Episode 63
Coming out was the key for Casey to find recovery. He is a passionate, creative and strong voice for recovery living in San Diego, CA. He has turned his recovery into a career and went to school to become a substance use counselor. He spends his days working in outpatient and residential treatment at a trailblazing treatment center. He has a particular passion for working with the LGBTQIA+ community and the unique challenges this community faces in recovery. His honesty and passion come through in all he does. .
Helpful Links
caseycannizzaro@gmail.com To reach Casey directly
https://lifering.org/ LifeRing Secular (non-religious) Recovery
https://lifering.org/liferings-first-lbgtqia-meeting/ The meeting Casey helped start
https://www.twobiguys.com/ The podcast Casey refers to
Robust evidence for bisexual orientation among men | PNAS
Do Bisexual Men Really Exist? – CBS News (from 2005-reference to the “research” about bisexuality)
The Scientific Quest to Prove Bisexuality Exists – The New York Times
Why the Researchers Who Revisited Male Bisexuality Drew Critics – The Wire Science
https://sherecovers.org/ She Recovers (you can access the Facebook group here)
https://womenforsobriety.org/ Women for Sobriety
https://www.smartrecovery.org/ SMART Recovery
https://r20.com/ Recovery 2.0
Taken From LifeRing’s page for the meeting that Casey chairs
LBGTQIA+ & Friends — “Come Out and Recover” is a safe space for those with varying sexual and/or gender identities to be witnessed, heard, and accepted by a community of supportive and diverse individuals in recovery. This weekly meeting is open to everyone who is a part of or who wants to support this amazing community.
LBGTQIA+ & Friends — “Come Out and Recover” meetings are scheduled to begin on Sunday, February 28th at 4:00 pm Pacific Time and will be hosted by Casey and Rachel, two trailblazing LifeRing conveners since 2020.
Casey writes:
After Rachel and I solidified the details [of this meeting], some feelings crept in. Feeling like I’m an imposter. Like I’m not “gay enough” or qualified enough to lead this type of group. But it was exactly those types of feelings that made it hard to get sober, and even harder to find any kind of recovery, for so long.
I’m not quite gay and not quite not gay and that was a struggle for me for a long time. I was discriminated and marginalized by both communities. The hetero community and the gay community. I thought I’d go through life not fitting in anywhere. I tried to share in meetings and it was always so awkward. No one ever understood.
One night I shared in a “regular” meeting where I felt particularly safe. And this spunky, glitter eyed, purple haired savior said the magic words, “me too, Casey. Me too.” That was how Rachel and I became friends. And we said to each other, “wouldn’t it be great to create a space that ANYONE can feel comfortable in? Wherever they are on their journey? It doesn’t matter how or who they identify as. The type of meeting we would like to attend.”
And a year later, here we are. That’s what we want to create. A place where a person doesn’t have to reach any particular echelon of sexuality or gender to feel included and feel heard and supported. A place for allies, and friends, and family who want to support others to learn more. A safe, comfortable place where we don’t have to try to read the body language through a screen of others to know what we’re sharing is ok.
A place where people can look at each other and say with a smile. “Me too, me too.”