NALGAP
25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
An exciting
milestone in our history occurred in December when NALGAP celebrated
25 years of service and advocacy for LGBT substance abusers. Since
1979, NALGAP has served as the national voice of conscience about
LGBT substance abuse prevention and treatment, so an anniversary
marking these last 25 years was in order. To celebrate, NALGAP held
a full conference-in-a-conference within the Southeast Conference
on Alcohol and Drugs (SECAD), December 1-4 in Atlanta.
NALGAP provided
two well-attended plenaries: 1) “Gay and Bisexual Men: What
You Should Know, What You Can Do” presented by Ron Stall,
PhD, Joe Neisen, PhD, and Don McVinney, MSSW, ACSW, CASAC. They
addressed such issues as treatments specific to gay and bisexual
men’s concerns, Harm Reduction, and dealing with Syndemics
(Ron Stall’s term for the syergisitic interrelationship among
multiple epidemics such as AIDS, hepatitis, crystal meth, other
substance abuse). 2) “Lesbian and Bisexual Women: What You
Should Know, What You Can Do” presented by Emily McNally,
PhD, Dana Finnegan, PhD, and Cheryl Reese, LPC. They addressed such
issues as how little real change has occurred in the status of women’s
treatment needs over the past thirty years; the need for safety
and for non-homophobic/biphobic treatment; and the need for treatment
sensitive to the cultural issues and differences of substance-abusing
and recovering lesbian and bisexual women who are African American.
In addition,
NALGAP members presented three workshops: Doug Braun-Harvey, MFT,
CGP, and Jim Zians, ABD presented their cutting-edge research about
“Using Sexual Behavior Relapse Prevention to Reduce Chemical
Dependency Failures.” Emilia Lombardi, PhD, discussed her
important research and clinical approaches in her session, “Trangendered
Substance Abuse Clients: What You Should Know, What You Can Do.”
In a two-hour session moderated by Michael Browning, a panel of
experts discussed LGBT recovery issues pertinent to their particular
specialty. Cheryl Reese, LPC, spoke about trauma and recovery issues
for African American substance abusers who are lesbians or bisexual
women: Pat Hawkins, PhD focused on the abysmal state of AIDS funding
and treatment; Phil McCabe, CSW, CAS gave a Power Point presentation
on the relationship of advertising to tobacco addictions; Don McVinney,
MSSW, ACSW, CASAC, talked about the importance of harm reduction
-- sometimes known as “warm turkey”—as a viable
treatment approach; Doug Braun-Harvey, MFT, CGP, focused on the
interrelationship between sexual addiction and substance abuse;
Emilia Lombardi, PhD, presented on issues specific to transgender
substance abusers; and Joe Amico, M.Div., CAS, CSAC, spoke about
the traumatic effects of spiritual abuse.
On Thursday
evening, NALGAP help its Presidents Reception which was generously
sponsored by Michael Ralke’s Alternative, Inc. NALGAP celebrated
its 25 years of service to and advocacy for LGBT active and recovering
substance abusers and its ongoing efforts to educate mainstream
prevention and treatment professionals and programs. The first part
of the Reception was devoted to giving awards in recognition of
people’s contributions to NALGAP’s development and progress.
“NALGAP Pioneer Awards” were presented in absentia to:
LeClair Bissell, M.D. and to Max A. Schneider, M.D. Even before
the 1980’s, both LeClair and Max led the way in fighting for
better treatment for lesbians and gay men.
Next came a
Proclamation honoring the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug
Dependence (NCADD) for its active support of NALGAP and its mission
in the very beginnings (1979/80) of our organization. The last paragraph
states: “The NALGAP board of directors proclaims NCADD as
a fellow-pioneer in providing for the needs of LGBT people and communities
with alcohol and other drug problems and declares NCADD to be an
Honorary NALGAP Member for life.” In conjunction with the
Proclamation, a Letter of Thanks was sent to Natalie Becker, Executive
Director of NCADD in 1980, who was instrumental in bringing about
a courageous first -- the day and a half long track on lesbian/gay
substance abuse at NCADD’s 1980 national conference.
Board members
Cheryl Reese and Phil McCabe announced that in August they presented
the President’s Award to Gail Milgram, Director of the Rutgers
Summer School of Alcohol and Drug Studies, in recognition of both
her and the School’s support of NALGAP’s mission and
efforts since the formation of NALGAP in 1979.
Next, President
Joe Amico presented Michael Ralke with The NALGAP Leadership Award:
“With deep appreciation for Frank Boudewyns and Michael Ralke,
founders and CEOs of Alternatives, Inc., who have led the way in
providing quality, affirming treatment for LGBT substance abusers.”
The last award
given was a marvelous surprise to its recipients. The NALGAP Board
of Directors presented NALGAP founders, Dana Finnegan and Emily
McNally, with The Dana G. Finnegan-Emily B. McNally NALGAP Founders’
Award, “a beautiful and uniquely shaped crystal award for
life achievement. The Board established the award, named for Finnegan
and McNally, whose life achievements include not only the establishment
of NALGAP itself, but ground-breaking, seminal published work on
the treatment of LGBT people with alcohol and drug-related and mental
health problems, and decades of successful clinical work in restoring
LGBT clients to health and social functioning.
The Finnegan-McNally
NALGAP Founders Award will be given, at the discretion of the NALGAP
Board of Directors, to individuals whose professional and/or volunteer
activities over a period of 25 years or more reflects the examples
set by NALGAP’s co-founders, supports and furthers NALGAP’s
mission, and improves opportunities for LGBT individuals to benefit
from substance abuse prevention treatment, and recovery support
programs and services.”
Following the
awards ceremony, reception attendees were treated to a one-man show
by Leslie Jordan, nationally known for his recurring roles in such
TV series as Will and Grace and Boston Legal and the cult movie,
Sordid Lives. In hilarious and poignant detail, Leslie regaled everyone
with stories of his growing up, coming out, and recovery from alcoholism
and other addictions. What a delight to have an accomplished and
well-known actor “tell our stories” with enormous humor
and great compassion. Leslie’s performance assured that his
audiences left Atlanta refreshed, in good humor, and feeling affirmed.
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