What we’re about
Our group is for residents of New York City, the Tri-State Area- NY, NJ, CT, and Long Island, ONLY. We are an LGBTQIA+ 18+ peer-led discussion, support, and social group dealing with personal struggles, emotional health, and wellness. We are NOT a therapy group, nor a professionally-led group. If people are having ongoing issues, we encourage you to seek additional support, such as professional assistance or other support groups, in addition to our peer group.
We welcome Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Non-Binary, Intersex, Two-Spirit, Gender Non-Conforming, and Asexual people. We aim to provide a safe, open, respectful and non-judgmental environment encouraging members to listen to each other, share experiences, interact, and learn ways to cope, heal and grow. We do this in an atmosphere of welcome, acceptance and empathy. We ask members to talk from our own personal experiences.
We discuss anxiety, depression, OCD, loneliness, relationship issues, work issues. We do not provide solutions. Our goal is to provide a space to come together, and to learn by sharing our experiences.
Especially in these times, it is important and necessary that this remains a safe space for all self-identified male, female, transgender, gender non-conforming, immigrant communities, and People of Color. We strongly encourage confidentiality, respect, interaction, courtesy, and friendship.
In accordance with our guidelines, we must not give advice, nor tell someone what they should do. We only give feedback if it is asked for, and this is done by sharing our own related personal experience. Please talk from the "I" perspective.
The group is for support and friendship and talking about our problems and issues. While opportunities for connection outside the group and sharing information are possible, Supportive Connections is not for professional networking or research or school work. The focus is on support and coming together.
The group is a joint effort among all members. We are NOT a 12-step group. We do NOT advocate any religion. Please avoid cursing.
Since we allow interaction and cross talk, sometimes there are differences of opinion, and we can work it out by respecting those differences. Arguments are not cool. If someone in the group says something that bothers you, please speak up, or let one of us know after the group.
Before attending a meeting, please review our complete group member guidelines for further information.
We would like group attendance to reflect the diversity of people who join here on Meetup. We have a range of facilitators with respect to age and ethnicity. If people want to join the email list for meeting schedule and event notices, please contact us at lgbtwellness411@hotmail.com, and we can add you to our private email list.
We want you to feel as welcome and comfortable as possible. No one has to talk if they are uncomfortable or nervous, but if new attendees want to talk about certain topics, please try to let your voice and personal experiences be heard, and tell us what you want to talk about and what you may need from the group and how we can help.
We do our best to include everyone. Some group issues take time to resolve. We are all volunteers, teachers, and students. We do not have all the answers. It is not easy to run a group. We are always learning from each other, adapting, and growing.
Generous contributions were made to the group in honor of Bobby. Thank you.
This group continues in honor of and in memory of Jimmy Lopez Acosta, Bill Conrad, and Larry Joseph.