Cheryl Houk has served as Stepping Stone’s Executive Director for 17 years, from1989 to 2006. During that time she increased Stepping Stone’s annual funding from $125,000 to almost $2 million. She continued her amazing community service by ushering in highly successful transitional housing and recovery programs. She has raised $2.6 million in a capital building campaign that led to the construction of a state-of-the-art residential facility, located in City Heights that houses GLBT individuals who are in drug and alcohol recovery programs. Today, she continues her work with Stepping Stone as a Board Member and resides in Palm Springs with her partner of 25 years, Patty Bathurst.

GLT: What is your current title with Stepping Stone?

CH: Board member. An everyday board member is good for me. May was my first meeting and I believe they put me on in April. I very much like being back involved, especially during these challenging times. They’re all skilled board members and they are one of the best I’ve seen.

GLT: How is it that you gained so much money for Stepping Stone’s annual funding?

CH: Because of my involvement in a lot of different committees. I was involved in alcohol and drug organizations, AIDS committees and so forth. Also, the board did a really good job of raising funds. It was just a matter of communication and community.

GLT: How did you get started in your line of work?

CH: I was in recovery when I was in Northern California. After 2 and a half years of recovery, I found myself a job. I had an Associates degree in Social Sciences. I got into the field when I started work in a recovery home and I started as a counselor. It was the only place like this for miles, they did detox without nurses and it served so many people. I mean, these were people who would drink immense amounts and alcohol is probably the worst thing you can withdraw from.

GLT: How did the experience of working with detox affect you?

CH: It let me know how far the disease could go. The shocker was going to Stepping Stone and seeing meth use and those with AIDS in recovery. I worked at a non-residential center in San Diego and went to Stepping Stone in 1989 when AIDS was in full force. There wasn’t anything but AZT and it was a horrendous experience. Out of the 34 residents about 40% had AIDS, and we had no funding at the time. We had a hard time providing services. Many of those residents over the years died.

GLT: How do you feel about receiving a Community Service Award at Pride?

CH: It surprised me; it’s an honor, an absolute and complete honor. I did have to work in a challenging arena. I was doing my job and it was a very important and valuable job. It’s just a cool thing I wasn’t expecting. It’s just great, because many of the younger people don’t really know what those ahead of them did to further the GLBT cause and those before me did even more. I feel like my generation has experienced our breakthroughs and the people ahead have to continue the work.

GLT: Are you excited for San Diego Pride?

CH: Oh, I’m extremely excited for Pride! I haven’t been to Pride in 4 years and the way Pride is welcoming me is dynamite. I really feel accepted in the Pride process. It just needs to keep going, it’s a validation of who we are and who the community is. People come away completely proud of who we are and it couldn’t be named better - San Diego Pride.

GLT: Are you involved with any other GLBT based organizations?

CH: Not at the moment. I currently live in Palm Springs and work with alcohol and drug prevention.

GLT: What does it mean to you to be an activist?

CH: It’s just a “want” to make it better for the people behind us. Make it so that we are treated better in society and to learn to have a voice. I learned I have a strong voice. I stand up for people’s rights, no matter who it is. I was a human being before I was a lesbian and I don’t let one injustice go by, as long as we communicate that appropriately, assertively but not aggressively.

GLT: What has inspired you most about your line of work?

CH: Persistence. If I persist, I will succeed. It’s all about focusing on the solution instead of the problem. There is one quote that I always remember: “Focus on your goal with such unbending purpose that you refuse to attach to any obstacle.”

That quote was by Deepak Chopra, who is a metaphysics teacher.

GLT: How do you enjoy living in Palm Springs?

CH: You know, I like it a lot. It’s a little slower paced and simpler. It’s very competitive in San Diego. In San Diego, emails would come to me from every direction and it’s just too much sometimes. I’m not too fond of the really bad heat here though. But I love San Diego too. It has its positives.

GLT: You have publically stated that you used to abuse alcohol. How did you overcome that?

CH: I studied a lot of metaphysical principles. So, it just taught me that there’s something outside yourself you can connect with when you think positively. There’s something bigger than you and you don’t have to do it all, you can let go. Overall, I just had to surrender to some principles I wanted for myself. I didn’t want to live that way. I was drinking everyday for 6 and a half years. I stopped drinking when I was 35 and I didn’t want to go back.

GLT: Do you think drug and alcohol abuse are higher amongst GLBT people?

CH: Absolutely, no doubt about it.

GLT: Why do you think that is?

CH: It’s simply not safe to be gay or lesbian. Many can get complacent in San Diego, but anywhere else, it’s not as safe as it should be. We haven’t come as far as a community as we’d like to go. I remember when I was younger, where I used to live, I had to drive an hour and a half to go to one of the only gay bars I knew. I remember part of the culture was partying and mixing it up, people got involved in a lot of things and were becoming consumed. Lesbians seemed to get involved more in alcohol and gay men did more drug mixing. Our gay self-esteem isn’t always where it needs to be, it’s more challenging to our population because of society’s response to who we are. We have a higher need for stronger services. I know that if I had been in a gay and lesbian specific recovery, I would have got involved in recovery a year sooner. Regular AA didn’t let me feel safe enough to tell the truth, and truth is imperative to recovery.

GLT: If you had any advice for someone who is struggling with drugs or alcohol, what would that advice be?

CH: Get involved in a program of some kind. AA is already a strong fellowship and there’s strength in community. Remember, there is hope, you have just got to reach out for it. Life has its ups and downs. It has more ups and downs when you’re not using or drinking.

GLT: Alcohol recovery can be a long and arduous task. Do you have any amazing or inspiring stories about anyone you know who recovered?

CH: Several. Many, actually and some in particular. There are some people who grew up with really good backgrounds, who had a lot of advantages and ended up on the street. I remember a concert pianist who used Stepping Stone. He recovered and got back on the concert circuit and actually played on Broadway. There are a lot of success stories. There are a lot of us that stay sober and there are those with health challenges that make it through, too. One person had AIDS and we were sure he was going to die, but he is alive and well today. That’s why they call it Stepping Stone. They truly do give you a hand.

GLT: Well that’s all the questions we have. Was there anything that you’d like to add that our readers might like to know?

CH: Stepping Stone belongs in San Diego and it’s time for the community to step up and help. It really needs assistance to help the quality of services it provides. It would be really helpful if people came to us and donated in whatever way they could. A lot of people need a place like Stepping Stone.

Thank you Cheryl for informing the GLT and its readers about all the amazing and life-changing events that you have been a part of. You are a valued member of the GLBT San Diego community and we could not think of a person more deserving of the Community Service Award. We wish you nothing but the best for you and your partner.