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LGBT mental health forum 'Lights the Way'

by Shaun Hittle

KALAMAZOO – There was no shortage of inspirational and heartbreaking anecdotes at a recent LGBT mental health panel at the Wesley Foundation in Kalamazoo – but one story stood out.

Vincent Rager, a Western Michigan University student and LGBT suicide prevention advocate, recounted his painful experience of having an exorcism performed on him by members of his church. The exorcism was an attempt to "cure" Rager from his homosexuality after he first came out as gay in high school. Rager went on to discuss his suicide attempts, depression and frequent inability to deal with life's problems, all due in large part to the lack of available support for LGBT youth.
Rager's story was one of several told at the event, titled Project Light, that was organized by LGBT advocate Adam Taylor in response to the October suicide of Holland transgendered youth Ian Benson. Taylor said he organized the event with the theme of "lighting the way" for LGBT youth who "don't know where to go" for help dealing with mental health issues. "Where are kids supposed to go when they don't have support?" Taylor asked.
The panel of speakers that Taylor and others organized shined some light on the positive benefits of a supporting environment for LGBT youth.
Mike Neubecker, Vice President of the national Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), highlighted some of the programs PFLAG now has in place to assist families when supporting a loved one dealing with LGBT issues. Neubecker became an advocate after learning that his own son was gay, coming full circle in his own acceptance of the issue.
Neubecker said his first reaction to learning that his son was gay was to buy a book at a Christian book store that promised to help cure someone from being gay. Now, Neubecker wears t-shirts with logos such as "Proud Parent of a Gay Son." Neubecker's efforts toward advocating for LGBT rights and mental health services for youth are aimed at easing the transition from denial to acceptance for others in the same situation as he was.
Shannon Garcia from TransYouth Family Advocates, also became an LGBT advocate after experiences with her child, who is an eight-year-old transgendered girl. Garcia's organization helps families and communities when dealing with the transition of a person who wishes to change genders. Garcia cited the statistic that one in 500 people are transgendered and that 50 percent of those individuals attempt or plan suicide at some point in their life, making the need for education vital. "It's essential to educate the community," Garcia said. "People fear what they don't understand."
Garcia has helped to organize the Ian Benson Project, a ribbon campaign designed to further educate the community about transgendered issues and the need for support for those affected by them. Garcia said that TransYouth has been especially affected by Ian's suicide because Ian's mother has been heavily involved with the organization. "One of our own committed suicide," Garcia said. "That's unacceptable."
Taylor said that Project Light was envisioned originally as a one-time event, but he said that it has grown and will hopefully include other activities in the future. He also said that plans are in place for Project Light to become its own non-profit organization, which he believes will help make LGBT mental health issues a top priority in the LGBT community.

For more information about TransYouth Advocates, visit http://www.imatyfa.org
If you are interested in getting involved with Project Light, contact Adam Taylor at [email protected]

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