Proud Voices

You are who you surround yourself with

This week’s guest, John, became intertwined with Pride by attending the “famous” Friday night AA meetings at our residential location. Through this, he was able to network with other liked-minded people who were both members of the LGBTQIA community and sober. John speaks about his first experiences drinking, which involved going to the hospital to get his stomach pumped, and the stigma of growing up gay in a heteronormative society. John has been sober since 2001. 

Drinking was always my friend

This week’s guest, David, is a medical professional who at one point in time had his practice suspended due to his substance use. Growing up, he always thought being a man meant having a nice house, a good job, and a drink in his hand. He talks about the social pressures of drinking and how it made him feel more accepted by his peers at school, as well as his family. David is currently a Medical Director at Twin Cities-based behavioral health organization and has been sober since April 9, 2018.

There‘s a lot of fear when you give up your substance of choice.

This weeks guest, Jeremy, discusses what life was like growing up gay in a roman catholic family in New Orleans, where gay life is centered around Bourbon Street and bars are safe havens for gay men. Jeremy touches on staying sober in a new city, how to disengage from previous survival skills, and what sober fun looks like for him today. Jeremy has a little over two years of sobriety under his belt. 

"He looks gay...I'm gonna ask him to be my sponsor"

Alex came through Pride's doors in 2019, which he describes as the deepest, darkest time of his life, having sought treatment while simultaneously operating an addiction treatment center in North Dakota. He discusses his childhood trauma, the importance of family, relapse, 12-step meetings, and maintaining his sobriety during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It felt like I was living a double life, the more that I lied the easier it was

AJ discusses her experience with how legal trouble, her relationship with her wife, internalized homophobia, bullying, microaggressions, and living a double in life small college town impacted her use. She touches on what clicked at an LGBTQ+ specific treatment and how that changed her perspective about being apart of the LGBTQ+ recovery community.  AJ has been sober since 9/17/2017. 

I was trying to fill a god-sized hole

This week's guest, Duane, talks about how his spiritual upbringing left him trying to fill an emptiness by overeating, drinking, or having sex. Duane talks about his dual substance use disorder and eating disorder, along with his bout with homelessness, joblessness, heartbreak, and mending relationships with his family. Duane became sober on March 13, 2020.

This isn't your grandmother's Catholic Church

This episode features the “rebel priest” Father Harry Hartigan of St Theresa’s Catholic Apostolic Church. Harry talks about his involvement spiritually counseling members of the LGBTQ+ community, the difference between his church and the Roman Catholic Church, his experience as a gay man and the lack of visibility for older people in the community.

Keep on keepin' on, dancin' in a dress, I guess

Trevor is a well-known Twin Cities-based drag performer and hair stylist who sought treatment after living a fast-paced lifestyle in New York City. Trevor channels his "inner Oprah" and talks about his experience working in bar scenes while sober, queer people's desire for communal acceptance, and the societal misconceptions of people who use and abuse drugs and alcohol. Trevor has been sober since March 26, 2014.

Off to the races

Kenn found himself in and out of several treatment programs and talks about his experience using while working as a Registered Nurse. He goes into great detail about the first time he discovered meth at 57 years old and how he has been able to maintain his sobriety since.  Kenn became sober on August 5th, 2012.

We all want to be the exception, but the majority of us are the rule

Because addiction recovery is different for everyone, Pride Institute offers multiple levels of care to address the severity of every client's situation. Our Intensive Outpatient Counselor, Dan, talks about the importance of "stepping down", or transferring to less intensive levels of care as treatment milestones are met. Dan has been with Pride since January 13, 2020.