Max Disposti

Health care has always been high on the list of controversial debates. The broken system, the profit-driven insurance companies and the speculations of private providers and pharmaceutical companies have turned a fundamental human right into a struggle for equal access.

As if these barriers were not already difficult to overcome, the skepticism towards the health care system becomes stronger among minority groups that have the misfortune of experiencing the system’s inadequacies first-hand. Some are still living with the consequences of discrimination that many health care providers deliver.

Our California hospitals are operated by employees and management that come from all over the country. The majority of our hospitals do not retain specific LGBT training for their staff and often they rely only on a general anti-discrimination statement where it is assured that everyone is the same and should, therefore, be treated equally. More often than not, this general statement hides and denies the attention that our minorities need.

Healthcare providers that really care about the well being of our LGBT families should be aware of how stigma and discriminatory practices are still affecting our community. This is certainly true in North San Diego County, where—despite legislation that protects gender identity, expression and sexual orientation—some hospitals continue to ignore these protections by treating and approaching LGBT individuals as if these laws never existed.

One of the interests of the North County LGBTQ Resource Center is to address these issues by confronting local health care providers over their lack of understanding, poor education and blunt discrimination. Being knowledgeable about how years of oppression, repression and discrimination has created mental distress, substance abuse dependence and a lack of self-esteem in our community will help health providers to better address their LGBT patients.

It is about self-determination and respect, establishing open dialogue with patients without judgments and prejudice. That’s all.

Several weeks ago, we approached one of the biggest North San Diego County health providers, Tri-City Medical Center, to ask for a meeting after many of our community members shared with us incidents of hospital arrogance, unfriendly behavior and open discrimination delivered by their staff members. Tri-City does not have literature recognizing the existence of our LGBT families. There are no brochures, no prevention programs, no trainings and no statements of inclusiveness available to the public.

Their in-house legal counselor addressed our concerns and agreed to take steps that may change the way Tri-City has been perceived by our LGBT community. These steps include brochures identifying LGBT families, antidiscrimination signs posted in their public areas and, most important, training for all personnel on LGBT language and issues.

We are very happy Tri-City Medical Center has decided to initiate a course of changes that will not only benefit us but their business as well. We continue to ask our North County community to be vigilant over their local health care providers in making sure that all our families are equally received, treated and respected.

Bayard Rustin

The North County LGBTQ Resource Center is proud to host the first of many movie nights at the Center.  We will be showing the documentary Brother Outside: The Life of Bayard Rustin.  Bayard was the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington.  He is one of the first to promote non-violent disobedience in the Civil Rights Movement, and he was jailed for being black and for being gay.

Come and join us on…

Friday, February 24th @ 6:00 PM @ the Resource Center

Event is FREE

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Vincent Meis

Vincent Meis will discuss his experience living in Saudi Arabia as a gay man and how he has incorporated those real life experiences into his fictional novel “Eddie’s Desert Rose.”

A thriller set in Saudi Arabia in the 1980′s and everyone is trying to get ahead, American brothers, Dave and Eddie Bates seek their fortune as guest workers in Saudi Arabia. Eddie rebels against the restrictions of life in the Kingdom, and on one of his adventures out into desert he befriends a man who takes him to meet a Saudi prince. The next day he turns up dead. Details are lacking. Questions go unanswered. Dave will stop at nothing to find out why his brother had to die.

Accompanied by his wife, Maura, he begins a search across three continents to find out who is responsible for his brother’s death. The hunt takes them back to Saudi Arabia and eventually into a trap where Dave, like his brother before him, becomes caught in the middle of the struggle between the pre-Al Qaeda fundamentalist Saudis and the more liberal Arabs who lean toward the West.  It is a quest that forces him to lose his innocence, and to come to terms with disturbing truths about his country, his brother, and his wife.

Come and join us at the North County LGBTQ Resource Center on Saturday, February 18th at 6:30 pm.  Vincent’s books will be available for signing and purchase. Wine and cheese will be served.

Narcotics & Crystal Meth Anonymous

Crystal Meth Anonymous

WHEN: Every Sunday from 2:00pm to 3:00pm

WHERE: North County LGBTQ Resource Center

Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other, so they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from addiction to crystal meth. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. There are no dues or fees for CMA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. CMA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; and neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to lead a sober life and to carry the message of recovery to the crystal meth addict who still suffers.

Click here for additional information regarding the CMA program.

Narcotics Anonymous

WHEN: Every Sunday from 3:30pm to 4:30pm

WHERE: North County LGBTQ Resource Center

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a twelve-step group-oriented program modeled after the Alcoholics Anonymous program.  The program is open to all with the only requirement for membership is the desire to stop using drugs.

Click here for additional information regarding the NA program.

Men's HIV Support Group

The Men’s HIV Positive Support Group begins February 1st.

Meetings will be every Wednesday from 6:00-7:15 pm @ the North County LGBTQ Resource Center.

This group is facilitated by Raphael and Delcy and proudly sponsored by Fallbrook Pharmacy.

]]> http://www.ncresourcecenter.org/new-group-mens-hiv-support-group/1002/feed/ 0 http://www.ncresourcecenter.org/signup-for-training-for-volunteers/969/ http://www.ncresourcecenter.org/signup-for-training-for-volunteers/969/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:50:13 +0000 nclgbtqrc http://www.ncresourcecenter.org/?p=969

Volunteer Training

Our training for volunteers is about to start!

Volunteers are essential to the daily operation of the Resource Center.  Volunteers provide excellent, courteous, and prompt service to our community who utilizes the services that we offer at the Resource Center.  We are very grateful to the many volunteers in making the Resource Center a success.

If you are interested in contributing to the LGBT community by volunteering at the Resource Center, please click on the “Volunteer Application” link below. Fill out the form, pick a training day below and email the completed form with the date and time to info@ncresourcecenter.org.  Thank you.

Click here for the Volunteer Application

Saturday February 25th

• 10:00am to 11:30am
• 5:00pm to 6:30pm

Sunday February 26th

• 10:00am to 11:30am
• 5:00pm to 6:30pm

Wednesday February 29th

• 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Public Meeting

Our public meetings are back!  Members, friends, and families you are all invited to participate!   This is a great opportunity to share your ideas and projects.  Light snacks and drinks will be provided.

We will discuss the following :

• National and local news on equality
• Updates from our community
• Status of the LGBTQ Resource Center
• Info on coming up volunteer training
• Calendar and coming up initiatives

Recycle Program

We are taking donations of plastic and aluminum only to help benefit services at the Center.

We can receive recyclables from Monday through Saturday from 2pm to 8pm. Please make sure your recycles are in a sealed plastic bag and all you have to do is to drop them off! We will do the rest.

The North County LGBTQ Resource Center is open Monday to Saturday from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm and closed on Sunday.  We are located at 510 North Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054.

Upcoming Events

Come As You Are

 Beginning Monday, January 16, from 6pm – 8pm and every week at the Center.

“Come As You Are” is a transgendered discussion group and social gathering. Everyone is welcomed!

Lesbians in North County (LINC)

Friday January 20th from 7:30pm-9:30pm

We Meet every Third Friday of each month at the North County LGBTQ Resource Center.

Lesbians in North County (LINC) is a grassroots organization that provides a safe and open environment for women seeking support and social activities.  We coordinate social activities, sponsor events, and provide a network for our community. As a collective body, we will be a powerful voice and a visible sign for our integration into the greater community.

AA & Al-Anon

LGBT in Recovery

DATE: Tuesday, January 17th
TIME: From 6:30pm to 7:30pm
LOCATION: Every Tuesday at the Center

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety

AL-ANON

DATE: Tuesday, January 17th
TIME: From 6:30pm to 7:30pm
LOCATION: Every Tuesday at the Center

At Al-Anon Family Group meetings, the friends and family members of problem drinkers share their experiences and learn how to apply the principles of the Al-Anon program to their individual situations.

They learn that they are not alone in the problems they face, and that they have choices that lead to greater peace of mind, whether the drinker continues to drink or not.