March 16, 2022• byMichael Strangeways

The Seattle Out & Proud Foundation aka Seattle Pride, the people who produce the annual LGBTQ Pride parade on Pride Weekend in June returns with “Pride Speaks” their quarterly discussion series about issues important to the LGBTQ community. This time, they’re focusing on the very important topic of “Queer Mental Health & Wellness” with a panel discussion to be held at the Market Theater in Pike Place Market on Monday, March 21st from 7pm to 8:30pm.

Hosted by community activist Aleksa Manila, it will feature Dr. Peter Shalit, singer Ruth Soto, and Kince de Vera.

All the skinny:

Seattle Out & Proud Foundation Brings Pride Speaks: Queer Mental Health & Wellness In-PersonPanel Discussion to the Market Theater, March 21^st

The FREE quarterly panel discussion will focus on the impacts of mental health, discrimination, rejection, and social isolation of the LGBTQIA+ community

Seattle Pride’s Seattle Out & Proud Foundation will bring Pride Speaks: Queer Mental Health & Wellness presented by Puget Sound Energy and hosted by Unexpected Productions will take place at the Market Theater, March 21 from 7-8:30 pm – the first in-person panel discussion since the program’s inception. This quarter’s discussion will focus on the mental health and wellness of those in the LGBTQIA+ community and is designed to provide information and discuss the impacts of discrimination, rejection from family and friends, and social isolation.

Panelists include Dr. Peter Shalit, a gay general physician who has cared for members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Seattle since 1990; Ruth Soto AKA LatinRose, a Seattle-based singer and songwriter; and Kince de Vera, a multi-disciplinary artist, community catalyst and head of Seattle Gaymers. This Pride Speaks is hosted by Aleksa Manila, community leader and activist, and former Miss Gay Filipino. Manila will pose questions to panelists, as well as to the audience in a Q&A session.

“Although not all members of the LGBTQIA+ community experience mental health challenges homophobia, transphobia, stigma and the current repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic have put a strain on the mental health of many,” said Seattle Out & Proud Foundation Executive Director, Krystal Marx.

There are several mental health and wellness disparities experienced by the LGBTQIA+ community. According to the Centers for Disease Control, LGBTQIA+ youth, compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, are more likely to have been bullied at school, seriously considered suicide, felt sad or hopeless, used illicit drugs, been forced to have sex, and misused prescription opioids. Research provided by SAMHSA also shows that mental health discrepancies exist in LGBTQIA+ adults. Compared to heterosexual cis men and women, gay and bisexual adults have higher chances of having major depression, bipolar disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.

In an effort to protect members of the LGBTQIA+ community who are disproportionately affected by health risks and a lack of access to healthcare, Seattle Out and Proud is requiring attendees to wear masks and provide proof of vaccination to participate in the in-person Pride Speaks.

Pride Speaks is a series of free quarterly community conversations with expert panelists and speakers on a wide variety of topics of interest to the LGBTQIA+ community. The event is free but advance registration is required. For those unable to attend in-person, the event will also be available to livestream on Seattle Pride’s Facebook page. Learn more about Pride Speaks: Queer Mental Health and Wellness at www.SeattlePride.org.

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About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.