USA  :: Groups reach out to gays in NNY :: (1155 Reads)

Posted by gayteens on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 03:57 PM

Watertown Area Gay Youth and SAGE/Jefferson County LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Alliance hope to promote a welcoming environment for the north country's gay community. "It's often uncomfortable being in a heterosexual social atmosphere," said Robin Corsin, leader of the SAGE/Jefferson County LGBT Alliance.

The alliance is the Jefferson County branch of SAGE/Upstate, a social network based in Syracuse for aging lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Central New Yorkers.

"The most important thing we try to do is create opportunities for members to build social networks," said Kim Dill, Clay, executive director for SAGE/Upstate.

Carrie Elliott, Syracuse, program coordinator for SAGE/Upstate, cites "isolation" as the most widespread difficulty faced by members of her group.

"We're really focused on seniors," she said. "They're more likely to live alone and less likely to have children."

While many heterosexual senior citizens often can depend on spouses and children for care, lesbian and gay seniors tend to lack a familial support network and have difficulty incorporating their partners into seniors communities, said Ms. Elliot.

"Maybe you don't have children or a life partner to take care of you, but," Ms. Elliott said, "we can all take care of each other."

The group serves more than 100 members per month with programs including meetings, game nights, movie nights, knitting circles and potluck meals. Most of these programs take place at the SAGE/Upstate office in the First English Lutheran Church, Syracuse. The organization also has branches in Jefferson, Oneida, Oswego and Cortland counties.

SAGE/Upstate also reaches out to nursing homes, retirement communities and assisted-living centers. The group hopes to institute programs like cultural competency training to sensitize residents and staff to the needs of gay and lesbian residents.

"They're often not equipped to deal with LGBT issues," Ms. Elliot said about senior citizens communities. "Sometimes they try to tell us that they don't have any LGBT residents, but if you're not friendly to them, they're not going to come out."

Members of Watertown Area Gay Youth face similar difficulties.

"I thought I was one of, like, two bisexuals in Watertown," said one member of Watertown Area Gay Youth, who preferred to remain anonymous. "Then I came here, and it's like a family away from a family, except that these people accept you for who you are."

Nearly a quarter of LGBT youths, said Bill Landers, who leads the Watertown Area Gay Youth meetings, have reported that they attempted suicide before they reached the age of 151/2. He said he hopes his group can change this statistic for area teens.

Because of the possibility of hostile environments at home, at school and even among friends, said Mr. Landers, Watertown Area Gay Youth is the only "safe place" for many of its members.

The group started last August and now has more than 40 members ages 13 to 19. Members meet every Tuesday for social activities and discussions.

Watertown Area Gay Youth also promotes gay and lesbian student organizations and AIDS awareness groups in schools but, said Mr. Landers, the efforts depend on teacher support.

Both SAGE/Upstate and Watertown Area Gay Youth strive for something a little beyond acceptance for their members because, said Mr. Landers, even acceptance can be hurtful. It implies the existence of something wrong that must be "accepted."

"It's not important what you are, it's important who you are," said Ms. Corsin. "We're just people, we're individuals just like everyone else."

The Jefferson County LGBT Alliance meets the first Sunday of every month at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 1330 Gotham St., Watertown. For more information, call the SAGE/Upstate office, 478-1923. For more information about Watertown Area Gay Youth, visit its Web site, www.wagy.org.