Primary source research, uncovers the mental health treatment of LGBTQ individuals in Connecticut.
From the fall of 2018 to the spring of 2019, I took a course and an independent study at CCSU to work with Connecticut Historical Society to construct a timeline of Connecticut’s LGBTQ history. The research was largely based on the findings and documentation of Richard Nelson, an independent historian in Hartford. While I was involved to design the timeline as a whole, in the fall I centered my research on mental health treatment. This article documents my research findings. This brief overview is not intended to be an exhaustive timeline of CT’s LGBTQ mental health treatment. There is obviously more information that has yet to be uncovered. However, one must bear in mind that there are limitations due to HIPAA. To see the entire timeline, check it out on Connecticut Historical Society’s official site: https://chs.org/lgbtq/
Proposals to Execute Mentally Ill
Date: Feb 27, 1921
Source: Hartford Times (Connecticut Valley Hospital Scrapbooks)
Description: Connecticut Legislature considered the ethics of passing laws to execute the mentally ill. They considered the morality of keeping patients alive and “dragging out a useless existence with more or less pain and suffering.”
Connecticut Leads the Way in Lobotomy Research
Date: Aug 20, 1946
Source: Middletown Press (CVH Scrapbooks)
Description: State program on brain surgery launched at Connecticut State Hospital (CVH today). CSH, Fairfield, Norwich and representatives from Institute of Living and Institute of Human Relations issued a preliminary protocol in making a system for prefrontal lobotomies. The data from the five institutions was pooled for research purposes.
Meeting of the Committee for the Study and Prevention of Sex Offenses
Date: Jan 31, 1951
Source: Office of the Governor Notes
Description: Defined sex offenses to include “possession of obscene literature, indecent exposure, indecent assault and injury or risk to children.” The Committee was aware of the civil liberties being violated within the bill and attempted to provide a narrower definition in order to alleviate the issue.
Recommendations for Improvement of Mental Hospitals
Date: 1951
Source: Office of the Governor Notes
Description: Aaron G. Cohen of West Hartford gave the Governor John Lodge recommendations to create a separate department in the state’s mental hospitals for sex cases. He proposed specialized treatment to “absorb these unfortunates.”
Department of Mental Health Outlines Treatment of Sexual Deviation in Children
Date: Sep 25, 1956
Source: Department of Mental Health Records
Description: The Department of Mental Health proposed 24-hour supervision in a controlled living situation for children exhibiting “sexual misbehavior,” which was defined as “children who strongly wish to be the opposite sex, a compulsion to masturbate or other symptoms related to fears or guilt about sexuality.” They focused on imposing outer controls to assure the child would assimilate into the community as a “normal individual.”
Metroline Provides Therapy Directory and Column on Mental Health
Date: 1982
Source: Metroline Archives
Description: Metroline, a LGBTQ magazine, provided Connecticut LGBTQ residents with a directory of mental health professionals that specialized in the community’s needs, including counseling and addiction treatment. The magazine also ran a column “Balancing the Imbalances,” by counselor Rob Gould. It focused on addressing internalized homophobia, mental health awareness, and developments in the field of psychology that fostered empathy and acceptance.
The Right Track: Intensive Outpatient Program for Young Adults at Institute of Living
Date: 2004
Source: IOL Website, Annual Report (2015)
Description: Laura Saunders, staff psychologist at the Institute of Living, implements “The Right Track” LGBTQ Specialty Track Program. It provides behavioral health services which include validating an emerging identity, fostering a support group, and dealing with the stress of stigma. The program puts an emphasis on expressive arts therapy, mindfulness practice and family support.
State Appellate Court Ruled Transgender Teen Denied Due Process by DCF
Date: 2014-2015
Source: online articles (Hartford Courant , Mother Jones, Huffington Post, The Guardian), Court Transcripts, activist testimonies, online blogs
Description: Second-highest court in the state ruled the Department of Children and Families denied constitutional rights to a transgender teen referred to as “Angel R.” or nationally as “Jane Doe.” DCF sent her to the all-boys Juvenile Training School and then later transferred her to the women’s prison in Niantic where she lived in solitary confinement. The ACLU contributed to the case. She was released from prison, aged out of DCF and has since requested no future contact on the matter.
Bibliography:
Baur, Shane. “Why Is Connecticut Holding a Transgender Teen in Solitary?” Mother Jones, May 23, 2014. Accessed November 1, 2018. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/05/transgender-16-year-old-solitary-cell-adult-prison/.
Busey, Kelli. 2014. “Charges against trans teen, Jane Doe for the fight dropped yet she remains in a boy’s jail!” Planet Transgender Blog, September 24. Accessed October 23, 2018. https://planettransgender.com/charges-against-trans-teen-jane-doe-for-the-fight-dropped-yet-she-remains-in-a-boys-jail/.
Carey, Frank. “Hysteria Over Deviates Deplored By Psychiatrist.” The Hartford Courant, May 10, 1955. Accessed October 11, 2018. https://ccsu.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/563265809?accountid=9970.
“Court overturns transfer of transgender teen to prison.” Associated Press, June 8, 2015. Accessed October 24, 2018. https://fox61.com/2015/06/08/court-overturns-transfer-of-transgender-teen-to-prison/.
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Connecticut Child Study and Treatment Home, September 25, 1956. Joint Board of Mental Health, 1948-1951. Connecticut State Library.
Durst, Laura. 2018. Interview by author. Hartford. October 24
Florin, Karen.“Appeals Court Rules Transgender Teen Denied Due Process By DCF.” The Day, June 8, 2015. Accessed October 24, 2018. https://theday.com/article/20150608/NWS04/150609332.
Institute of Living. “Young Adult Intensive Outpatient Program.” Intensive Outpatient Program Page. 2018. Accessed December 5, 2018. https://instituteofliving.org/programs-services/young-adult-services/departments-services/intensive-outpatient-program.
Kovner, Josh. “DCF’s Katz ousts chairman of reform-minded panel.” The Hartford Courant, December 1, 2014. Accessed October 23, 2018. https://www.courant.com/health/oversight/hc-joette-katz-ousts-chairman-1202-story.html.
Laidlaw, Robert W. 1952. “A Clinical Approach to Homosexuality.” Marriage and Family Living, no.1 (February): 39-46. Accessed October 11, 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/346716.
Landers, Ann. “Gay Pride Advocate Asks Explanation on Opposition.” The Hartford Courant, January 13, 1974. Accessed October 11, 2018. https://ccsu.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/552066351?accountid=9970.
Lee, Shanique. 2018. Interview by author. Hartford. October 24.
Liberation Staff. 2014.“Connecticut struggle against DCF abuse continues: Justice for Jane Doe!” Liberation, October 2. Accessed October 23, 2018. https://www.liberationnews.org/connecticut-struggle-against-dcf-abuse-continues-justice-for-jane-doe/.
Liberation Staff. 2014. “Justice for Jane: Students, community confront DCF head at Yale.” Liberation, October 17. Accessed October 23, 2018. https://liberationnews.org/justiceforjane-rally-students-and-community-confront-dcf-head-at-yale.
Meeting of the Committee for the Study and Prevention of Sex Offenses. January 31, 1951. Office of the Governor Notes. RG 005:032, John Davis Lodge, 1951-1955. Connecticut State Library.
Metroline. December 1982-March 1992. GLBTQ Archives, Special Collections, CCSU.
“New Brain Surgery Adopted for Insane.” Middletown Press, August 20, 1946. Accessed November 7, 2018. CVH Scrapbooks, Connecticut State Library.
“Panel Examines Laws Concerning Homosexuals.” The Hartford Courant, April 15, 1967. Accessed October 11, 2018. https://ccsu.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/549447594?accountid=9970.
“Prison Bureau Would Use Convicts For Sex Studies.” The Hartford Courant, July 11, 1955. Accessed October 11, 2018. https://ccsu.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/563315591?accountid=9970.
Rhinelander, David. “Some homosexuality has biological basis, experts say.” The Hartford Courant, April 9, 1987. Accessed October 11, 2018. https://ccsu.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1081055260?accountid=9970.
“Should the Hopelessly Insane Be Put to Death?” Hartford Times, February 27, 1921. Accessed November 7, 2018. CVH Scrapbooks, Connecticut State Library.
Taylor, F.H. 1947.“Homosexual Offences and Their Relation to Psychotherapy.” The British Medical Journal, no. 4526 (October 4): 525-529. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20370841.
“Transgender teen sues ‘schizophrenic’ Connecticut detention centre.” The Guardian, October 21, 2014. Accessed November 1, 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/oct/21/transgender-girl-connecticut-detention-lawsuit-court-solitary.
Wilber, Shannon. “The Case of Jane Doe: How Public Systems Fail Our Most Vulnerable Youth.” Huffington Post, February 2, 2016. Accessed November 1, 2018. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannan-wilber/the-case-of-jane-doe-how-_b_5635252.html.
Woodward, Mary. 1958. “The Diagnosis and Treatment of Homosexual Offenders: A Clinical Survey.” The British Journal of Delinquency, no.1 (July): 44-59. Accessed October 11, 2018.https://www.jstor.org/stable/23640855.