“We’re a service provider, but we always keep that love, compassion and concern for every person we help. - Deja Alvarez
The fight for daily life As a transadvocate and activist, Alvarez knows drug use is just one of the problems polluting her community. She cites housing, workplace and public discrimination as being issues the community faces everyday. While LGBTQ develop strong survival skills due to the severe circumstances they’ve had to face, they’re often denied the opportunity to develop practical life skills. Alvarez works to provide resources to help them overcome these limitations and prosper in their day-to-day living. Another issue on her mind is the abuse against LGBTQ by some police officers. Having had personal experiences with such mental and physical violations, she now helps train police officers to better handle interactions with LGBTQ members. She hopes that educating officers will help foster acceptance and love, two constant themes behind everything Alvarez promotes.
A place to feel whole Love and acceptance are at the core of Home for Hope, which is specially tailored to meet the needs of LGBTQ in recovery from substance abuse. The center is a blessing for those who haven’t experienced a safe, judgement-free refuge anywhere else. At many recovery centers, sexual orientation is a taboo subject. If an LGBTQ discloses their orientation, counselors may impose their own views on the individual. They may even not be allowed to dress the way they prefer. This culture of disapproval is why compassion and understanding, especially from authority figures, are foreign concepts for many LGBTQ members. That is, until they visit Home for Hope. “We’re a service provider, but we always keep that love, compassion and concern for every person we help,” says Alvarez. That could be why Alvarez has seen LGBTQ members stay at the facility longer than she has in any other place. “LGBTQ are raised to think they are going against religion and God, which forces them to repress parts of themselves. Well, they don’t have to do that here. We accept all of their parts.”
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