for the transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming population. The newly-revised, 7th edition SOC will help health professionals better understand how they can offer the most effective care to these individuals. The SOC focuses on primary care, gynecologic and urologic care, reproductive options, voice and communication therapy, mental health services and hormonal and surgical treatment.
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Medicaid Coverage for Transgender Surgery Considered in NY
According to a September 29, 2011, Forbes article, a panel in New York is considering a proposed program that will provide Medicaid coverage for surgery and hormone replacement therapy for low-income, transgender New York residents. If approved, New York will join California and Minnesota in providing this coverage.
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New Study Examining Impact of Social Inequality for LGB People
According to a recently published study, experiencing consistent stigma and social inequality can be stressful and reduce well-being for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people. The study's co-author, Ilan Meyer, PhD, stated, "Imagine living life anticipating exclusion from your friends, family and professional circles simply because of who you are and who you love - that resulting stress takes a toll on one's life and health."

"We'd Be Free": Narratives of Life Without Homophobia, Racism or Sexism was published in Sexuality Research and Social Policy and funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

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Everyday Stigma May Take Toll on Lesbians, Gays
Stress results from daily exposure to inequality, not just traumatic crimes or abuse, study shows

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas Monday, October 10, 2011

The stigma and inequalities that lesbian, gay and bisexual people face on a daily basis can increase their stress level and affect their well-being, according to a new study.

"Imagine living life anticipating exclusion from your friends, family and professional circles simply because of who you are and who you love -- that resulting stress takes a toll on one's life and health," said the study's co-author, Ilan Meyer, of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.

The researchers set out to determine how stress resulting from daily, non-traumatic events, such as isolation at work and estrangement from families, affected 57 lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) people. The researchers were interested in everyday occurrences, rather than overt abuse or hate crimes.

Black and Hispanic study participants reported the stress from homophobia, racism and sexism led to certain missed life opportunities, including educational advancement, and less self-confidence.

"For members of minority groups, day-to-day life experiences that may seem minor to others can and do have significant and lasting impact on one's well-being," said Meyer. "The idea that simply walking out your door will expose you to societal rejection and stigma creates a climate of stress that can lead to detrimental, long-term consequences."
The rest of the story can be read here.
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HIV and AIDS among Gay and Bisexual Men
Gay and bisexual men - referred to in CDC surveillance systems as men who have sex with men (MSM)- of all races continue to be the risk group most severely affected by HIV. CDC's most recent data show that between 2006 and 2009, the number of new infections that occur each year increased among young MSM - driven by an alarming 48 percent increase among young, black MSM 13 to 29 years old. These data clearly show the urgent need to expand access to proven HIV prevention programs for gay and bisexual men, and to develop new approaches to fight HIV in this population.

The full fact sheet is available here.
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President Obama Honors Janice Langbehn with 2011 Presidential Citizens Medal

GLMA congratulates Janice Langbehn for being honored with a 2011 Presidential Citizens Medal.

Langbehn is one of thirteen recipients of this year's Citizen Medal, which is the nation's second-highest civilian honor, and will be honored at the White House on October 20, 2011.

"The Citizens Medal was established in 1969 to recognize American citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. Like last year, President Obama is recognizing Americans this year whose work has had a significant impact on their communities but may not have garnered national attention," according to the White House press release. The press release also noted why Langbehn was selected to receive the honor:

"While on vacation with her family in February 2007, Janice Langbehn's partner, Lisa Pond, suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the hospital. Langbehn was refused access to her partner, who had experienced a brain aneurysm and later died alone. With the help of Lambda Legal and GLAAD, she filed a federal lawsuit and worked to get her story out to the nation. Janice's story received attention from President Obama, who personally apologized to her for the way she and her family was treated. He went on to revise hospital visitation rights for gay and lesbian couples, which went into effect this past January for any hospitals receiving federal Medicare or Medicaid funds. Langbehn receives the Citizens Medal for her efforts to ensure all Americans are treated equally."

"Janice's leadership and courage has played an integral role in the advancements we have made to improve the health and well being of LGBT people," said Hector Vargas, GLMA's Executive Director. "GLMA joins the entire community in congratulating her for this tremendous honor the President has decided to bestow on her."

GLMA led a coalition of LGBT organizations to successfully change policies at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where Langbehn was refused access to her partner. In 2010, Jackson Memorial implemented a non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression; a patient's bill of rights that demonstrates the hospital's commitment to providing quality care for LGBT patients; and a visitation policy that updates the definition of family to include same-sex partners and other people who may not be legally related to a patient.

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Gautam Raghavan Named to White House LGBT Liaison Position
As reported in MetroWeekly, on October 5, 2011, Gautam Raghavan joined the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs as the LGBT liaison. In his position as Associate Director of Public Engagement, Raghavan will be the LGBT community's "point of contact" at the White House.
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LGBT Movement "Founding Parent" Dies
On October 11, 2011, at 86 years old and after decades of fighting for the rights of LGBT people, Frank Kameny died. As has been noted by many in the press, including on The Rachel Maddow Show, Kameny started the fight for equality almost a decade before the Stonewall riots and two decades before Harvey Milk's election. His work has been archived and is on display at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.

The LGBT movement has also witness the passing of another leader this October. On October 7, 2011, Paula Ettelbrick died at 56 years old. As reported in the New York Times, Ettelbrick's work "focused on defining 'family' in the broadest possible way."
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LGVMA Announces 2011 Leadership and Achievement Awards
The Lesbian & Gay Veterinary Medical Association (LGVMA) is proud to announce both Lisa Greenhill and Shane Snowdon as the recipients of the LGVMA 2011 Achievement Award.

LGVMA Achievement Awards are presented to individuals and/or organizations at the LGVMA Annual Meeting. Recipients should evidence commitment to one or more of the following: improving the quality of veterinary services to animals belonging to the LGBT community; for bettering the professional environment for animal health professionals; for enhancing the academic learning environment for LGBT veterinary and/or veterinary technician students; and/or for contributing to the advancement of equality of the LGBT community or of the mission of LGVMA.

LGVMA is also proud to announce the Student Chapter of LGVMA/ Tuskegee the LGVMA 2011 Leadership Award. The LGVMA Leadership Award is given to individuals and/or organizations that show outstanding leadership and/or community activism within the veterinary profession.
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The Broad Spectrum Veterinary Student Association
Join our network! Broad Spectrum Veterinary Student Association was developed in March of 2011 in response to a growing vocalized need for the exchange of ideas, community, and resources between lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and allied (LGBTQI&A*) veterinary students. For more information on the organization or for information on how you can get involved, please visit our website.
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Victory Congressional Internship is accepting applications for Spring 2012

The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute will bring outstanding LGBTQ college students to Washington, D.C., for an intensive leadership program, including a Congressional internship with an LGBT-friendly member of Congress.

The program includes a generous stipend, placement in a congressional internship and travel to/from Washington, D.C., as well as travel and registration to the International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference in Long Beach, California, in December 2012.

Applications for Spring 2012 are due Monday, November 7. For more information, please click here.

The Victory Congressional Internship is open to current undergraduate students of all genders, orientations, abilities, races and political affiliations, including people with majors other than political science.
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Information in this report is compiled from the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association's LGBT Health Digest, the National Coalition for LGBT Health's Updates and other LGBT health resources.]

LGBT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES EVALUATION TOOLKIT 2011

We're pleased to share a new toolkit with you all: the LGBT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES EVALUATION TOOLKIT 2011

This was put together by Strength In Numbers Consulting Group for the AIDS Institute of the New York State Department of Health who gave their permission for us to share here.
http://lgbttobacco.org/files/AI_Eval_IndicatorToolkit.pdf

Here is more about the toolkit, which is described below:
“The Toolkit provides a sampling of selected, evidence-based survey scales for the measurement of outcome indicators. In addition to the outcome-indicator scales, the Toolkit also contains tools for gathering demographic data and measuring dosage (process indicators).

“A sound survey instrument may be constructed by selecting an appropriate survey scale relevant to your identified outcome and intended audience and combining it with your choice of dosage and demographic items. You will also want to assure the informed consent of participants through the use of a permission form, a sample of which is provided in the “Survey Nuts and Bolts” section.

“Also in the Nuts and Bolts, is some guidance on tracking individual participant responses. By assigning each participant a unique code, instead of using names, individual responses can be entered into a spread sheet or database for summary and analysis without risking confidentiality.

“We gratefully acknowledge the efforts and expertise of Somjen Frazer, Cathy Roche and Chloe Mirzayi in pulling this Toolkit together.”

Social Support Improves Well-Being of Those Who Come Out

The level of support that people perceive in their surroundings when they come out as lesbian, gay, or bisexual is closely related to their mental health and overall well-being, according to a new study. That may mean that for some people coming out is less damaging than has been believed.

Researchers surveyed 161 people between the ages of 18 and 65 roughly evenly split between those who identified as gay, lesbian and bisexual. The participants anonymously answered questions about how out they were and the level of support they felt. The study found that students who had come out were less angry and depressed and had higher self-esteem, but only if they were in supportive environments. In controlling environments, coming out was not associated with any of these benefits. (Los Angeles Times, 6/21/11)
http://keystothecloset.blogspot.com

Gays Are Us: Why LGBT Equality Is Not a “White” Issue

Martin Luther King Jr., speaks at a Selma, Alabama church in this January 1965 photo. King wrote in his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
By Rev. Dr. Dennis W. Wiley | August 17, 2011

At last month’s 102nd annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a historic workshop focused on overcoming homophobia within the black community. As an African American, heterosexual, male pastor of a traditionally black Baptist church in the inner city of Washington, D.C., I was glad to see this legendary organization take this small but important step in its increasingly inclusive perspective on civil rights.

There are some, however, including the Rev. Keith Ratliff Sr., an NAACP national board member, who see no parallel between gay rights and civil rights. Expressing this conviction at a rally last May, he demanded that the gay community “stop hijacking the civil rights movement.”

This statement, subtly suggesting that “civil rights” is a black issue and “gay rights” is a white issue, implies that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, or LGBT, equality is not a priority for black people. This sentiment, particularly prevalent regarding the issue of marriage equality, is often expressed in a variety of ways, including, “This is not our issue,” “This is not a priority for the black community,” and, “We have more critical matters to consider.”

One of the problems with this “either/or” approach—that this issue is either “black” or “white”—is that it creates a false dichotomy between LGBT issues and other issues of social justice. Another is that it fosters a hierarchy of oppression in which certain matters are placed at the top of the political agenda while others are tabled.

The greatest problem with this approach is its failure to highlight how multiple forms of oppression are interconnected. This failure to “connect the dots” deceives black and other marginalized groups into believing that dealing with vital issues impacting our communities can, at best, be postponed indefinitely, or, at worst, be ignored completely.

The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s offers several examples of this type of failure to connect the dots. For instance, when Martin Luther King Jr. accepted the invitation to lead a nonviolent, direct-action, voting rights campaign in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963, white liberals criticized him for being an “outside agitator” and for moving too fast.

In his famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” he responded by first informing his critics that what was happening in Birmingham was directly connected to what was happening in his hometown of Atlanta. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” he wrote. Second, he replied that the word “‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never’” and that “justice too long delayed is justice denied.”

Another example occurred when King spoke out against the war in Vietnam. Although his detractors failed to discern the relationship between the civil rights and peace movements, King was clear that the goal of his controversial stance was not only to save lives in Vietnam, but also to “save the soul of America.” In so doing, he connected the dots of what he called “the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism.”

Two other examples reveal King’s own inner struggle to detect the interconnectedness of various forms of oppression.. With regard to the role of women, the civil rights and black power movements were characterized by rampant sexism. Although women played pivotal roles in each, they were primarily relegated to subordinate positions and often treated as sex objects. This was not unusual because, throughout most of the 20th century, race consistently trumped gender as the primary social justice issue within the Black Church and community. Black women were expected (and usually consented) to suppress any notions of women’s liberation—often characterized by black men as a “white” issue—in the interest of black unity, racial solidarity, and the affirmation of black manhood.

This leads us to the other issue of oppression with which King privately agonized—homophobia. Like women’s rights neither King nor any other civil rights leader lifted up gay rights as a goal of the movement. Bayard Rustin, however, one of his chief nonviolent strategists, was openly gay. King staunchly supported Rustin’s role in the movement, despite objections from some of his closest allies, until 1960.

When Adam Clayton Powell Jr., the powerful, influential, and charismatic black pastor and U.S. congressman from Harlem, New York, threatened that year to circulate a false rumor that Rustin and King had been involved in a homosexual affair, King—much to Rustin’s disappointment—promptly accepted Rustin’s resignation. It was not until 1963, when King again stood solidly behind him, that Rustin was assigned the responsibility to plan, organize, and orchestrate the phenomenally successful March on Washington.

These examples of connecting, or failing to connect, the dots of oppression help us to understand that the quest for human justice, freedom, and equality cannot be fragmented. The layered complexity of human identity forbids it. To claim that we are for racial equality while ignoring women’s equality, or to insist that we support justice for the poor but disdain justice for LGBT persons, is to engage in a precarious game of self-deception in which the ultimate irony is that we ourselves become the inadvertent objects of our own rejection, self-hatred, and internalized oppression.

If Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today at the ripe old age of 82, I believe his consistently evolving consciousness would have removed his blind spots of 43 years ago. Just as he was a trailblazer in protesting the Vietnam War, I contend that he also would have been a pioneer in the struggle for women’s rights and LGBT equality. This is why so many of his former associates who are still alive—including Congressman John Lewis and the NAACP’s own Julian Bond—are unequivocal in their support of gay rights, including marriage equality. The same was true of his late widow, Coretta Scott King. They have understood that LGBT oppression is not some alien or superfluous concern that has little or nothing to do with other justice issues critical to the black community and that, in fact, it is a critical issue of civil rights.

The Reverend Dennis W. Wiley, Ph.D., is pastor of the Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ in Washington, D.C. He is a contributor to the Fighting Injustice to Reach Equality, or FIRE, initiative at the Center for American Progress, which explores the impact of public policy on gay and transgender people of color. This is his first of a series of columns in which he will discuss progressivism within the black church.

BRAVO Contributes to Report on Hate Violence against LGBTIQ Community

BRAVO CONTRIBUTED TO NATIONAL REPORT ON HATE VIOLENCE AGAINST LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER AND HIV-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES RELEASED TODAY:
Report shows second highest murder rate ever recorded. Transgender people and people of color are most targeted communities for severe hate violence. Ohio among top states reporting.
To download the full Report please visit NCAVP online.

Columbus, Ohio — The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), in a national audio press conference today, released its report Hate Violence Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Communities in the United States in 2010. Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO), a member program of NCAVP, saw the impact of severe violence against local LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities.
• Ohio is once again ranked among the top states in the nation in the number of hate violence incidents committed against LGBT people, with 340 such incidents reported in 2010.
• The 2010 data indicates a continuation in the trend of an increase in the severity of violence over the past few years, throughout BRAVO’s service area. That trend continued in 2010, reflecting a steady upward swing in the use of weapons, particularly thrown objects like bottles, rocks and bricks.
Additional key findings and recommendations from the national report include the following:
• In 2010, NCAVP documented 27 anti-LGBTQ murders, the second highest yearly total ever recorded by the coalition. This is a 23% increase from the 22 people murdered in 2009.
• 70% of the 27 reported hate murder victims in 2010 were LGBTQ and HIV-affected people of color, which represented 44% of total survivors and victims. This reflects a disproportionate targeting of people of color for severe and deadly violence. As well, people of color were less likely to receive medical attention when they needed it and less likely to receive appropriate responses from the police.
• Transgender women made up 44% of the 27 reported hate murders in 2010, while representing only 11% of total survivors and victims. As well, transgender people were more likely to have injuries as a result of attacks and less likely to receive medical care.
NCAVP documented a 13% increase in hate violence incidents from 2009 to 2010, as well as a much greater increase in the severity of violence. “The findings of this report are troubling and reveal a need for the serious commitment of organizations, institutions, funders and policymakers towards research and the prevention of violence against LGBTQ and HIV-affected individuals,” said Gloria McCauley from the Buckeye region Anti-Violence Organization. “Our recommendations represent crucial steps for ending violence against LGBTQ and HIV-affected people in this country.”

The report’s specific recommendations include calling for the following changes:
• Fund critically needed research and data collection on hate violence against LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities, their access to services, and violence prevention initiatives.
• Gather data about sexual orientation and gender identitiy in all federal, state and local government forms.
• Create new public and private funding streams and target the use of existing funds to increase access to anti-violence services for LGBTQ and HIV-affected individuals, particularly for those disproportionately affected by hate violence-i.e. transgender people and people of color.
• Create programs and campaigns to reduce anti-LGBTQ hate violence. Prioritize the leadership of those most impacted by severe hate violence within these programs.
• Stop the culture of hate through policymakers and public figures denouncing anti-LGBTQ violence.
This year’s report also includes real-life stories from LGBTQ and HIV-affected survivors of hate violence to call immediate and necessary attention to the need to end the culture of violence in which these incidents of hate violence occur.

BRAVO works to eliminate violence perpetrated on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identification, domestic violence and sexual assault through prevention, education, advocacy, violence documentation and survivor services, both within and on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities.

NCAVP works to prevent, respond to, and end all forms of violence against and within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and HIV-affected (LGBTQH) communities. NCAVP is a national coalition of local member programs, affiliate organizations and individuals who create systemic and social change. We strive to increase power, safety and resources through data analysis, policy advocacy, education, and technical assistance.

Reposted at keystothecloset.blogger.com

Gay and Transgender People Face High Rates of Workplace Discrimination and Harassment

Data Demonstrate Need for Federal Law

Vandy Beth Glenn, who lost her job with the Georgia General Assembly when her boss fired her because she was transgender, testifies at a hearing regarding the Employment Non-Discrimination Act on September 23, 2009. Lawmakers should swiftly enact ENDA to level the playing field for all American workers, gay or straight, transgender or not.

By Crosby Burns, Jeff Krehely | June 2, 2011

Gay and transgender individuals continue to face widespread discrimination in the workplace.* Studies show that anywhere from 15 percent to 43 percent of gay people have experienced some form of discrimination and harassment at the workplace. Moreover, a staggering 90 percent of transgender workers report some form of harassment or mistreatment on the job. These workplace abuses pose a real and immediate threat to the economic security of gay and transgender workers.

Congress should work quickly to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA, to ensure that all Americans are judged in the workplace based on their skills, qualifications, and the quality of their work. Right now, too many of our country’s gay and transgender workers are being judged on their sexual orientation and gender identity— factors that have no impact on how well a person performs their job.

The numbers
The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy aggregated a number of surveys to determine the extent to which gay and transgender workers experience discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Their findings illustrate that discrimination and harassment are pervasive:

■Fifteen percent to 43 percent of gay and transgender workers have experienced some form of discrimination on the job.
■Eight percent to 17 percent of gay and transgender workers report being passed over for a job or fired because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
■Ten percent to 28 percent received a negative performance evaluation or were passed over for a promotion because they were gay or transgender.
■Seven percent to 41 percent of gay and transgender workers were verbally or physically abused or had their workplace vandalized.
Straight coworkers also attest to the presence of discrimination and harassment against LGBT workers. The Williams Institute’s report found that 12 percent to 30 percent of straight workers witnessed discrimination in the workforce based on sexual orientation.

Controlled experiments have found consistent evidence of workplace discrimination as well. When researchers send two sets of matched resumes to major employers, and one indicates the applicant is gay, employers warmly receive “gay” resumes far less often than “straight” resumes. Seven out of eight of these studies confirmed the existence of antigay employment discrimination.

Transgender individuals encounter workplace discrimination and harassment at even higher rates than gays and lesbians. Earlier this year, the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force released a comprehensive study on transgender discrimination that revealed near universal problems at the workplace:

■Ninety percent of transgender individuals have encountered some form of harassment or mistreatment on the job.
■Forty-seven percent of workers have experienced an adverse job outcome because they are transgender. This includes:
■Forty-four percent who were passed over for a job
■Twenty-three percent who were denied a promotion
■And 26 percent who were fired because they were transgender
The stories behind the numbers
Behind these statistics are the heartbreaking stories of everyday Americans losing their jobs based on characteristics that have nothing to do with their job performance.

Vandy Beth Glenn lost her job with the Georgia General Assembly when her boss fired her because she was transgender:

[My boss] told me I would make other people uncomfortable, just by being myself. He told me that my transition was unacceptable. And over and over, he told me it was inappropriate. Then he fired me. I was escorted back to my desk, told to clean it out, then marched out of the building…I was devastated.

Brook Waits was gainfully employed in Dallas, Texas until her manager fired her immediately after she saw a picture on Brook’s cell phone of Brook and her girlfriend kissing on New Year’s Eve:

I didn’t lose my job because I was lazy, incompetent, or unprofessional. Quite the contrary, I worked hard and did my job very well. However that was all discarded when my boss discovered I am a lesbian. In a single afternoon, I went from being a highly praised employee, to out of a job.

And officer Michael Carney was denied reinstatement as a police officer in Springfield, Massachusetts because he told his supervisors that he was gay:

I’m a good cop. But I’ve lost two and a half years of employment fighting to get that job back because I’m gay…I’m proud to be Irish-American. I’m proud to be gay, and I’m proud to be a cop in Springfield, MA.

The economic consequences of discrimination
Gay and transgender individuals suffer from socioeconomic inequalities in large part due to pervasive discrimination in the workplace. Discrimination directly causes job instability and high turnover, resulting in greater unemployment and poverty rates for gay and transgender people, as well as the wage gap between gay and straight workers.

Consider that gay men earn 10 percent to 32 percent less than similarly qualified heterosexual males. Older gay and lesbian adults experience higher poverty rates than their heterosexual counterparts. And transgender individuals are twice as likely to be unemployed and are four times as likely to live in poverty. Nearly 20 percent have been or are currently homeless.

Companies should care about these numbers if they are in the business of boosting profits. Time and again, researchers have demonstrated that discrimination diminishes productivity, job satisfaction, and the mental and physical health of all employees.

Enacting legislation that provides real protection
Gay and transgender individuals’ legal and social standing is improving despite their unfair and unequal treatment in the workplace. An increasing number of states, municipalities, and businesses have adopted nondiscrimination protections that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The public, too, has increasingly voiced support for employment protections and workplace fairness for gay and transgender workers. And more and more gay workers are coming out at the workplace, a sign that workplace climates have become more accepting or at least tolerant overall.

Nevertheless, gay and transgender people continue to lack full workplace protections afforded to women, people of color, veterans, seniors, and the disabled. Under federal law it is still legal to fire someone for being gay or transgender. Where state or local laws exist, gay and transgender workers file discrimination complaints at comparable rates and in some case higher rates than other protected classes such as gender and race. But Congress has thus far failed to incorporate gay and transgender workers into employment laws that shield these and other groups from workplace discrimination nationwide.

Lawmakers in both chambers of the 112th Congress recently introduced ENDA, which would finally bring full workplace protections to nearly all of our nation’s workforce. If passed, gay and transgender workers would have similar protections that were afforded to other minority groups with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. And while comprehensive in scope, ENDA explicitly exempts religious organizations and small businesses with less than 15 employees, prohibits preferential treatment for gay and transgender workers, and does not require employers to offer domestic partner benefits to employees’ same-sex partners.

ENDA’s premise is simple: All Americans deserve equal treatment in the workplace regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Lawmakers should swiftly enact ENDA to level the playing field for all American workers, gay or straight, transgender or not.

Gay and transgender individuals comprise a significant part of the American labor force. Every day, they go to work to make an honest living to support themselves and their families, and help our economy grow along the way. But far too many go to work with the fear that they will lose their job based on factors that have nothing to do with their job performance and ability.

Discrimination has no place in our society or in our workplaces. Our nation can and should do better for all our workers.

*In this column, the term gay is used as an umbrella term for people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

Crosby Burns is a Special Assistant and Jeff Krehely is Director of the LGBT Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress.

Larkin Street Stories (Episode 2) : Confronting Hate Speech

In Episode 2 of Larkin Street Stories, Toby offers tips on how to create a safe and welcoming space for LBGTQ youth. During staff meeting, Toby and the Larkin Street staff discuss how to handle hate speech when it occurs between youth. After work, Toby spends time in the park with her daughter and reflects on keeping healthy boundaries between work and family time.

Call for Action Against University Funded Discrimination

The proposed state budget passed recently in the Ohio House includes an obscure provision that will allow student groups at taxpayer-funded state universities to discriminate and exclude students from membership and leadership positions based on religious beliefs or standards of conduct (Ohio Rev. Code §3345.023).

This means that our state universities will not be able to withhold funding from student groups who exclude LGBT people; Jewish, Christian or Muslim people; women; people who have had premarital sex; and, anyone else that a particular religious student group deems unworthy of membership. Fair-minded Ohioans do not want taxpayer dollars to fund discrimination.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez upholding the constitutionality of a state law school’s “all-comers” policy because it is reasonable and viewpoint neutral. Justice Ginsburg wrote that “by bringing together students with diverse views, [the policy] encourages tolerance, cooperation, learning, and the development of conflict-resolution skills.” After Ohio State University changed its policy recently to require student groups to accept all-comers as members, the Christian Legal Society Chapter at OSU stated it was “yet one more opportunity to welcome all students to attend CLS's meetings and activities.”

All-comers policies do nothing more than ensure that students are given an equal opportunity to engage, discuss, and collaborate with groups on campus. Compelling student groups to adhere to the nondiscrimination policy is also fair because it ensures that no student will be paying part of his or her tuition or fees for student groups that will not allow him or her to become a member. An all-comers policy does not prevent members of groups like the Christian Legal Society from practicing their religion or associating with those with similar beliefs, but simply states that such groups cannot exclude certain students as members and receive university funding.

Posted by Equality Ohio, reposted at keystothecloset.blogspot.com

Ohio residents: contact your State Senator today and tell them to take discrimination out of the Ohio budget!

Opponents of gay marriage getting slimy and desperate

By Adam Serwer reposted at http://keystothecloset.blogspot.com

There’s a very big story unfolding in California right now whose ultimate outcome could determine whether or not gays and lesbians will have the right to get married in the United States.

The story concerns Proposition 8, the statewide referendum banning same-sex marriage. Having failed to prove their case in court, Prop 8 supporters are now attacking the sexual orientation of the judge who overturned the referendum.

Supporters of Prop 8 were dealt a blow last year when Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that there is no empirical basis for the notion that same-sex marriages harm heterosexual marriages and therefore no compelling interest in preventing gays and lesbians from getting married.

Yesterday, same-sex marriage opponents filed a motion to have Walker’s ruling vacated, on the grounds that his being gay and in a long-term relationship amounts to a conflict of interest that should have forced him to recuse himself:

Given that Chief Judge Walker was in a committed, long-term, same-sex relationship throughout this case (and for many years before the case commenced), it is clear that his “impartiality might reasonably [have been] questioned” from the outset. He therefore had, at a minimum, a waivable conflict and was obligated either to recuse himself or to provide “full disclosure on the record of the basis for disqualification,” so that the parties could consider and decide, before the case proceeded further, whether to request his recusal. His failure to do either was a clear violation of Section 455(a), whose “goal ... is to avoid even the appearance of partiality.”

This argument is too clever by half, and relies on the same faulty argument put forth originally in defense of Prop 8: The qualitative judgment that same-sex relationships are inferior. Opponents of same-sex marriage are arguing, in effect, that because Walker was in a long term same-sex relationship, he stood to benefit personally from Prop 8 being overturned. They argue, naturally, that the issue is not Walker’s sexuality per se, but his relationship status. But by that logic the only way a gay or lesbian judge could rule impartially on matters involving gay rights is if they’re celibate.

The problem is that this same logic could be applied to a straight, married judge hearing the case. After all, supporters of the same-sex marriage ban are arguing that marriage equality is so damaging to the institution of marriage that the government has a vital interest in making sure gays and lesbians can’t get married. That means that a straight, married judge couldn’t be expected to be impartial, either — after all, according to supporters of Prop 8, “the further deinstitutionalization of marriage caused by the legalization of same-sex marriage,” would directly impact married heterosexuals. Therefore, a heterosexual, married judge could be seen as having just as much “skin in the game” as Judge Walker.

Proposition 8 supporters would never make that argument, of course, because the implication of their argument is that gays and lesbians are incapable of the impartiality expected of judges by their very nature. The notion that Walker’s ruling should be vacated is build on the flimsy assumption that gays and lesbians are different from heterosexuals in a manner that justifies denying them their fundamental rights. It’s also built on an unstated but core conservative view of the courts — that judicial “impartiality” is best defined as viewing the law through the cultural prism of a heterosexual, conservative white Christian judge. That’s partly why the impartiality Justice Sonya Sotomayor was viewed as suspect from the outset.

The real problem faced by Prop 8 supporters real problem is that their case is profoundly weak, and relies almost entirely on archaic and rapidly eroding social prejudices against homosexuality. During the trial, they only called one witness, and that witness was unable to provide a factual basis for the assertions being made by Prop 8 supporters — that extending marriage rights to gays and lesbians would harm anyone. Conversely, Prop 8 opponents were able to demonstrate, in vivid detail, precisely how they were personally hurt by California’s decision to deny gays and lesbians their fundamental rights.

Now Prop 8 supporters are reduced to arguing, essentially, that Walker’s ruling should be vacated because he is gay. Aside from the faulty legal reasoning, supporters of the law aren’t doing themselves any favors when it comes to convincing anyone that their position on marriage amounts to anything other than prejudice.

UPDATE: My mistake — Prop 8 supporters called two witnesses during the trial, not one. But neither was able to offer empirical evidence for the assertions made about the negative impact of legalizing same-sex marriage.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/opponents-of-gay-marriage-getting-slimy-and-desperate/2011/03/04/AFLxZ5pE_blog.html?hpid=z4

Evan Rachel Wood is bisexual

Actress Evan Rachel Wood has stunned Hollywood by revealing she is bisexual and is looking for love with either gender.

"The Wrestler" star, who was previously engaged to shock rocker Marilyn Manson, has opened up about her sexuality, admitting she is happy to date either a man or a woman.

She tells Esquire magazine, "I was always into very androgynous things. Guys, girls...I'm into androgyny in general... I'm more of like the guy when it comes to girls. I'm the dominant one. I'm opening the doors, I'm buying dinner. Yeah, I'm romantic... (I'm) up for anything. (I want to) meet a nice guy, (or) a nice girl."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/index#ixzz1K4vTtLIe Reposted at http://keystothecloset.blogspot.com/

Surviving Crime and Violence: Street Youth and Victimization in Toronto

There is a new report about homeless youth as victims of crime by Stephen Gaetz, Bill O'Grady and Kristy Buccierei. Surviving the Streets.JFCY.September16.2010.pdf (998.1kB)   I have posted it here as it has relevance to the conditions for LGBTIQ youth in transition.

Click here to access the article

Any parent would be outraged if their child was exposed to violence and crime. Any community would consider this to be unacceptable. Should we be concerned about the risks that young people who are homeless face? In our report, “Surviving Crime and Violence”, we explore the relationship between youth homelessness and criminal victimization. Our research highlights the degree to which the lives of young people who are homeless are characterized by high levels of crime and violence.

This report, prepared for Justice for Children and Youth, was led by Stephen Gaetz (York University) and Bill O’Grady (University of Guelph). Two hundred and forty four homeless youth in Toronto were interviewed in 2009 about life on the streets, including their experiences of criminal victimization. While street youth are often portrayed in public discussions as dangerous, threatening and delinquent, this new research highlights the degree to which it is street youth themselves who are clearly vulnerable to crime and violence.

The findings of this research reveal that street youth are victimized frequently, in large part due to the vulnerabilities that young people face when they are homeless. Particularly concerning are the findings which indicate that interventions to this victimization are not being effectively addressed by the criminal justice and shelter systems or by other professionals involved in the lives of street youth. We suggest that if the levels of violence and other forms of crime found in this study were being experienced by any other group of youth in Canada there would be immediate public outrage and considerable pressure for government to take action. Street youth deserve the same level of attention in responding to and preventing crime and violence that any other group of Canadian citizens are entitled to. Such attention is needed so that street youth have an opportunity to move forward in life.

 Download a PDF of the report 
Stephen Gaetz talks about street youth as victims of crime. Watch the video

Listen to Stephen's interview with CBC Metro Morning.

Reposted at http://keystothecloset.blogspot.com/. Originally posted at http://www.homelesshub.ca/Library/View.aspx?id=48609&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

U.S. Panel Suggests Research Into Causes and Prevalence of Health Issues Facing Gays

By ROBERT PEAR Published: March 31, 2011, reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogger.com/

WASHINGTON — The federal government should systematically collect demographic data on gay, lesbian and transgender people and should conduct biomedical research to understand why they are more likely to have certain chronic conditions, the National Academy of Sciences said Thursday.

In a report requested by the National Institutes of Health, the academy proposed an ambitious research agenda to investigate the prevalence and causes of obesity, depression, cancer, heart disease and other conditions among gay people.

Federal officials had asked the academy’s Institute of Medicine to identify gaps in research on the health of gay Americans. Dr. Robert O. Graham, the chairman of the panel that did the study, said that was impossible.

“The available evidence on the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is sparse,” said Dr. Graham, a professor of family medicine at the University of Cincinnati. “Researchers need to do much more than simply filling gaps.”

The panel, appointed by the Institute of Medicine, said the government should finance research to develop standardized measures of sexual orientation and gender identity — “one’s basic sense of being a man, woman or other gender, such as transgender.”

Gay people often face “barriers to equitable health care,” decline to seek care in times of need and receive substandard care when they seek it, the report said.

“Fearing discrimination and prejudice,” it said, “many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people refrain from disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity to researchers and health care providers.”

In addition, the report said, many doctors lack the necessary training. “Medical schools teach very little about sexuality in general and little or nothing about the unique aspects of lesbian, gay and bisexual health,” it said.

The panel said the National Institutes of Health should strongly encourage researchers to include “sexual and gender minorities” in studies whenever possible, just as they include women, blacks, Asian-Americans and Hispanics.

In its report, which offers a comprehensive survey of information about the health of gay Americans, the panel made these points:

·          “On average, men tend to show greater interest in sex and express a desire to engage in sex more frequently than women. These patterns appear to occur in both heterosexual and homosexual populations.”

·          Gay youths and adults are typically well adjusted and mentally healthy, but some research indicates that they are more likely to be depressed, have suicidal thoughts and attempt suicide.

·          “Lesbians and bisexual women may be at higher risk for breast cancer than heterosexual women.”

·          Some studies suggest that long-term use of hormone therapy by transgender people may increase their risk for cancer, but more research is needed.

·          In addition, the report said, “Some research suggests that lesbians and bisexual women have a higher risk of obesity than heterosexual females.” Lesbians may also have higher rates of smoking and alcohol consumption than heterosexual women, it said.

A version of this article appeared in print on April 1, 2011, on page A16 of the New York edition.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/health/policy/01gays.html?_r=1&ref=research

Peer Support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT) Individuals

by Ronald E. Hellman, M.D., FAPA, Director,

LGBT Affirmative Program of South Beach Psychiatric Center published in Recovery To Practice Newsletter, reprinted at http://keystothecloset.blogspot.com/

The LGBT Affirmative Program (LGBTAP) of South Beach Psychiatric Center was initiated in 1996 as one of several multicultural services provided by this large, public sector community mental health center in New York City. The program is based at the Heights–Hill Mental Health Service in downtown Brooklyn, one of seven outpatient clinics at South Beach, which serves a multi-ethnic, low socioeconomic population with serious, chronic mental illnesses.

Several years into the program, we observed that our sexual minority population, much like our general psychiatric population with significant disabilities, had great difficulty reintegrating within the larger LGBT community and the general community at large, despite the provision of LGBT–affirmative therapies. We came to believe that it was incumbent upon us to facilitate the creation of a socio-cultural component within a recovery model, in addition to the psychosocial and medical services already offered.

This resulted in the creation of an affiliated membership program, the Rainbow Heights Club (RHC). As members, individuals did not have to be enrolled at the clinic, and this allowed LGBT patients from all over the New York metropolitan area to attend. The larger numbers helped to approximate the diversity found within the city’s LGBT community. And, with the creation of an LGBT consumer advisory group, members came up with a name for the club and helped steer program development.

LGBT individuals with major mental illnesses can be reluctant to engage in psychiatric treatment and adhere to treatment regimens over time, because they are less likely to identify with mainstream settings. They are a minority in these settings, and are also subject to stigma in the LGBT community because of their mental illness and in psychiatric settings because of their sexual minority status. And, unlike other ethnic and racial minorities, their families typically do not share their sexual identity. Thus they can be particularly prone to a lack of affirmation and supports.

LGBT patients have to adapt to largely heterosexual, cisgendered (those comfortable in their gender of birth) mental health settings in virtually all areas of service delivery. Well-intentioned, “integrated” settings fall short when they do not provide safe, culturally relevant opportunities for the alienated LGBT patient. Culturally appropriate programming, fostered at all organizational levels, has the power to transform these patients into LGBT persons in recovery.

A crucial component of recovery for the LGBT consumer is peer support. LGBT peer support allows for a process of authentic identification with others like oneself. It promotes forms of socialization, role modeling, and individuation not otherwise available in the generic setting. Mainstream cultural settings often inadvertently rob the LGBT patient of their experience as a sexual minority person with a different, yet valid, worldview. LGBTAP and RHC were organized to facilitate peer support by bringing a “proto-community” of individuals together that had never previously connected.

Separation from the dominant heterosexual, cisgendered world and connection with sexual minority peers is a common step in the healthy psychological development of sexual minority individuals. Major mental illness can tear people away from that process, and mainstream psychiatric settings typically provide no substitute. LGBTAP and RHC created the conditions and opportunities for these individuals to connect with each other, thereby creating a unique cultural community in which pride, place, self-esteem, support, and hope could be nurtured, as the weight of mental illness became merely a shared part of that larger process.

As a unique, regional program, RHC has served almost 500 members. Collaborating with staff and peer specialists, members have made their needs and interests known, the result being an ever-evolving program of groups, support, skills training, and advocacy. An outcome study of this recovery model found that participants attributed significant improvement in adherence with treatment regimens, reduction in psychiatric symptoms, enhanced self-esteem, improved stress tolerance and hopefulness to the program, despite an average of 16 years of previous psychiatric treatment.¹ To appreciate the depth of this program, please visit http://www.rainbowheights.org.

¹ Hellman, R.E.; Huygen, C.; Klein, E.; Chew, M.; & Uttaro, T. (2010.) A study of members of a support and advocacy program for LGBT persons with major mental illness. Best Practices in Mental Health: An International Journal, 6(2), 13–26.