Community Needs Assessment: Gays and Lesbians in the RGV

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Community Needs Assessment Gays and Lesbians
in the RGV

• Philip Conrad Miriam Luna

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Needs Assessment

• Target population
• Need
• Research
• Method
• Findings
• Cultural considerations

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Target Population

• Gay and lesbian community of the
• Rio Grande Valley
• Also includes bisexual transgendered
• individuals
• aka GLBT

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Need

• Does a community services center that
• can support GLBT exist in the RGV?
• If not, does the need substantiate a
• new program?
• What are the barriers?
• What are the ongoing social problems?

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Research Method

• Qualitative study
• Literature review
• Field
• 15 in-person interviews
• UTPA G??
• Local proponent
• National proponent

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Findings

• No viable GLBT center in RGV
• Little/no public support
• Safety is a primary concern
• Estimated 72,000 GL in RGV
• Need is strongly indicated

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Cultural Considerations

• Less educated
• Non-white minority
• Higher religious attendance
• Politically conservative
• Older
• Male

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Barriers

• Negative moral judgment
• Financial public funding
• Religious
• Homophobia
• Social non-acceptance

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Ongoing Social Problems (needs)

• Basic rights (life, liberty, happiness)
• Individual counseling
• Family counseling
• Support groups
• Social activities
• Safety/self-defense training

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Documents Available at

• sworker.org
• Studies
• RGV GLBT Needs Assessment Paper
• RGV GLBT Needs Assessment Presentation