Stevie Jimenez, 22, and his husband Andrew Perez, 20, embraced each other Wednesday evening in front of the Montrose Center as they processed the outcome of the presidential election. 

When asked to join the crowd in letting out a scream, they joined in the opportunity to release some bit of the rage.

“The entire day I’ve been holding in many feelings I’ve had about the elections,” Jimenez said. “Bills have to get paid, so I had to go to work… but I wanted to just be somewhere with people who just felt what I felt.” 

Dozens of members of the LGBTQ+ community, allies, and community leaders gathered Wednesday evening in the parking lot of the Montrose Center to process the many emotions that come with the reelection of Donald Trump, whose campaign includes policy proposals that would affect LGBTQ+ rights.

“Despite the circumstances, it is good to be together in community,” said Avery Belyeu, CEO of the Montrose Center.

Over the years, the center has evolved from its beginnings offering counseling services, community support hub for the LGBTQ+ community. And that evening the event was succeeded by several group sessions led by therapists who were there to help attendees process these emotions. 

Where to find help

Wednesday’s event was an opportunity to introduce Houston’s LGBTQ+ community to resources they can turn to. Montrose Center officials encourage the community to stay tuned to their social media platforms for updates on upcoming resources and events. 

Here are some of the resources you can access now:

THE MONTROSE CENTER

The Montrose Center offers individual, couples/family and group counseling by licensed therapists. While the first post election group session was free of cost, its daily counseling services are available with insurance coverage or at a cost that adjusts to the financial situation of the individual. 

Case management is also available at Montrose Center. It specializes in health care, housing, employment, benefits, nutrition, transportation and legal services.  

On Nov. 16, it will host a Youth Action Summit where middle and high school students can learn more about advocating for their rights and building community. 

EQUALITY TEXAS

Equality Texas offers online resources, fact sheets and legal aid for parents of trans youth.

THE NORMAL ANOMALY

 The Normal Anomaly offers a transgender allyship collective that aims to educate elected officials, business owners and community members on ways in which they can support transgender community members.

GREATER HOUSTON LGBTQ+ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

For business owners and the community in general, the chamber will host several events over the next few weeks. Find out more here. 

Creating space

Belyeu spoke to a crowd of over 80 people that had gathered outside the center shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday.

“We wanted to create a space for all of the different emotions that we might be having right now. From grief to anger, anger, frustration, disbelief, fear, all of those mashed together in one,” she said. “All of those feelings belong.”

Wednesday’s gathering addressed concerns in the community over the election of a presidential candidate and a Texas Senator who campaigned for rolling back rights and protections for this community, such as rescinding federal protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation or state-level protections for transgender students.

“I’m really angry. I’m angry that Donald Trump and Ted Cruz decided that their path to victory was to stomp all over transgender kids, and they got positive results from it,” said Brad Pritchett, interim CEO of Equality Texas, a nonprofit organization focused on equal rights and opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community. 

“I’m here to remind you that we’ve faced adversity before as a community and every time we’ve done that, we come out much stronger as a community,” he added. “The entire history of the queer movement is based on resilience and resistance that is baked in our DNA.” 

What’s next

The group sessions drew large numbers of attendees indoors after the event, and Belyeu said the center would assess demand to continue offering resources for help at any level. 

The center is also launching a community advisory board next month that will help identify the needs of different pockets within the community, she said. 

“It has about 20 folks in it from all across the community and diverse in age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation,” Belyeu said. “So that we are constantly assessing how we can evolve and be nimble to create new resources as the community needs them.”

Tammi Wallace, co-founder, president and CEO of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, said it’s important to embrace your community or find spaces where you could create it. The chamber, she added, is open to members and non-members alike. 

“As hard as this is today, we have to move forward,” Wallace said. “We are going to continue to mobilize and to advocate, and that means that we need the community with us and at the table.”

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