The resource center Townhall II has served the Kent, Ohio, community for decades, offering behavioral health services like a crisis hotline, a women’s substance abuse recovery house and peer support groups. In June, the center launched a new initiative, Rainbow after the Rain, a weekly peer-led support group for LBGTQ+ adults who have experienced trauma and want to “redefine joy.”
Peer-led “safe space” also connects participants with housing, counseling, food and other resources.
Mallen Guy, a gender and sexuality resource specialist, leads the group, which meets in the Townhall II building, 155 N. Water Street, every Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Attendees can talk about anything that’s on their mind.
“They can speak up and say [their name], pronouns if they want to, say where they are in the community if they want to,” Guy said. “They don’t even have to give a name or [reveal] anything about themselves if they don’t feel comfortable about it.”
The group also discusses behavioral health resources in the area and local LGBTQ+ events.
Guy said he was inspired to start the group after he experienced personal trauma and went through his own process of healing and finding joy. He wanted to create a safe space for queer people to talk openly and build community because “right now, in our nation, laws are being passed and a lot of things are occurring” that are hurtful to LGBTQ+ people.
“I made the group based on a lot of my personal experience of being a LGBTQ+ person and a trans person,” he added. “There’s a lot of times where I felt no one else could understand my issues or had a similar experience.”
The group, thus far, is small. “I just want to have it be consistent and safe, weekly,” he said. Beyond the support group sessions, Guy hopes participants will connect with other services that Townhall II offers, including counseling; help with housing, food and healthcare; and addiction resources.
“I knew when I was going through quite a bit. I would be looking at services and I would think to myself ‘I don’t know if I’m actually safe to attend this,’ or if they’re just slapping on the ‘We are LGBTQ+ safe’ label just because they can,’” said Guy. “So I feel like just being able to talk to someone who is [LGBTQ+] and works at an organization that you want to look into can be life-changing.”
“I would have loved to have had a group like this,” he added. “I feel like I would be able to process a lot of things I’ve been through, personally, better than I did. But that’s life. You can’t really go back, but you can keep moving forward.” 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- To learn more about the resources Townhall II offers, click here.
- To access Townhall II’s list of emergency services, click here.
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