Posted by Karla Rothan

October is as busy as it can be for our LGBT community center. Our candidate forums have been packed this week with eager listeners. Citizens of Columbus have come to the Center on High to learn about what public officials are going to do to make Columbus more equal. Domestic Benefits / Household Benefits was the hot topic for city council candidates last Wednesday. The health care professionals forum on October 9th was also well attended. It is only somewhat surprising to learn that lesbians are still an extremely high risk of heart disease and depression. It is also true and surprising that our community does not seek help. According to the recent LGBT survey in central Ohio, one of the major reasons that people are not treated is because they do not have the funds.

Partnerships is what it is all about and I am committed to creating relationships with organizations that are interested in coming together to serve our community. I met with professionals from Maryhaven today and it seems that drug
and alcohol abuse is clearly still a troubling issue for the lgbt
community.Stonewall does have a series of twelve step programs which are group directed. These groups are very beneficial to our members; however, I think SWC needs to take it a step further and involve more professional counseling for folks.

Stonewall Columbus received a donation today from the Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and  Transgender Issues in  Counseling, www.ALGBTIC.org. The money will go directly into the Stefanie Fund which is an emergency fund set up to help members of our transgender community who have had a significant hardship. SWC is tremendously grateful for the generosity of the ALGBTIC!