In the News: Alumna Adrienne Keel Shares Moments of Pride

On the first day of Pride Month, SJSU News Center published an “Alumna Adrienne Keel Shares Moments of Pride” featuring Adrienne Keel, Director of LGBTQ Programs at Caminar.

The piece states,

This June, we recognize community leader Adrienne Keel, ’10 Psychology, who serves as the director of LGBTQ+ programs at Caminar, a behavioral services agency in San José. She agreed to answer questions about her time at SJSU, as well as to share resources that support LGBTQ+ folks in Silicon Valley.

We invite you to read the entire article, including Adrienne’s thoughtful answers, and wish all a happy pride month!

A Statement from our CEO on the Club Q Murders

Dear Caminar Community, 

 We awoke Sunday morning to the news of yet another senseless act of gun violence against innocent people. While a motive hasn’t officially been stated, it appears — and feels — like a hate crime against the LGBTQIA+ community with which I proudly identify. 

 By all accounts, Club Q was a safe, supportive place for people to express and celebrate their true selves. Club Q — like so many other spaces for LGBTQIA+ folks who often don’t feel they belong elsewhere — was a safe haven. And that safe haven became a war zone. Even more sickening, the attack occurred on the eve of the Transgender Day of Remembrance – a day to honor the lives of trans people lost to anti-trans violence and hatred. 

 This devastating, disgusting attack - just like the others before it - was preventable. Or, at least reduceable. We live in a very violent country and as a nation, we must address the policies, beliefs and behaviors that allow that violence to occur. 

 Be gentle with yourselves and seek out support if you need it. Thank you for supporting your colleagues, the clients we serve, and our community in this extraordinarily difficult time.   

 With deep care and concern, 
Mark

Transgender Day of Remembrance: 11.20.21

This Saturday, November 20th, is Transgender Day of Remembrance. Caminar honors this day to remember the lives lost due to transphobia.  

According to Glaad, “The 2014 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and HIV-affected Hate Violence Report from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Projects shows that of the victims murdered, 80% were people of color, 55% were transgender women, and 50% were transgender women of color.” 

NAMI has conducted research and found that:  

  • Transgender individuals are nearly four times as likely as cisgender individuals (people whose gender identity corresponds with their birth sex) individuals to experience a mental health condition. 

  • Transgender youth face further disparities as they are twice as likely to experience depressive symptoms, seriously consider suicide, and attempt suicide compared to cisgender lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning youth. 

  • Transgender individuals are almost four times as likely as cisgender individuals to experience a substance use disorder. 

  • 40% of transgender adults have attempted suicide in their lifetime, compared to less than 5% of the general U.S. population. 

We invite you to learn more about how to support the transgender community or seek support for yourself or a loved one through these resources: 

October: Honoring LGBTQ History Month

October is LGBTQ History Month, which celebrates the achievements and heroes of the community. It was founded in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher to promote LGBTQ studies across the education system and throughout the US. We want to share a few resources and articles focused on mental wellness for the LGBTQ community.   

According to NAMI, “LGB adults are more than twice as likely as heterosexual adults to experience a mental health condition. Transgender individuals are nearly four times as likely as cisgender individuals (people whose gender identity corresponds with their birth sex) individuals to experience a mental health condition.” 

Some common challenges that the LGBTQ community face are:  

  • Coming out  

  • Rejection  

  • Trauma 

  • Substance use 

  • Homelessness 

  • Suicide 

  • Inadequate mental health care  

The Trevor Project conducted a national survey on LGBTQ Youth in 2021 and found these statistics:  

  • 42% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth 

  • 70% of LGBTQ youth stated that their mental health was "poor" most of the time or always during COVID-19. 

  • Half of all LGBTQ youth of color reported discrimination based on their race/ethnicity in the past year, including 67% of Black LGBTQ youth and 60% of Asian/Pacific Islander LGBTQ youth. 

  • Transgender and nonbinary youth who reported having pronouns respected by all of the people they lived with attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not have their pronouns respected by anyone with whom they lived. 


While LGBTQ History Month is coming to an end, Caminar is committed to addressing these community-specific health disparities in an affirming and supportive way.  

RESOURCES

LGBTQ Youth Space, A Caminar Program 

LGBTQ Wellness, A Caminar Program   

SF LGBT Center  

GLAAD Resource List  

Trevor Project Resources  

Sharing pronouns  

LGBTQ CRISIS/SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES 

Transgender Community 

  • Trans Lifeline - 877-565-8860 

All Ages 

  • GLBT National Hotline - 1-888-843-4564 

LGBTQ Youth 

  • LGBT National Youth Talkline - 1-800-246-7743 

  • TrevorLifeline - 1-866-488-7386 

  • TrevorText - Text START to 678-678 

  • The Steve Fund Crisis Textline* - Text STEVE to 741741 

LGBTQ Adults 

  • Lifeline* - 1-800-273-8255 

  • Crisis Text Line* - Text HOME to 741741 

Highlighting our LGBTQ Programs

The LGBTQ Youth Space, a Caminar program, is a community drop-in center and mental health program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and ally youth and young adults ages 13-25 who live in Santa Clara County. Our space is open 3pm-9pm Monday through Friday.

Our staff offers a safe and confidential space with support groups, art workshops, activism and leadership opportunities, movie nights, field trips, volunteer opportunities, free snacks, internet access, video games, safe sex supplies/condoms, and connections to any resources you might need. Please learn more at youthspace.org.

LGBTQ Wellness, a Caminar program, was created in 2015 as a community outreach and support program intended to uplift the mental health of LGBTQ community members and their allies. The program provides community outreach, mental health education, and training, and engages in mental health advocacy and policy work to encourage the support and holistic wellness of the LGBTQ community.

LGBTQ Wellness envisions a diverse, multigenerational LGBTQ community in Santa Clara County that is strengthened by an affirmative culture of wellness.

Learn more at lqbtqwell.org.

Caminar values diversity. People of all races, ethnicities, countries of origin, faith, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities are welcome here.

LGBTQ Mental Health Awareness

The LGBTQ community experiences higher rates of mental health challenges than the rest of the population. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation analyzed data from the most recent Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and made the following observations:

MENTAL HEALTH IN LGBTQ ADULTS

  • 59% of LGBTQ adults and 60% of transgender adults are battling poor mental health today.

  • As a result of poor mental and physical health, 19% of LGBTQ adults and 28% of transgender adults say they have sustained periods of time in which they are unable to do usual activities, such as self-care, work, or recreation, compared to 15% of non-LGBTQ adults.

  • Only 39% say they have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder, despite high prevalence of depressive symptoms among the entire community.

MENTAL HEALTH IN LGBTQ YOUTH

·       More than half of LGBTQ youth (54%), 61% of transgender youth, and 61% of questioning youth are battling symptoms of depression, compared to 29% of non-LGBTQ youth.

  • Only 41% of LGBTQ youth have received psychological or emotional counseling.

  • 35% of LGBTQ youth, 45% of transgender youth, and 40% of questioning youth have seriously considered attempting suicide, compared to 13% of non-LGBTQ youth.

  • LGBTQ youth who have at least one accepting adult in their life were 40% less likely to attempt suicide.

Mental health challenges for the LGBTQ community are often due to stigma, discrimination, and bias and statistically, there are greater mental health disparities for transgender communities than LBGQ communities.

High costs of care and a lack of health insurance coverage contribute to these challenges, as does an undersupply of culturally competent providers for the LGBTQ community. According to the HRC Foundation observations, nearly one in ten (9%) of LGBQ people and one in five (21%) of transgender people said that they received harsh or abusive language from a doctor or other health care provider when receiving care.

CAMINAR’S COMMITMENT TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY

Caminar is committed to addressing these community-specific health disparities in an affirming and supportive way.

In Santa Clara County, our LGBTQ Wellness Program was founded in 2015 to support the mental health of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning) community members and allies by providing outreach, education, and advocacy services that encourage social support and holistic wellness.

Also in Santa Clara County, our LGBTQ Youth Space Program empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and ally youth and young adults in Santa Clara County through culturally competent, youth-driven counseling and support services.

We are also in the process of hiring a Transgender, Non-binary, Gender Expansive Services Specialist. This person will work under the supervision of our clinical manager and work closely with our multidisciplinary team to expand access to our services, identify new resources for clients, foster collaboration with community-based organizations, educate other staff and service providers about culturally competent care for transgender/non-binary/gender expansive people, and advocate for clients.

LGBTQ CRISIS/SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES

Transgender Community

  • Trans Lifeline - 877-565-8860

All Ages

  • GLBT National Hotline - 1-888-843-4564

LGBTQ Youth

  • LGBT National Youth Talkline - 1-800-246-7743

  • TrevorLifeline - 1-866-488-7386

  • TrevorText - Text START to 678-678

  • The Steve Fund Crisis Textline* - Text STEVE to 741741

LGBTQ Adults

  • Lifeline* - 1-800-273-8255

  • Crisis Text Line* - Text HOME to 741741

* Resources that are LGBTQ-inclusive

49ers PRIDE Collection Benefits our LGBTQ Youth Space

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Happy PRIDE month!

Last Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers shared plans for the organization's annual celebration of June LGBTQ+ Pride month.

As part of Pride month, the team launched the brand-new 2021 49ers PRIDE Collection, the only genderless retail line released by an NFL team.

100% of the 49ers proceeds from collection sales will be donated to local LGBTQ programs, including San Francisco LGBT Center, Oakland LGBTQ Center, and our very own LGBTQ Youth Space in San Jose.

Our LGBTQ Youth Space program is delighted, honored, and grateful to be a beneficiary of this exciting new collection.

Please visit 49ers.com/PRIDE to view the collection and make purchases.

In the News: San Jose queer spaces looking for new home

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The Bay Area Reporter recently published an article on our LGBTQ Youth Space plans to leave its current home when the lease ends in June.

As the article states, "‘We just didn't want folks to feel like the program was going away if we were in sort of limbo for a while,’ Keel said about the staff's intentions announcing the move to its 2,030 Facebook followers.

The youth space's search for a new location has been quietly underway, but now a public effort to find a new home is launching. Keel and her staff are looking for an affordable, centrally located commercial building. The building needs to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, include spaces for clinicians to meet privately with clients, be easily accessible by public transportation, and potentially include parking.”

Please read the full article here.

Caminar honors International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31

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Caminar honors International Transgender Day of Visibility, which is held annually on March 31. This is a day to celebrate transgender and non-binary people around the world and recognize the courage it takes to live openly and as their true selves. Advocates also use the day to increase awareness around the discrimination and violence that trans people encounter.

We also celebrate the recent confirmation of Dr. Rachel Levine as assistant health secretary, which makes her the first openly transgender federal official approved by the Senate.

We invite you to learn more via the following resources:

In the News: Adrienne Keel on KTVU

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On September 10, the Qmunity District, a new LGBTQ+ district, opened on Post Street in downtown San Jose. Our Director of LGBTQ Programs, Adrienne Keel, was an opening ceremony guest. The organizers, Project More, invited Adrienne to paint a stripe of the rainbow with other LGBTQ community leaders and elected officials. KTVU-TV was on hand for the opening and interviewed Adrienne about the importance of this welcoming and safe space for the LGBTQ community.

Please watch the news report here, and see Adrienne at the 1:14 minute mark.

In the news: San Francisco Is No Queer Utopia

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The Bold Italic featured quotes from Adrienne Keel, our director of LGBTQ programs, in an article on Wednesday, June 24, 2020:

“We shouldn’t think naively about how progressive or leftist our community is — there are still many people here who have outright hate for certain communities,” says queer resident and community leader Adrienne Keel.

Keel is the program director at San Jose’s LGBTQ Youth Space, which provides free mental health services and other resources to queer teens and young adults ages 13 to 25 in Santa Clara County.

Read more on The Bold Italic.

Join Us for National Coming Out Day in South County

On October 11 and 12, our LGBTQ Youth Space, a program of our Family & Children Services of Silicon Valley division, is presenting two observances of National Coming Out Day in South County.

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What is “National Coming Out Day”?

On Oct. 11, 1987, half a million people participated in the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. It was the second such demonstration in our nation’s capital and resulted in the founding of a number of LGBTQ organizations, including the National Latino/a Gay & Lesbian Organization (LLEGÓ) and AT&T’s LGBTQ employee group, LEAGUE.

Each year on Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day continues to promote a safe world for LGBTQ individuals to live truthfully and openly.

Human Rights Campaign

Join us in observing and celebrating this important day by attending one – or both – free community events!

Gilroy
Friday, October 11, 2019
4 to 6 p.m.
Rebekah Children’s Center
290 Ioof Avenue, Gilroy

Morgan Hill
Saturday, October 12, 2019
4 to 7 p.m.
Centennial Recreation Center
171 W Edmundson Avenue, Morgan Hill

Both events will feature good, guest speakers, activities, and resources.

All ages and families welcome!

In the News: Community comes together for vandalized LGBTQ center in San Jose

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On the heels of Silicon Valley Pride, we had the chance to shine a light on the wonderful support the LGBTQ Youth Space has received following vandalism earlier this summer.

KRON4 reporter Taylor Bisacky stopped by the LGBTQ Youth Space yesterday to chat with Director of LGBTQ Programs Adrienne Keel about the outpouring of encouragement and support and to check out the donor-funded repairs to the drop-in center’s front door and windows.

We’re delighted to have the chance to celebrate generosity and compassion through this follow-up coverage.

Watch the video or read the transcript on the KRON4 website.

In the News: Silicon Valley Pride to tout its diversity

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The theme for Silicon Valley Pride 2019, taking place in downtown San Jose on August 24 and 25, is “Diversity In Action.”

Fulfilling that theme includes making the event welcoming for all ages. We’re thrilled to be bringing back the popular “teen space.” Hosted by our LGBTQ Youth Space, a program of our Family & Children Services of Silicon Valley division, the teen space will welcome young people ages 21 and younger with games, hang-out space, and activities.

Our Director of LGBTQ Programs Adrienne Keel talked about the return of the teen space and the importance of including children, youth, and families in Pride events in this Bay Area Reporter article.

In the News: Op-Ed - San Jose’s LGBTQ Community is as Strong as Its Flags are Vibrant

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A recent Op-Ed in San Jose Inside, San Jose Councilmember Pam Foley details the strength, vibrancy, and diversity of and San Jose’s LGBTQ community. Included in her remarks is mention of our Family & Children Services of Silicon Valley division’s LGBTQ Youth Space and the outpouring of support we received after it was vandalized.

Councilmember Foley writes, “Yellow is emblematic of the power sunlight has on important issues. A few weeks ago, the LGBT Youth Space began their morning by reporting vandalism to the police and cleaning shattered glass from their floors. Because of the exposure on social media and news outlets, readers rushed to support this incredibly compassionate organization.”

Thank you, Councilmember Foley, for being an important ally of the LGBTQ community.

Read more here.

In the News: The Bay Area Reporter Covers The Vandalism of the LGBTQ Youth Space

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Our LGBTQ Youth Space, a program of our Family & Children Services of Silicon Valley division, was vandalized in early June.

The Bay Area Reporter recently published this article on the vandalism.

We appreciate the interest in, and attention to, this event. And, we are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received from the community in response to this incident.

In the News: San Jose Inside Reports on Recent Vandalism at the LGBTQ Youth Space

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Our LGBTQ Youth Space, a program of our Family & Children Services of Silicon Valley division, was vandalized over the weekend. The door and three windows were smashed. We don't know the motivation behind the vandalism, but our team feels fortunate the damage was not worse, no one was harmed, and we remain operational. We are heartened by the outpouring of love and support from the local community. San Jose Inside reported on the incident, which you may read here.