Passing along message re: help for LGBT hurricane victims evacuees

[kweerwolf]

I know we each have plenty of options to choose from when donating to various Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, but I'm posting this one here in the LGBT forum from the Montrose Counseling Center in Houston re: helping LGBT persons displaced by the hurricane:

We wanted to let you know that the Montrose Counseling Center is going to be an information and referral clearinghouse for LGBT persons who were evacuated to Houston from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama due to Hurricane Katrina.

Montrose Counseling Center has resources in place, including Gay & Lesbian Switchboard Houston (713.529.3211), to help people connect with area service providers in order to streamline the donation process, as well as access to those donations.

For those of you who want to help, especially with donations, MCC will be taking donations to help GLBT displaced evacuees with shelter, clothing vouchers, gas money, bus tokens, etc. since many of these people may not feel comfortable going to mainstream outlets. We are working in conjunction with other agencies as well as HIV Service Organizations to make sure that individuals receive their medication, etc.

If you could pass that along to others in your circles, we can guarantee that the funds donated will make it to our target population of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trangender persons.

Please contact Sally Huffer at [e-mail] or at 713.529.0037 x324 if you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation. Montrose Counseling Center is a United Way agency, and we are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations -- letting you know that we have the infrastructure to provide the best possible services to our community with quality assurance and a guarantee that funds received will be appropriated as requested.

Thank you to everyone who has already contacted us to see how they can help. We are putting together a small army of volunteers and service providers to make sure that the needs of our displaced LGBT friends are being met.

Sincerely,
Sally Huffer
Community Projects Specialist
Montrose Counseling Center
701 Richmond Avenue
Houston, Texas 77006-5511
713.529.0037 x324

[Spangle]

1. I will not donate to ANY group that is being selective in their help

Based upon anything.

Maybe focusing on a certain town. This is no different then if the churchs say they are only going to help Churches.

Some things just happen where funds do go to certain types of groups. In this case, more G&L will turn to this group for help. As such, that is who they are more likely to reach more of.

But to directly state that is ONLY who they are helping.....

Nada.. don't want no part of it.

[kweerwolf]

2. Fine. Don't donate then.

I'm more than aware - as is everyone else here - that there are plenty of options for giving money. I see nothing wrong in alonging people to target their donations ... especially when you are talking about a groups that would certainly be left out if it were up to many of the churches you mentioned in your post.

It's odd that I didn't see you commenting on the post about FEMA listing one of Pat Robertson's organizations for relief ... or on the thread about donating to care for the pets of hurricane victims.

But then perhaps it's just that the donations go to LGBTs that brings out your true colors.

[Duncan Grant]

3. I think you're over reacting and woefully uninformed.

Montrose Counseling Center will be lucky if they receive $15,000 in donations for this important work.

Personally, I think specific trauma services for GLBT people is a great idea. GLBT people are an under-served community. Montrose is most likely trying to increase opportunities for GLBT people to receive trauma counseling and support. This is a bad thing?

I would also support specific fund-raising efforts for single mothers, migrant workers, etc.

As for your analogy of "churches helping only churches" - I just have to laugh. And I don't even understand what you're trying to say when you state: "Some things just happen where funds do go to certain types of groups. In this case, more G&L will turn to this group for help. As such, that is who they are more likely to reach more of."

The perceived inequity you see between "selective" services targeting GLBT people and the rest of the community is insulting.

[Boomer]

4. ALL relief groups are selective, dear

Because most of them "select" to leave out gay people, especially gay couples.

My partner and I are donating to Red Cross AND specifically gay organizations that will help gay families when no one else will.