November 24th, 2025
Matthew Sauls
Office of Assemblymember James Gallagher
O Street, Room 4740
Sacramento, CA 94249
Re: LGBTQ+ and Rural Behavioral Health Challenges
Dear Mr. Sauls,
Thank you for taking the time to meet with LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment (LIVE) and the Stonewall Alliance Center of Chico. We deeply appreciate your willingness to learn about the behavioral health challenges facing LGBTQ+ residents in the Superior Region.
LIVE is the LGBTQ+ advocacy program of Mental Health America of California and is contracted with the state’s Commission for Behavioral Health to advocate on the mental health issues facing LGBTQ+ communities across the state through community-focused engagement and strategic initiatives.
The Stonewall Alliance Center of Chico serves as the primary LGBTQ+ resource hub for Butte, Tehama, Glenn, Plumas, Lassen, Trinity, and surrounding rural counties. They are often the first point of contact for youth, adults, caregivers, schools, clinics, and county departments when seeking support regarding behavioral health. However, many residents avoid care due to the lack of access to available providers. For LGBTQ+ residents, finding affirming providers compound these challenges.
LIVE and Stonewall are working together to addresses these barriers in the following ways:
- Develop a virtual network of competent behavioral health providers to improve the referral process/warm handoffs.
- Publish a community resource directory to help residents identify appropriate providers near them.
- Build a community of support for providers to reduce burnout and expand capacity.
As Assemblymember Gallagher considers upcoming legislation and the next state budget, we hope the member considers the importance of continued investments that address the behavioral health workforce shortage, expand cultural competence training for providers, and support local community-based organizations that serve rural California.
Thank you again for your time and consideration. If you have any questions, or if LIVE can provide any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at agaribaymena@mhac.org or our Public Policy Coordinator, Danny Thirakul, at dthirakul@mhac.org.
In Community,
Anthony Garibay-Mena
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment
Program Manager
