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Yumiko Ikuta From NYC DOHMH Visits Rainbow Heights Club!

As you may know, mental health and substance abuse

services are going through a LOT of changes these

days. Medicaid Managed Care, Health and Recovery Plans

(HARPS), Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), and

health home care managers can be confusing, so we invited

somebody to come explain them all to us!

Luckily, Yumiko Ikuta, the Director of Rehabilitation Services

at the New York City Department of Health and Mental

Hygiene, visited Rainbow Heights Club on Thursday, May 26th,

from 3-4 pm, to do exactly that in her presentation on “Understanding

Changes to Medicaid Behavioral Health Care in New York.” She was

very knowledgeable about all these issues, and she was also wonderfully

patient and able to break these complicated issues down so that we

could all understand them clearly. She is passionately dedicated to

helping consumers understand the many new services and

opportunities that are available to support their recovery. Afterward,

members invited her to stay and have dinner. She was kind enough to

talk individually with members interested in learning more about their

particular eligibility for extended services.

This newsletter is

made possible by the

continued support of

the New York City

Council

Rainbow Heights Club is a

project of Heights-Hill

Mental Health Service-South

Beach Psychiatric Center

Community Advisory Board,

Inc. that provides

psychosocial support and

advocacy services, free of

charge, to lesbian, gay,

bisexual and

transgender mental health

consumers.

R A I N B O W H E I G H T S

C L U B

2 5 F L A T B U S H A V E .

4 T H F L O O R

B R O O K L Y N , N Y 1 1 2 1 7

Yumi (left) listens to Henrietta's (right)

concerns about HARP eligibility.

P A G E 2

Director’s Corner: Candy Stars and Flowers at Rainbow Heights Club -Rebecca Hoffman, LMSW, Director of Member Services and Brian Johnston, MSW Intern

This spring at Rainbow Heights Club, we had the pleasure of hosting two student groups: the third annual

visit of the Japan LGBT Youth Tour and the second annual visit of the George Washington University Alternative

Spring Breaks Program LGBT Group.

Thirteen young people from Japan visited on March 11th.

They participated with Rainbow Heights Club members in a rich

cultural exchange on the similarities and differences between

LGBT life in Japan and LGBT life in different parts of the United

States. One important observation regarded legal protections.

The group discussed that, in the United States, it is sometimes

physically unsafe to be LGBT, as some of our members have

experienced. At the same time, there are laws, such as hate

crime legislation and marriage benefits, which are intended to

provide some protection. In Japan, though, there is a seeming

silence around LGBT issues, and LGBT folks face profound

invisibility. One club member from Staten Island shared about his

recent wedding and noted that he and his husband are two of the few out LGBT people there. Older members at

Rainbow Heights Club and a visitor from GRIOT Circle who stopped by encouraged the young people to “be

themselves” and “follow their hearts.” The whole day was made possible by our own peer specialist Musa

Watanabe, who provided skilled interpretation to both groups. It was a moving day filled with humor and ending on

a sweet note: delicious Japanese candies shaped like stars and flowers, gifts from our guests.

The March 17th visit from George Washington University

college students was another success. Twenty young people received

a tour of the Club and then gathered with Rainbow Heights Club

members in the Community Room. The students initiated get-to-

know-you icebreakers and asked questions about the benefits of the

Club. Member Chris R. shared that, since attending the Club, he has

more self-confidence and ability to speak his mind. There were nods

around the room. Our guest speaker Caitlin Walker, from

Community Healthcare Network, and Jeff Levin, liaison from The

LGBT Center, arrived and facilitated a lively conversation about

sexual abstinence—what it is, why people choose it, and why they don't. It was an open and comfortable conversation about how we

make responsible sexual choices and remarkable because so many of the participants had just met.

During these visits, Rainbow Heights Club members extended gracious hospitality to a group of otherwise

strangers. They communicated their commitment to support LGBT people across the globe. The young people who

were here shared that they found our Club an incredible source of inspiration and felt supported by our members,

who are passionate warriors for social justice. Both visits were huge delights so Rainbow Heights Club looks

forward to next spring, when we hope our friends will return.

Get Out the Vote! -Andrew Belcher, MSW Intern

In the months leading up to the NYC presidential primary, Rainbow Heights Club

launched a “Get Out the Vote” initiative. During this time, 80% of unregistered regular

attending members were registered, and half of those enrolled to serve as poll workers in future

elections. Citizen participation is an empowering, fundamental cornerstone of a democracy and

Rainbow Heights Club is working to educate and elevate the voices of our members. The “Get

Out the Vote” program not only provides access for our members to vote, but also creates

opportunity for work. As local and national elections approach, Rainbow Heights Club will

continue to register, educate, and support members interested in voting.

Japan LGBT Youth Tour visitors

George Washington University students

Rainbow Heights Club members participate in

Dress Your Gender Day.

P A G E 3

Dress Your Gender Day

-Claudia Gonson, MSW Intern

Staff and members had a blast in the Art

Room on April 11th for Rainbow Height Club’s

"Dress Your Gender Day." This popular event

was hosted by peer specialists Daniel Brito and

Musa Watanabe. As Brito stated, "It is an

opportunity for members to express themselves

freely in the gender they identify with. RHC

provides a safe and supportive environment for

members to express their gender identity,

without exclusion or bias." Members helped one

another with makeup tips, hair, and dressing up.

Snacks were provided. Members left feeling

good about being free to be the way they

wanted to be. Much fun was had by all!

Rainbow Heights Club Pride Guide

Queens Pride!

Sunday, June 5th, starting at 12 pm

Queens Pride will start at 37th Ave and 89th St.

(This is not scheduled as a Rainbow Heights Club Trip but for your information.)

Brooklyn Pride!

Saturday, June 11th, 7 pm

We will be marching in the Brooklyn Pride Twilight Parade. We will gather at

6:30 pm in front of OMNI Beauty Salon at 152 5th Avenue, between Douglass St. and

Degraw St., in Park Slope. You can take the 2, 3 or 4 train to Bergen St., B or Q train

to 7th Ave., or the R train to Union St.

Rainbow Heights Club Annual Open House Pride Party

June 24th from 3 - 7 pm

Come dance the afternoon away! Dinner will be served at 5 pm.

Dyke March Trip

Saturday, June 25th

Claudia will be hosting an RHC trip to the Dyke March. Meet at 4 pm in front of the

Club. The Dyke March starts at 5 pm at 42nd St. and 5th Ave. in Manhattan.

NYC Pride March

Sunday, June 26th

View the NYC Pride March with us from 12 - 3 pm. We will meet in Manhattan on

the southeast corner of 5th Ave. and E. 33rd St. (diagonal to the Empire State

Building). It’s the same place as last year. *Suggestion: take the 6 train to 33rd St, on

the east side. There can be a long wait to cross 5th Ave from the west side. We will

stand in the shade of scaffolding to keep cool. We’ll wear our Rainbow Heights Club

t-shirts, hold our banner high, and hand out literature. Lunch provided.

If you are a Brooklynite, or just prefer to meet at a familiar spot, meet in front of the

Club at 11:30 am and we’ll travel to Manhattan together.

Club Closed on Monday, June 27th

PRIDEFEST

Saturday, July 9th, 12 – 3 pm

The Annual Staten Island PRIDEFEST Community Picnic will be at Midland Beach -

Area #1 (This is not scheduled as a Rainbow Heights Club Trip but for your information.)

Rainbow Heights Club members participate in

Dress Your Gender Day.

Above/Below: RHC Spring Fling

Left: Today,

New York City.

Tomorrow, the

world! Members and

staff completed this

beautiful mural

together.

Above/Right: RHC members sought

strikes during a bowling trip.

RHC Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Trip

RHC Spring

Photo Recap

P A G E 4

June

Guest Speaker Mark Salzwedel

Thursday, June 2nd, 3 pm

Mark will present "The Art of Engagement:

What Behaviors Attract People.” Learn how

to control the outcome of an interaction

through body posture and position, eyes,

vocal tone, gestures, and the content of

what you say.

Guest Speaker on Happiness

Thursday, June 9th, 3 pm

Christian Huygen will speak to us on “How

to Build Habits of Happiness and

Confidence.” He will share two Ted Talks,

followed by a discussion.

June is Survey Month!

Starting Tuesday, June 7th until June 30th,

members can come to the Club any day

from 12:30-3:30 pm to take a consumer

survey and receive a $5 dollar incentive for

their time and effort.

Consumer Advisory Board

Friday, June 10th, 3 pm

Please come and share your ideas and input!

Reproductive Health Workshop Series

Thursday, June 16th, 3 pm

Health Educator Caitlin Walker from

Community Health Care Network and Jeff

Levin from the LGBT Center will present an

interactive workshop on “Is Your

Relationship Healthy?”

Guest Speaker Moses Harper

Thursday, June 23rd, 3 pm

Moses Harper is a dance instructor/Michael

Jackson tribute artist/author/mentor and

motivational speaker. Join us as Moses

shares “I Can’t,” a motivational talk on

achieving your goals and overcoming

obstacles.

Rainbow Heights Club Pride Party

Friday, June 24th, 3 – 7 pm

Come dance the afternoon away. Dinner

will be served at 5 pm. All are welcome.

Dyke March Trip

Saturday, June 25th

Claudia will be organizing this RHC trip.

Meet at 4 pm in front of the Club. The Dyke

March starts at 5 pm at 42nd Street and 5th

Ave, Manhattan.

NYC Pride March

Sunday, June 26th

View the parade with us from 12 – 3

pm. We will meet in Manhattan on the

southeast corner of 5th Avenue and East 33rd

Street (diagonal to the Empire State

Building), the same meeting place as last

year.

Club Closed!

Monday, June 27th

Happy Pride Weekend!

Guest Speaker on Employment

Programs

Thursday, June 30th, 3 pm

Guest Speaker Nicolas Rosa from Center

for Behavioral Health will speak about the

Assisted Competitive Employment Program,

which helps participants find employment

and create a better financial future.

July Club Closed!

Monday, July 4th

Rainbow Heights Club is closed for

Independence Day.

Consumer Advisory Board

Friday, July 8th, 3 pm

Please come and share your ideas and input!

Reproductive Health Workshop Series

Thursday, July 21st, 3 pm

Health Educator Caitlin Walker from

Community Health Care Network and Jeff

Levin from the LGBT Center will do an

interactive workshop on “Sexual

Orientation.”

July Birthday Celebration

Friday, July 29th, 4 pm

August

Consumer Advisory Board

Friday, August 12th, 3 pm

Please come and share your ideas and input!

August Birthday Celebration

Friday, August 26th, 4 pm