UPDATE 7/29/08
Click here for the freshly loaded Feast of Fools podcast.
Click here for the freshly loaded Feast of Fools podcast.
Approximately 80 absolutely delightful people participated in the "Let's Take a Glass Together" community forum held last night at Sidetrack (July 23, 2008), thoughtfully examining the role of alcohol in the LGBT community - on the individual level, organizational level, societal and structural levels.
Click here for our flickr photo set.
The event featured a dynamic panel Tom Andrika - bartender manager from Minibar, Paul Davis - bartender from Sidetrack, researcher David McKirnan, Ph.D., and Lisa Rivitz, LCSW, CADC of Howard Brown Health Center. The event was hosted and moderated by the fabulous Feast of Fools who taped the proceedings for an upcoming podcast.
Sponsors of the evening included yours truly - the gay, sexy, health website and blog - LifeLube, Project CRYSP (more than crystal prevention, promoting healthy community), and the Chicago Task Force on LGBT Substance Use and Abuse. Simone Koehlinger, of the Office of LGBT Health, pulled the whole thing together flawlessly. Special thanks also to Sidetrack who worked their magic to ensure a seamless evening.
LifeLube here thought the event was very engaging, and would love to hear what YOU have to think about the proceedings. The big take away message for us was that the LGBT community is strong, resilient and healthy - and when we are confronted with alcohol abuse in our lives, or the lives of our friends and lovers, many of us have the courage and the capacity to address the problem directly. This is not to say that all is hunkydory in the LGBT ghetto - let's toss a few back and and toast to our good fortune... It's more that, ya know, despite the negative messaging coming our way from all corners, including our very own, we really do care about ourselves, each other, and have found loving, creative ways to provide the support and services we all need.
This is only the beginning of the conversation. We would love for you to comment here on what you found interesting at the forum - or not - and what YOU think the community should be doing on every level to make sure we foster healthy, non-abusive relationships with alcohol. All are welcome to share - whether you were with us at Sidetrack last night or not.
And stay tuned to this space - we will share media coverage of the forum, and let you know when the Feast of Fools podcast is uploaded.
So, comment, check out the other pix, and keep talkin'.
Congratulations on what I think was the most successful of the three community forums CRYSP has held so far. The balance between speaker time and Q&A was just right and Feast of Fools did a good job of moving things along without being too intrusive. The speakers were well informed and responsive to the questions asked.
ReplyDeleteIt was good to be reminded that alcohol use is prevalent and that alcohol can be and is used responsibly by the majority of drinkers but because its use is so common, it also underlies the majority of substance use problems (not only in the LGBT community but in the general population as well.)
There is this sobering - pun, somewhat intended - statistic from national surveys: about 7% of the general population abuses or is dependent on alcohol in any given year; about 7% of the general population abuses or is dependent on all other drugs combined.
This was my first time at Sidetracks and I have to say, the space is great and nicely done. Kudos to the owners for having the commitment to the community to give back in this way.
i thought it was a good discussion, and just wished it could have gone on a bit longer. hope there are more of these in the future. thnks.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite piece of information of the night was Dr. McKirnan's discussion of the tapering off of Heterosexual use once they get into their thirties, get a family, get a house and a white picket fence, etc. I think the argument is there for gay marriage! We NEED the right to marry - for our health's sake!
ReplyDeleteIt was a pleasure to be involved in the forum. I was really surprised that people stayed for the whole thing considering that most people had to stand the whole time. That's a testament to the engaging and intelligent panel.
ReplyDeleteWe are hoping to get the show up early next week for those of you who missed it.
Marc
i really liked what paul from sidetrack shared about his own experience, no longer being a drinker, and still working at a bar... thanks paul!
ReplyDeleteI loved the energy from the hosts, the panelists, and the audience. At several points, I looked out into the crowd and saw 80+ faces totally engaged in the discussion. Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteWhat I appreciate most of all is our ability to have this public conversation without being judgmental, self-righteous, or flip. Loving our ability/willingness to stare down this taboo.
This is just the beginning. As LGBT people, we are still coming out of many proverbial closets. I rejoice in our lack of shame and our willingness to embrace who we are, to take care of ourselves, and to take care of each other.