Problem Gambling and the LGBTQIA+ Community
June is celebrated as Pride Month, supporting acceptance, equality and justice for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community. It marks an opportunity to show our loving commitment to family members, friends, and colleagues of the LGBTQIA+ community.
What is Pride Month?
Pride month is celebrated to commemorate the events of Compton’s Cafeteria, Stonewall, and the LGBTQIA+ libertarian movement. It is a time to acknowledge the challenges faced by these individuals. Where there is a population with an increased struggle for acceptance, equality and justice, there is the potential for mental health and addictive disorders. We can all play a huge part in preventing the potential consequences of problem gambling.
Taking Action
Acceptance
We express love to our LGBTQIA+ family members, friends, and colleagues. We express our acceptance of who they are by acknowledging that they are at an increased risk for gambling harm. You can take action by having conversations about gambling harm with your loved ones. Together, we can focus our efforts on connecting individuals with culturally responsive resources and support services (see below).
Equality
We aim to foster an environment that offers equal opportunities to access support and services for problem gambling. Therefore, we encourage our support service providers to participate in trainings to better address the unique challenges of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Justice
We encourage individuals in the LGBTQIA community to seek our support if they or someone they care about is experiencing harm related to gambling. We are “here to help” all individuals in New York State impacted by gambling harm.
Seeking Support
If you find yourself struggling with gambling harm, or if you suspect someone you know is facing such challenges, don’t hesitate to seek help. For 24/7 support, call the NYS OASAS HOPEline at 1-877-846-7369 or text 467369. Or choose your county using our interactive map on our NYProblemGamblingHELP.org HOME PAGE to see the contact information for the Problem Gambling Resource Center (PGRC) in your region.