PODCAST: Pride in Sammamish
Episode Summary:
June is widely celebrated as Pride Month. Since COVID-19 is still prevalent in our community, our podcast took a look at how members of the Sammamish community are celebrating Pride. Join host Alex Woodall as he interviews Julia Gudis, a correspondent for the Indy On Air team.
If you are interested in supporting the LGBTQ+ community or finding places to get help as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, please see the resource list we have compiled below.
Resources:
KCLS is hosting a name-change clinic for LGBTQ+ people on Tuesday, June 30th, presented by the Lavender Rights Project and the QLaw Foundation of Washington.
The Lavender Rights Project is an organization that provides legal advocacy and community education for LGBTQ+ communities. They aim to empower marginalized communities to understand and protect their legal rights. Along with programs such as the one above, they offer legal services and workshops/clinics on LGBTQ+ rights.
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization in providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to the LGBTQ+ community. They also offer numerous services, including training schools, allies, and parents on suicide prevention and education on LGBTQ+ issues. For LGBTQ+ teens and young adults, they offer community spaces and support centers, along with leadership/volunteer opportunities and various resources on coming out safely and other issues the community frequently faces.
PFLAG National is an organization dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community, educating people on the issues they face, and advocating for policies to achieve full equality for them. The chapter that serves the Eastside is PFLAG Bellevue, and they provide community outreach, scholarships for LGBTQ+ youth, track schools for their support of LGBTQ+ student, along with numerous other services.
The Lambert House is a local safe haven for LGBTQ+ youth that serves as a community space where adult volunteers and staff hold social support groups, events and gatherings like dances, sporting events, and recreational trips, as well as transitional housing and resources for LGBTQ+ youth who have been rejected by their families and may be experiencing homelessness as a result. It is a leader in educating LGBTQ+ teens to see themselves and normal and working to address the mental health risks that many queer youth face. They are continuing to hold their support groups/seminars online, along with fun online events led by youth or volunteers to bring the community together.
Queer the Land is a collaborative project that is aiming to create a community space that addresses the issues of housing insecurity and other crisises for black and indigenous people of color who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. This space will serve as transitional housing for those in the community facing housing insecurity, as well as a co-working and communal space for the community to gather.
Gay City is Seattle’s LGBTQ+ center. It aims to cultivate a community for LGBTQ+ individuals seeking affirmation, responsive resources, and wellness. They are established as a physical space with programs dedicated to youth and arts, but also provide hundreds of resources and advocacy for the community. They are continuing to operate in an online capacity during Covid-19.
The Okra Project is a collective dedicated to assisting Black Trans individuals facing food insecurity, an issue that has only grown with the rise of Covid-19.
As interviewee Liz Barclay stated, LGBTQ+ individuals tend to be at higher risk for mental health issues, especially during a time of isolation like Covid-19. Liz, a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), and the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) recommend TherapyDen as a great resource that allows LGBTQ+ people to find therapists, and can help them find therapists who are a part of the community as well.
