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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1987)
Gay Hotline begins 16 th year A pioneer of unstigmatized counseling , the Counseling Center for Sexual Minorities operates the Gay Hotline seven nights a week with volunteers. BY £ £ N E S T O R ___ P E R A L A o ahead, the counselor is on the line," "Good evening. This is Mike. May I help you ?" Thus begins a typical conversation on the Gay Hotline, properly known as the Counseling Center for Sexual Minorities (CCSM), which this summer completed :/p Enjoy forever the Quietness that is sailing. . . LEARN to SAIL 283-0160 50 N.E. Tomahawk Is. Dr. In 16 hours o f excitement that C makes it happen. (D'Cada, Une. ¿Sut Cui y C in ti \ Sailing Consultants for Catalina - Cape Dory - Montgomery - Pearson Rentals - Brokerage - Charters JUNIOR SAILORS ALSO WANTED 8 to 14 Portland Parks & Recreation (796-5191) Learn to Sail $45°° Just Oui 30 August. 1987 VJT rv £ (* ■ ■■■ ■ a n ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ - • •• aaaaa aaaaa aaaaaaa aaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa, aaaaaaa aaaaaaa aaaaaaa aaaaaa ~ aaaaa aaaaaa aaaaaa aaaaaa aaaaaa ••••■■a a a a a a a a a a i a a a a a a a a a a a •>•■■■> ■ aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ■ aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa biM M M iiciaaainoaaaaai taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ia a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a ia a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ---- a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a ------------ e a a a a a a a a a a a aaaaaaaaaa T a ia a a a a n aaaaaaaa -aaaaaaa --aaaaa aaaaa aaaaa ^ fifteen years of service to the community. The Gay Hotline started in 1972 when the Second Foundation, a social-charitable organization for gay men and women, set up a counseling service for the gay com munity consisting of a telephone hotline and paraprofessional one-to-one counsel ing by the members of the Board of Di rectors. Later that year the program was badly in need of evaluation and reorgani zation, so recruiting of people outside the Second Foundation was begun. In January, 1973, the group decided to break all ties with the Second Foundation and become autonomous because they wanted a new and clearly defined public service image, pro fessional standards, and nonprofit status. The group unanimously agreed that an un stigmatized counseling alternative to the traditional mental health approach was needed for sexual minorities. The name. Counseling Center for Sexual Minorities, was chosen after the Seattle model. The most urgent need and most easily realized goal was determined to be an in formation, referral, and crisis intervention telephone hotline. A training session for future telephone listeners was begun in February, 1973. The first training session lasted four months and was attended by 20 people weekly. By March, articles of in corporation and by-laws were drawn up. Space was rented at the Northwest Hotline Facility at 1007 NW 23rd Avenue. Monthly bills for rent, phone, and publicity were paid by membership pledges, but by 1974 there was not enough money to meet ex penses, so arrangements were made with the Doctors' Official Telephone Exchange for telephone listeners to work in their own homes with calls being patched through from the Exchange. This arrangement is still in effect. From its beginning, CCSM has attempted to be of help to all sexual minorities. Its training sessions include information about cross-dressers. In 1974 a cross- dressers’ rap group for transvestites and transsexuals began meeting at Centenary Wilbur Methodist Church. This group later developed into the Northwest Gender Alliance, the local cross-dressers’ organi zation, which works with CCSM to be of service to this segment of the population. From its original schedule of offering hotline service three nights a week, the Gay Hotline now operates seven evenings a week from 7:00 p.m. to 11 p.m. A typi cal evening's call may vary from. "I'm new in town, where are the bars?” "W hat’s happening in the gay commun ity?’ ’ " I just had a gay experience; does that mean I’m gay?’ ’ to "M y daughter has just announced she’s gay; what can I do?" The answer to the last question ends up with the caller being referred to Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) which has one-to-one counsel ing and monthly meetings. Although the hotline has Counseling Center in its title, it has not been able to offer the one-to-one counseling that the name states. The only time this has been possible was in 1975 when for four months funding was obtained from CETA Title II for three full-time paid employees. Exten sion of the funding by the City Council lost because of the opposition of Councilman Frank Ivancie. Funding over the years has been diffi cult. Support has come from individual contributions, benefits put on by various organizations, and dues from members. Contribut ions are always welcomed. Because of normal attrition due to job changes, moving, etc., there is always a need for new hotline workers. Several times a year weekend training sessions arc held. Those interested should call the hotline number, 228-6785. Training includes actual practice in answering the calls, information about the gay commun ity in Portland, how to discuss typical calls about being lonely and depressed, prob lems with one’s lover or about finding a partner, feelings of guilt and low self esteem, problems about coming out, masturbation, fetishism, problems of parenting, cross-dressing, etc. Up-to-date referrals are made to professionals such as doctors and lawyers who are not necessar ily gay, but who are understanding of gay problems. Fifteen years of serving the community has been made possible by the hard work and persistence of dedicated volunteers who give of their time and energy. The Gay Hotline. CCSM, looks forward to many more years of service. •