A-LISTS community spotlight by bill biss and brad shaw To say that USMC combat veteran Matthew Griep is somewhat of a one-man army when
it comes to his help in getting the word out about LGBT Vets4Vets, a non-profit organiza- tion for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, is not hyperbole. The 25-year-old has proven to be a major force behind the San Diego division of the as-
sociation, which is based out of Utah, and is an off-shoot of its straight counterpart of the same name. “The gay and lesbian VA was established a little while back, but there’s only one branch,”
he explained. “It’s headed up by a gentleman who lives in and is based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. And the way that it’s functioned, up until this point, is if people needed assistance, they’d fly people out to Utah and have them gather there. And, everything was paid for out of the organization’s budget.” However, Griep saw an opportunity to make it a more grass roots group, as he explained. “When I got out of the military a couple of months ago, I thought that it was kind of
ridiculous for us to fly and go all the way to Salt Lake City once a month to meet and do what we do; considering how many gay veterans there are in the San Diego area that I could help here,” he stated.
“I spoke with the gentleman, who was heading it up in Salt Lake City, and I tried to work under him, and I started my own branch and division here.” In fact, if you were to punch LGBT Vets4Vets into your favorite search engine, you wouldn’t find an actual web page. However, you will find Griep’s contact information, which makes him the personification of the LGBT Vets4Vets mission statement, which is “our vision is that anytime a veteran needs to talk with someone who really understands, a local Vets4Vets peer support group is available.” To break it down into layman’s terms, LGBT Vets4Vets is available for military veterans who may have experienced a life-changing occurrence while on deployment, or need to utilize its peer support system’s valuable resources for those who have been through similar traumatic situations. The support for these brave men and women can be found in a multitude of programs, which include one-on-one or group sessions and weekend retreats. However, like many of its non-profit contemporaries, LGBT Vets4Vets has had to adapt to
the sign of the times, economy-wise. “Now money’s getting really, really tight, so we’re having to do more fundraising trying
to get more money for this organization,” Griep said. “Now we’re going to focus on smaller fundraising things, whether it be door-to-door or small corporate sponsorships.” Griep definitely sees his time in the trenches of getting the word out on the organization
as a satisfying one. “The most satisfying thing to me is that I can put my name and phone number out there.
LGBT VETS4VETS LENDS A HELPING EAR
MATTHEW GRIEP
14 RAGE monthly | OCTOBER 2010
My phone number and e-mail are readily available for people to reach out to,” he said. “I am completely not paid; most of the people that are with the actualVets4Vets pull some sort of a paycheck, they are working with the VA, they have their positions in the Vets4Vets.” “My position is completely unpaid, and completely out of my own pocket,” Griep ex- plained. “I wanted to find a way to give back to the gay community. Because I know there’s a lot of changes going on in the military right now, and Obama’s trying to get rid of the ‘Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell’ policy. That is what it is, but there’s a lot of military getting discharged, or have been discharged for being gay, and have nowhere to turn. And, there’s a lot of people, who have been quiet, did their time, got out and now have issues and don’t know how to step forward without the fear of being blacklisted. Well, the VA has given me 110% of their support; they stand behind me and like what I’m trying to do and trying to go with this.” Griep, who is now attending the Art Institute of San Diego to become a chef, also believes
that his participation in LGBT Vets4Vets can serve as an illustration of the vitality of gays in the military. “I want gay people to know that I’ve been through, probably similar situations to most of
these men and women,” he recounted. “I myself have been deployed twice; I’ve been blown up, I’ve been shot at. I’ve earned my card and I’ve served my country, and the least I can do is reach back and let them know I’m here and I know what they’re feeling.”
To find out more information about LGBT Vets4Vets, please call 858-736-6439 or e-mail
GLBT.Vets4Vets.SD@gmail.com
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