Come enjoy free food, inspiring speakers and celebrate Pride month with AMCS!
Photo courtesy of AMCS
Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS) will celebrate diversity and inclusion at its annual LGBTQ Pride Fest – a free community event aimed at reducing stigma around mental health and raising awareness of low-cost or free mental health services in Los Angeles. Pride Fest will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 17 at the Drollinger Family Stage on the Loyola Marymount University campus in Westchester.
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The family-friendly outdoor event, funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health in conjunction with the Take Action LA program administered by CalMHSA, Pride Fest will feature fun and educational “wellness stations” facilitated by therapists from AMCS’s LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy Center, notable guest speakers, free food trucks, music, a photobooth, gift bags, face painting and more.
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Dr. Mimi Hoang, psychologist, longtime LGBTQ advocate, and Program Coordinator of AMCS’s LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy Center, will be the host and coordinator of the annual Pride Fest event.
Venice Paparazzi will be hosting a fun photo booth at the event. In this photo Dr. Mimi Hoang. Photo taken at the 2022 Spring into Well-Being
“We’re thrilled to host this event in celebration of LGBT Pride Month and to raise awareness of the importance of mental health services in the LGBTQ community, which is at higher risk of mental health concerns due to minority stress,” said Dr. Hoang. “We hope that Pride Fest will help reduce the stigma around mental health services and encourage more people to seek the help they need.”
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Established in 2018 as one of the few centers of its kind in Los Angeles, AMCS’s LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy Center offers individual and group psychotherapy to the LGBTQ community on a sliding scale provided by diverse therapists who are culturally competent and LGBTQ affirmative.
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Pride Fest is open to the public and all members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies are welcome to attend. The goal of the event is to bring the community together to celebrate Pride, create a fun, safe, and supportive space for individuals to connect with mental health services and learn about the many resources available to them.
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About Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS):
AMCS is a nonprofit community mental health clinic located in Westchester that provides affordable and accessible mental health services to individuals and families in the Los Angeles area. With over 60 years of experience, AMCS offers a wide range of mental health services, including individual, family, and group therapy, as well as specialized services for children, adolescents, and older adults. For more information, visit www.AMCShelps.org.
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AMCS’s CEO Eden Balis and staff. Photo taken at the 2022 Spring into Well-Being
