There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to understanding the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) culture, said Matthew Neumann, founder of the LGBTQ Foundation of Kansas. A Larned resident, Neumann led a program Saturday morning titled “Queer Made Easy” intended for mental, social and physical health professionals.
“I just want to educate people about the queer community. I want to take the fear away,” he said.
But, he has a second purpose. “I want to connect the queer community in western Kansas so they don’t feel so alone.”
The goal was to improve inclusivity and diversity within local organizations, said Amy Ferguson, resource coordinator for the Barton County Health Department and Rise Up Central Kansas coordinator, who arranged for the presentation.
“We want to increase awareness,” Ferguson said. “This population is one that doesn’t have a voice.”
The event, which lasted until early in the afternoon, took place at the downtown Great Bend Barton County Office Building that houses Rise Up, an advocacy organization that includes community agencies and those with the lived experience of substance use disorder, mental illness, trauma and poverty. It falls under the Health Department’s Central Kansas Partnership.
“This was possible through the CKP,” Ferguson said. Funding came through the Increase the Reach Grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment that focuses on improving access to COVID-19 vaccinations.
“This was really Amy’s forward thinking” that brought the program about, said Courtney Hayden, who coordinates grant-funded activities with local agencies for the KDHE. “We’re looking at how to give services in the best way possible.”
Ferguson found that the LGBTQ community was under served and thought such a training would help with this outreach, Hayden said
Neumann started his foundation about a year and a half ago. Saturday marked the first time he had taught in public.
“This is going to be a thinking class,” he said to the small group gathered in the conference room. “We are going to talk about some pretty deep stuff.”
The session was a mixture of lecture and serious discussion. Neumann ran through the last 100 years of gay rights in America, from illegality to riots to AIDS to tentative acceptance.
“I want to understand our LGBTQ patients better,” said Dr. Patrick Stang from the Great Bend-based Center for Counseling and Consultation. He was looking for information take back to the center.
