Being Gay and Mentally Disabled
Jimmy Zappalorti, a gentle, creative, 44-year-old gay man with mental disabilities was murdered in the Charleston section of Staten Island. On January 23, 1990, he was stabbed to death on the beach near his home. Though he had repeatedly asked for protection against the homophobic goons in the area, no one took this pianist seriously because he was obviously gay with emotional problems.
Zappolorti's murder became real as it was reported in local, state and national news. Public figures ranging from Jesse Jackson to Cardinal O'Connor sent condolences to the family; Governor Cuomo would name Zappalorti in a call for New York State bias crime reform.
But the only lasting effect of the murder has been the founding of a citywide support organization for gays with mental disabilities, The Zappalorti Society (ZS). I founded the group. It provides gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people with mental illnesses a support network.
The ZS is also for people in recovery from heterosexualist and homophobic bad therapy. Good therapy is realized by ZS by striving to discover relevant information and professional references for good therapy. The ZS endeavors to extend and expand the inclusive dialogue of the client/clinical partner ship. To this end, professionals are invited to speak at meetings. Some include Mr. Lonie Sprita, Transgendered Medicine and David Conroy, author of the classic book, "Out of the Nightmare, Living With Chronic Depression."
Like Jimmy Zappalorti, I am gay with mental disabilities; unlike Jimmy, I am fueled by passion to make services better for others in his situation. Like Jimmy, I have been a victim of bias-related crimes. I know the experience of crying for help and no one hearing.
I have been a long time member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Mental Hygiene Issues Committee of the NYC Federation for Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services, which advises the NYC Department of Mental Health (DMHMRAS). Formerly, I was a chair of the Regional Consumer Advisory Council to the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and NYC DMHMRAS. I am currently a member of the Prevention Planning Bureau of H.I.V. Services in New York City.
Being gay with mental illness puts us in a difficult position. The gay community stigmatizes us for being mentally ill, and the mental health communities stigmatize us for being gay. Though things are getting better, we remain a forgotten, service-less population. Like all stigmatization, the labels hide the fact that many who attend the ZS groups are highly educated, connected and attractive.
Gay services have successfully secured services for gay health problems, and mental health advocates have promoted improved mental health services, but neither one have addressed the special needs of gay people with chronic mental health problems alone.
Dr. Melanie E. Spritz, Director of Mental Health and Social Services of The Lesbian and Gay Community Center helps provide the group with a free site but the group has been operating without any funding. Not even a shoestring budget.
More like disorders are simply discriminated against even among our own kind. Our group seeks empowerment, advocacy and political action. We are an organization of support, caring and self-help, and most of all, cultural, social and recreation events. With an attendance of about 10 weekly for the past 6 years, we have proven our need and our worth.
For more information about how to join the weekly support groups, call me at 718-442-1838. Tax exempt contributions to further the work of the Zappalorti Society should be made payable to the Lesbian and Gay Community Center, One Little West 12th Street, New York, NY, 212-620-7310, ext. 248.