In Honor of PRIDE Month, Hear from NAMI CC Staff Who Identify as LGBTQI+
Speakers
- Avery Gould of NAMI CC
- Maureen McSweeney of NAMI CC
- Anthony Marin of NAMI CC
Summary
We recognized June as Pride month and heard from NAMI CC peer support specialists who had lived experience with mental illness and also identified as LGBTQI+. We also received our California Non Profit of the Year award from the office of Assemblymember Tim Grayson staff member, Theresa Andersen.
Avery Gould is a 24-year-old gay man who practices reform Judaism. Many people thought of religion and homosexuality to be in opposition. In his presentation, Avery sought to unravel the myth that religiosity and homosexuality were mutually exclusive. In addition, he touched on how the mental health of some people could be affected by the misconception that faith and queerness are contradictory in his presentation “Bridging the Divide: Embracing Harmony Between Religion and Homosexuality.”
Maureen McSweeney (they/them) is proud to be working at NAMI Contra Costa on the Transitional Age Youth team. They themselves had utilized community support groups and services throughout their mental health journey. Rainbow Community Center and The Trevor Project, especially, had been great ways for Maureen to find queer support and community. Maureen was grateful for the opportunity to present on LGBTQ+ mental health, as well as to speak on their own lived experience.
Anthony Marin is a proud gay man who has been married to his husband Michael for 13 years despite the odds against him. Tony shared his history of navigating the mental health system which ultimately brought him to receive services at Rainbow Community Center and work for NAMI CC. Together, Tony and Michael are a dynamic duo who help the NAMI CC organization thrive.
We left time near the end for an all-inclusive LGBTQI+ discussion/conversation, Questions and Answers from the audience, played a few Pride month inspired tunes to sing and dance to. We recognized June as Pride month and heard from NAMI CC peer support specialists who had lived experience with mental illness and also identified as LGBTQI+. We also received our California Non Profit of the Year award from the office of Assemblymember Tim Grayson staff member, Theresa Andersen.
Avery Gould is a 24-year-old gay man who practices reform Judaism. Many people thought of religion and homosexuality to be in opposition. In his presentation, Avery sought to unravel the myth that religiosity and homosexuality were mutually exclusive. In addition, he touched on how the mental health of some people could be affected by the misconception that faith and queerness are contradictory in his presentation “Bridging the Divide: Embracing Harmony Between Religion and Homosexuality.”
Maureen McSweeney (they/them) is proud to be working at NAMI Contra Costa on the Transitional Age Youth team. They themselves had utilized community support groups and services throughout their mental health journey. Rainbow Community Center and The Trevor Project, especially, had been great ways for Maureen to find queer support and community. Maureen was grateful for the opportunity to present on LGBTQ+ mental health, as well as to speak on their own lived experience.
Anthony Marin is a proud gay man who has been married to his husband Michael for 13 years despite the odds against him. Tony shared his history of navigating the mental health system which ultimately brought him to receive services at Rainbow Community Center and work for NAMI CC. Together, Tony and Michael are a dynamic duo who help the NAMI CC organization thrive.
We left time near the end for an all-inclusive LGBTQI+ discussion/conversation and Questions and Answers from the audience and played a few Pride month inspired tunes to sing and dance to.
