Proud Voices

Matt and James from the Aliveness Project share what their organization can offer to the community, who can access their services, benefits of harm reduction and syringe exchanges, combatting shame and stigma for people living with HIV, safe sex and how someone can start on PrEP. 

Gavin got sober from drugs in his early 20’s before relapsing later on alcohol. He came to Pride from Atlanta, Georgia, having lived in several different places throughout the United States, because he wanted to be surrounded by other queer folks. He decided to stay in Minnesota post treatment because of the thriving LGBTQIA+ recovery community. Gavin has been sober since November, 2015.

Rodney, a former school teacher, first picked up drugs in 2008, and after having spent several years sober, relapsed at the start of the pandemic. An IV user, Rodney speaks of the instant relief he was able to get from his use, as well as the eventual consequences. He talks about ego, the armor we put up, and the spiritual components of recovery. Rodney has been sober since May 25, 2020. 

This week's episode features Pride Institute Director of Clinical Services Todd Connaughty, who was recently named Supervisor of the Year by the Minnesota Association of Resources for Recovery in Chemical Health (MARRCH). Connaughty discusses the importance of culturally competent care, minority stress theory, struggles the LGBTQIA+ community still faces today, and tips for how other organizations can be more inclusive. Connaughty has been with Pride Institute for 16 years. 

Will came to Minnesota from Washington D.C. and went through Pride twice; the first time for alcohol and opioid use in 2015, and the second for Chrystal meth in 2017. He talks about imposter syndrome, ego, judgement, and the hopelessness of early recovery. Most importantly, having failed taught Will how to succeed. Will has been sober since October 8, 2017.

This week’s guest, Howard, grew up in a religious family that taught him to hate his queerness. He talks about internalized homophobia, peer pressure to drink in order to fit in, and social anxiety of bars. Howard has been sober for just shy of three years.

Kathy Jo had her first drink when she was 8 years old because she wanted to get drunk like the grown ups, and found herself in her hometown jail at age 12 for public drinking. She refers to herself as a "blackout drinker" and craved the feeling she got after having a third drink. She recognized fairly early on she was different, but having grown up in a small town, didn't know being a lesbian was a possibility. Kathy Jo become sober on January 4th, 1980. 

Tom started drinking heavily when he was in college and continued to throughout the rest of his early adult life. He came through Pride’s doors in 1987 and expected a prison-like atmosphere, but was pleasantly surprised to see for the first time in his life, LGBTQIA+ people living out loud authentically during the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980’s. Tom got sober on October 3rd, 1987.

This week’s guest, Ross, identifies as Queer and demisexual, which means only feeling sexually attracted to someone with whom they have an emotional bond. Ross came to Pride from New York City with zero dollars in his bank account. His drug of choice was meth, which he notes helped him have intense spiritual, emotional, and physical connections with others. He discusses the Party & Play scene (also known as chemsex), the era of HIV disclosure and the stigma that came with having a positive status, and the importance of “bumper sticker” sayings in recovery. Ross is currently pursuing his Master’s in Counseling Psychology. He became sober on February 3, 2009.