Local Resources
Mike Doughty, September ‘23 Newsletter
With it being September, school is starting back up and for some students, and even some teachers and staff, it could be a big year of change. Maybe some folks have come out to themselves or their friends over the summer, or are in a brand new space and feel overwhelmed with the amount of new things in their life. I want this article to serve as a refresher on some places or organizations people can go to for a safe place.
First, we have the Cortland LGBTQ Center itself. We are open for drop-ins from 2pm to 5pm, Tuesday through Friday alongside our monthly groups that are typically in the evenings. Folks are encouraged to stop by and relax, unwind, see what the Center has going on from month to month, or if needed, talk with one of the Center staff; I can set up appointments to talk to folks if they just want to vent, talk about a specific topic and want advice, or just want to see what other resources they may have overlooked. The Center also offers cultural competency training to organizations that would like to be more affirming to LGBTQ clients. If you think your organization could benefit from one of our trainings, email me at mdoughty@familycs.org.
Next, I want to address the students who read this, or the parents of those students who want to make sure their kids have the resources they need. If you need a school space that is LGBTQ affirming, look into joining a club. See if your club has a GSA (Gender-Sexuality Alliance) or similar club – if you aren’t sure where to start, most schools have lists of clubs on their websites. You can also ask friends or school staff, like a counselor or trusted teacher, if they know what clubs the school offers. For parents, if you don’t see a GSA and think it would be helpful for your kid, or other students, see if you can get involved and find out what the school would need to start a club. There are also resources out there for starting a GSA! GLSEN.org has information on how to start a GSA or LGBTQ-affirming club at your school. Having those spaces, regardless of whether they officially call themselves a GSA, is a great way for LGBTQ students to feel a sense of community while in school.
Up next, college students. Many colleges have some kind of LGBTQ-focused club or space. In our local schools – TC3 has the recovery space which is a big LGBTQ safe space, SUNY Cortland has their PRIDE club for students and their SOGIE committee of faculty that work on providing various LGBTQ events like the annual TransAction Conference, and Cornell, Ithaca College, and Binghamton University all have LGBTQ Resource centers for their staff and students. It’s important to remember that college, even if it's local to where you grew up, is a big time for change and growth if you are open to it. Even if you don’t participate in those groups, make sure that you are aware of what your university offers and the various ways to connect with new friends.
The Ithaca/Cortland chapter of PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meets the first Sunday of the month from 4pm to 5pm, with options to attend in-person or over Zoom. They offer support to parents and family members of LGBTQ people, as well as the LGBTQ people themselves. Those interested in joining PFLAG can take a look at their website - PFLAG Ithaca/Cortland - PFLAG to get on their email list for the zoom link.
If anyone is looking for legal assistance, the Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY (https://www.vlpcny.org/get-help/q-law-lgbt-legal-issues/) has an LGBTQIA Rights Program that offers help with a variety of legal issues including name changes, insurance claim issues, discrimination issues, and more.
For those who need mental health services, there are LGBTQ-affirming clinicians at Family and Children’s Counseling Service and the Department of Mental Health. You can also use resources such as Psychology Today that can help you find LGBTQ-affirming mental health clinicians https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists.
There is also 988 that offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing a mental health crisis, including suicidal ideation. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. Cortland also has a coalition called SPEAK UP that focuses on increasing awareness around suicide prevention. No matter your age, gender, sexuality, it is important to check in with yourself around your mental health and know what services are available to you.
Last, we want to mention social events. Communities don’t grow unless people are engaged with the things going on in their area. For example, there will be a Big Gay BBQ + Potluck Party on September 16th hosted by Crown City Curiosities in the Corset Building. There are also various festivals in Cortland, such as PumpkinFest in the Fall, and other LGBTQ+ adult events like the Burly Bingo at the Homer Center for the Arts run by Bees Knees Burlesque Academy. Also, check in with your local libraries to see what events or programs they may have. For example, the Cortland library has a weekly knitting group and community reads about specific topics.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but I felt it was important as September is a time of year with a lot of motion and change to provide a reminder of the things all around you. If you know of another service or organization that you think we at the Center should know about, let us know so we can make sure we have it on our list!