Preventing Alcohol-Related Problems
in the LGBT Community

Chicago, Illinois, September 24, 2004

Summary of Proceedings

Co-Sponsors: Marin Institute, American Medical Association, Youth Leadership Institute, Chicago Office of LGBT Health

Participants: M'Bwende Anderson, Braden Berkey, Lora Branch, Michael Browning, Mark Checkel-Bain, Cole Church, William Greaves, Arneda Hamilton, Greg Harris, Tonda Hughes, Rey Lopez-Calderón, Patrick Mangto, George Marcelle, Mark Pertschuk, Julio Rodriguez, Maureen Sedonaen, Leigh Steffy, Steven Tierney, Myrna Torres, Richard Yoast, Don Zeigler

Protective and Risk Factors in the Social and Physical Environment
On September 24, 2004 a group of national leaders in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) health, alcohol policy, environmental prevention, youth development, and related fields met in Chicago to discuss alcohol-related problems and solutions in LGBT communities. The meeting was convened by the Marin Institute, which is a leading expert on environmental prevention – countering public health problems by improving our physical and social environments.

The group began its discussion by identifying factors in the physical or social environment that might increase the risk of, or protect against, alcohol-related problems. The participants agreed that the same resiliencies that are developed in LGBT individuals to survive growing up in a homophobic society (leadership skills, positive self-esteem, respect for individuality and a history of organizing) can all serve as protective factors against alcohol problems. However, there are also increased risk factors in the LGBT community, such as limited positive role models and social spaces, disenfranchisement from family, expectations that alcohol will facilitate acceptance and/or sex, and a dependence on alcohol industry funding for community events and organizations.

Addressing Alcohol Problems in LGBT Communities
After discussing protective and risk factors, the participants broke into small groups to discuss potential environmental prevention strategies surrounding alcohol problems and potential priorities for the Marin Institute and its partners. It was generally agreed that there is a need for targeted prevention strategies. Particular needs that were identified included increased resources, increased acceptance, increased educational opportunities; positive healthy role models; easy-to-access information on available resources; early, brief interventions; increasing regulations and enforcement at socially isolated bars; support and encouragement of research on LGBT AOD issues; work with the criminal justice community; and training for service providers.

Specific initiatives that were identified included:
1. Reducing product placement on television programs popular in the LGBT community
2. Normalizing alternative places and beverages for socializing
3. Conducting media campaigns
4. Creating tools and facilitating training on media literacy

Priorities for Future Work
At the conclusion of the meeting, each workgroup identified two top priority areas for the Marin Institute and partners to consider as projects that could positively impact the issue. Below is the list as reported. The Marin Institute is currently taking several of these ideas to the next level of planning.

1. RBS (responsible beverage service) training for LGBT bar owners and servers
2. Creating and publishing case studies and lessons learned for planning and implementing safe and healthy LGBT events
3. Creating and maintaining a network interested in preventing LGBT alcohol problems
4. Adapting the National Academy of Sciences’ report “Reducing Underage Drinking” and developing materials that are tailored to the LGBT community
5. Creating a convening toolkit for communities
6. A Media Literacy project and toolkit targeting LGBT youth (and developing linguistically and culturally competent messages)
7. Providing and promoting referral and treatment for LGBT youth and adults
8. Creating tools for agencies that serve LGBT communities to help them be effective first responders (and provide LGBT-safe, -appropriate, and -effective referrals)
9. Creating a toolkit for community planning based on the successful Chicago model
10. Including additional stakeholders in future regional and national convenings on this topic