Kathy Watt, of LA’s Van Ness House recovery center, and PFLAG’s Elizabeth Castro and her son Enrique.Photo:Stephanie Noritz; Pedro Rivas
Stephanie Noritz; Pedro Rivas
Through tireless activism in the fields of recovery, family support, elder care and youth activism, these five LGBTQ+ advocates and organizations are making a difference in their communities
01of 05Offering a Way Back: Kathy WattThe Van Ness Recovery House executive director Kathy Watt.Stephanie NoritzAs director of Los Angeles’Van Ness Recovery House, the nation’s oldest LGBTQ+ addiction treatment center, Kathy Watt runs a tight—yet empathetic—ship. “Most people who come here have lost hope,” says the 66-year-old former high school coach, who got sober 36 years ago. “They’ve been to treatment between five to seven other times already.” In addition to addiction counseling, the center offers mental health resources and sexual health education, and the 20 beds remain full 365 days a year. “An empty bed means somebody dies tonight,” explains Watt, adding that the most important thing the house offers is something residents often forget they deserve: redemption. “If you can be honest about who you are, you’re not gonna be thrown away.”Sheryl Lee Ralph.Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock"Thousands of people have been helped to move forward from drug and alcohol addiction thanks to Kathy" —actress Sheryl Lee Ralph
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Offering a Way Back: Kathy Watt
The Van Ness Recovery House executive director Kathy Watt.Stephanie Noritz
Stephanie Noritz
As director of Los Angeles’Van Ness Recovery House, the nation’s oldest LGBTQ+ addiction treatment center, Kathy Watt runs a tight—yet empathetic—ship. “Most people who come here have lost hope,” says the 66-year-old former high school coach, who got sober 36 years ago. “They’ve been to treatment between five to seven other times already.” In addition to addiction counseling, the center offers mental health resources and sexual health education, and the 20 beds remain full 365 days a year. “An empty bed means somebody dies tonight,” explains Watt, adding that the most important thing the house offers is something residents often forget they deserve: redemption. “If you can be honest about who you are, you’re not gonna be thrown away.”
Sheryl Lee Ralph.Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
“Thousands of people have been helped to move forward from drug and alcohol addiction thanks to Kathy” —actress Sheryl Lee Ralph
02of 05Expanding a Vital Support Group’s Reach: Elizabeth & Enrique CastroElizabeth Castro of PFLAG and her son Enrique.Trish Alegre-SmithIn 2016 Elizabeth Castro and her family moved to a Marine base in Okinawa, Japan, where her husband, Sammy, was stationed, and where her son Enrique was one of the few openly gay kids. Turning to PFLAG—at 50 years old, the nation’s oldest advocacy group for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them—for support, Elizabeth, 50, sensed an opportunity. “PFLAG has 400 chapters,” she says. “But what about families who move and start over every time?” She helped the organization launch Military Connects, “a safe virtual space for families [in the armed forces] to speak freely.” She now helps run an online chapter from her home in Lorton, Va., and admits that education and support will nevernotbe useful: “I use a pronoun wrong, and Enrique says, ‘Mom, you’re in PFLAG—you should know better!’ ”Says Brian K. Bond, Executive Director of PFLAG National: “Military families have long been a part of PFLAG’s story, and Elizabeth has been an important resource in helping us address the unique needs of those families, while also providing love and support to Enrique. As we developed ourPFLAG Connects: Communities program for military families, in partnership with our friends at Modern Military Association of America, we were grateful for Elizabeth’s guidance.”Kristin Chenoweth.Randy Shropshire/Deadline via Getty"PFLAG’s voice is heard because love is our only command in this world" —actress Kristin Chenoweth
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Expanding a Vital Support Group’s Reach: Elizabeth & Enrique Castro
Elizabeth Castro of PFLAG and her son Enrique.Trish Alegre-Smith
Trish Alegre-Smith
In 2016 Elizabeth Castro and her family moved to a Marine base in Okinawa, Japan, where her husband, Sammy, was stationed, and where her son Enrique was one of the few openly gay kids. Turning to PFLAG—at 50 years old, the nation’s oldest advocacy group for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them—for support, Elizabeth, 50, sensed an opportunity. “PFLAG has 400 chapters,” she says. “But what about families who move and start over every time?” She helped the organization launch Military Connects, “a safe virtual space for families [in the armed forces] to speak freely.” She now helps run an online chapter from her home in Lorton, Va., and admits that education and support will nevernotbe useful: “I use a pronoun wrong, and Enrique says, ‘Mom, you’re in PFLAG—you should know better!’ ”
Says Brian K. Bond, Executive Director of PFLAG National: “Military families have long been a part of PFLAG’s story, and Elizabeth has been an important resource in helping us address the unique needs of those families, while also providing love and support to Enrique. As we developed ourPFLAG Connects: Communities program for military families, in partnership with our friends at Modern Military Association of America, we were grateful for Elizabeth’s guidance.”
Kristin Chenoweth.Randy Shropshire/Deadline via Getty
Randy Shropshire/Deadline via Getty
“PFLAG’s voice is heard because love is our only command in this world” —actress Kristin Chenoweth
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Celebrating LGBTQ+ Seniors: Joe Negrelli
Stonewall uprising survivor Joe Negrelli.Allison Michael Orenstein
Allison Michael Orenstein
“I was there on the night of June 28, 1969,” says Joe Negrelli of New York City’s Stonewall Riots, a landmark moment in gay rights. “The perception of LGBTQ+ people began to change because, through civil disobedience, we stood up for ourselves as a community.” Today Negrelli, 71, a retired computer programmer, finds his community as a member ofSAGE(Service & Advocacy for GLBT Elders), an organization that assists LGBTQ+ seniors through meals, programming and health care. “Being openly gay and in a senior center is heaven,” he says. “Honestly, I didn’t think I’d make it to 25.”
Ross Mathews.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
04of 05Sharing the Wealth: Gabrielle Inès SouzaThe Okra Project executive director Gabrielle Inès Souza.Maegan GindiAs the new executive director of the New York City-based collectivethe Okra Project, Gabrielle Inès Souza, 36, spends her days “redistributing wealth through mutual aid”—that is, giving away every dollar she receives from grants and donations ($3 million so far) to Black and Brown trans women for meals, utilities, health care and shelter. “Black trans women’s average life expectancy is 35,” she says. “Right now we’re getting the bare scraps of humanity. But we support each other. It would be beautiful if we had the support of the world, of course. Until then, we have our sisterhood.”Nicole Byer.Steven Simione/FilmMagic"If society fails you, only your own community can help you. That’s what the Okra Project does.” —comedian Nicole Byer
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Sharing the Wealth: Gabrielle Inès Souza
The Okra Project executive director Gabrielle Inès Souza.Maegan Gindi
Maegan Gindi
As the new executive director of the New York City-based collectivethe Okra Project, Gabrielle Inès Souza, 36, spends her days “redistributing wealth through mutual aid”—that is, giving away every dollar she receives from grants and donations ($3 million so far) to Black and Brown trans women for meals, utilities, health care and shelter. “Black trans women’s average life expectancy is 35,” she says. “Right now we’re getting the bare scraps of humanity. But we support each other. It would be beautiful if we had the support of the world, of course. Until then, we have our sisterhood.”
Nicole Byer.Steven Simione/FilmMagic
Steven Simione/FilmMagic
“If society fails you, only your own community can help you. That’s what the Okra Project does.” —comedian Nicole Byer
05of 05Focusing on Humanity: Maxwell PothPhotojournalist and author Maxwell Poth.courtesy maxwell pothAs a gay teen growing up in Bountiful, Utah, Poth did not see himself reflected in his community. “I was definitely the only gay kid,” he says. “I even tried to come out at 15. [Aside from his immediate family] people just literally wouldn’t listen.” In 2018 Poth—now 30 and a celebrity photographer who has shot portraits of Ricky Martin and Nicole Scherzinger—began crisscrossing the country as part of an outreach program he callsProject Contrast.“I would photograph queer youth and ask them to share their stories,” he says of the photo project that inspired his new book. “I mainly traveled to rural areas, places that don’t have LGBTQ+ centers, to help these kids find community.” He can’t help but realize his experience has come full circle. “Sometimes it’s the first time they’ve ever met another queer person.”Adam Lambert.Victor Boyko/Getty"Max is helping us see the queer movement as a group of young people living real lives and finding their voices" —singer Adam Lambert
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Focusing on Humanity: Maxwell Poth
Photojournalist and author Maxwell Poth.courtesy maxwell poth
courtesy maxwell poth
As a gay teen growing up in Bountiful, Utah, Poth did not see himself reflected in his community. “I was definitely the only gay kid,” he says. “I even tried to come out at 15. [Aside from his immediate family] people just literally wouldn’t listen.” In 2018 Poth—now 30 and a celebrity photographer who has shot portraits of Ricky Martin and Nicole Scherzinger—began crisscrossing the country as part of an outreach program he callsProject Contrast.“I would photograph queer youth and ask them to share their stories,” he says of the photo project that inspired his new book. “I mainly traveled to rural areas, places that don’t have LGBTQ+ centers, to help these kids find community.” He can’t help but realize his experience has come full circle. “Sometimes it’s the first time they’ve ever met another queer person.”
Adam Lambert.Victor Boyko/Getty
Victor Boyko/Getty
“Max is helping us see the queer movement as a group of young people living real lives and finding their voices” —singer Adam Lambert
source: people.com
