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Community services helping gay and
lesbian youth
“Gay youth can be a very high-risk population. If we don't
address homosexuality and deal with it, drugs, alcohol and
suicide are some of the things that can happen."
— Liz Huesemann, Horizons Community
Services (Chicago)
BY
DELL
RICHARDS
numbers at Horizons. The teenagers
Huesemann deals with every day bear the
hile many gay and lesbian adolescents
scars of these terrifying figures.
dread the upcoming holidays because
“Our records show that one out of every
it means more time at home, young gay men four to five people in the youth group may
and lesbians of Chicago look forward to what
have attempted suicide before coming into the
psychologists say is the most stressful time of
program,” said Huesemann.
year.
Most gay youth have no one to turn to and
A feast of activities — from potlucks to
are lucky if they can find a sympathetic adult
caroling and parties — helps gay and lesbian
who can help them with their fears.
youth feel they are part of a family.
The crying need for these services is
This sense of belonging is critical because
evident not just from the number of suicides
so many young gays feel alienated to begin
but the number of teens Horizons sees each
with. During the winter holidays — from
year. Founded a decade ago, Horizons helped
400 gay youth this past year. Last year, 375
Thanksgiving to Hanukkah to Christmas and
New Year’s — they often find the emphasis
came through the doors seeking help.
“The program started because of the youth
on hearth and home too much to bear.
out there that were hiding,” said Huesemann.
“Gay youth can be a very high-risk
“Kids don’t feel safe enough in school to
population,” said Liz Huesemann of Horizons
say to teachers or friends that they are lesbian
Community Services in Chicago.
or gay.”
“If we don’t address homosexuality and
Today, the organization provides a safe,
deal with it, drugs, alcohol and suicide are just
fu n place for gay teens from Illinois,
some of the things that can happen.”
Wisconsin and even Indiana.
Huesemann, 33, knows what she’s talking
In December, they’ll have an evening of
about because she’s been there.
caroling with other gay friends and a "Just
As a young lesbian, she became a victim
Because” party with music and dancing. This
of fear and isolation herself — one who
winter cornucopia comes after a Thanksgiving
turned to drugs and alcohol to dim the pain.
potluck held at a pizza parlor the night before
“I’m one of the statistics,” said
the big event, a Halloween party, a Valen
Huesemann. “I had a difficult time growing
tine’s dance and a proper high school prom at
up. And I covered it up with drugs and
a local restaurant that featured dinner and
alcohol.”
dancing.
Today, the 33-year-old woman heads
“W e’re a social service agency but we try
youth services at the Chicago community
to
provide
lots of activities that are fun,” said
center.
Huesemann.
Like Huesemann, gay and lesbian youth
The widely-respected agency now has two
face overwhelming odds in adolescence.
paid staff, 25 volunteers and is part of a larger
Most are not out to their parents and are afraid
community service network that provides
their parents will find out.
services for drug and alcohol abusers and the
This fear isn’t just idle paranoia. Teens
homeless. Teens are referred to Horizons by
who are honest and open are often rejected by
social service programs throughout the state
their family and friends. At school, they are
and it does its own outreach.
laughed at, ridiculed and even beaten up.
The center prints cards about itself and its
Their drop-out rate is way above the national
services that teens from Horizons then take to
average.
their school and put in library books.
At one of the most critical periods of their
“The kids themselves put cards into books
lives, at a time when hormones and emotion
other kids might read,” said Huesemann.
are running at their highest, when belonging
Horizons trains local teachers and counse
and being loved is one of their most pressing
lors in how to deal with gay youth and the
needs, they face a condemning and ruthlessly
particular
issues of self-hatred and low self
hostile environment.
esteem they often have.
The aim of Horizons is to help young gay,
Huesemann speaks at schools statewide on
lesbian and bisexual youth deal with their
a regular basis about being gay, talking about
sexuality during this harsh period, to integrate
the risks gay youth face, answering questions
their sexuality into their lives and to become
and trying to combat negative stereotypes.
stable, adjusted adults. It provides role
For Huesemann, being a speaker is one of
models, support groups, a library and a safe
the
few painful aspects of the job.
place to make friends with other gays their
“I often ask myself why I have to do this,”
own age.
said
Huesemann. “And I wonder how many
Without organizations like Horizons — of
times in sex ed classes I have to see people
which there are only a handful in the United
and say I’m a homosexual. I keep asking why
States — these overwhelming feelings of
can’t people just accept each other — whether
being alienated and outcast often lead to
they are heterosexual or homosexual?”
destructive means of escape such as drugs,
With a masters in social work, Huesemann
alcohol and even suicide.
has been working with teens for the past 10
The recent report by the Department of
years. Before becoming the first paid director
Health and Human Services confirmed the
of Horizons, she worked with teen drug and
gay community’s worst fears about what the
alcohol programs.
next generation has to face, citing suicide as
“I’ve always found it easy to communicate
the leading cause of death among gay and
with kids,” said Huesemann. “Probably
lesbian youth.
because
I had such a hard time myself.”
According to the report, gay and lesbian
When Huesemann counsels teens on the
youth may account for nearly 30 percent of all
dangers
of drugs and alcohol, she speaks from
successful youth suicides each year.
experience. She is a recovering alcoholic who
“Homosexuals are two to six times more
started drinking in adolescence. Huesemann’s
likely to attempt suicide than are
father was a minister of a United Church of
heterosexuals,” the report stated.
Christ, a fairly rigid religious denomination.
These horrifying statistics aren’t just
W
As a result of her strict upbringing, Huese
mann understands how parents can be well-
meaning but still part of the problem.
“They come to us because their kid doesn’t
come home anymore and they don’t know
how to deal with it,” said Huesemann.
Huesemann does what she can to educate
parents about the stereotypes of lesbians and
gays. She tries to teach them that — contrary
to their ideas — homosexuality is not a mental
illness and that sexuality cannot be changed.
“But the emphasis is on the teen, not the
parent,” she said. Youth safety and protection
are paramount.
“Many times the kids are not out to the
parents. The parents may not even be aware
that the kids are at Horizons. But that’s okay.
"That’s what we mean by a safe place.”
To get around the need for parental
permission to attend meetings, Horizons holds
support groups rather than formal therapy
groups. As many as 30 teens show up for the
support groups. The weekly drop-in evenings
can bring in as many as 80 teens a night.
If a teen needs special help, Huesemann
herself does the immediate crisis intervention.
But if a youngster requires long-term care, he
or she can be referred to another counselor.
With 10 years under its belt, Horizons is
looking forward to another decade of growth.
One goal is to reach 500 teenagers in the next
few years.
“Horizons is a place where gay kids don’t
have to be isolated, where they can make
emotional connection,” said Huesemann.
“It’s really great to be able to participate in a
program that's really needed.”
Making those kinds of meaningful
connections on a regular basis is essential for
everyone, not just gay and lesbian youth.
And at its best, taking the time to do just
that is what this holiday season is all about. ▼
Happy Holidays!
Thank you for
your support
during 1989.
What better
way to start
the new year
than with a
new house!
Please have a
safe and
happy
holiday season!
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