A therapist from Sylmar will be one of 15 appointees who will serve on LA County’s first-ever LGBTQ+ Commission to advise the Board of Supervisors on issues facing LGBTQ+ residents.

LA County Board Supervisors Chair Lindsey P. Horvath appointed Alejandro Soria, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and Sydney Rogers (known as Miss Barbie-Q) to represent the Third District on the inaugural LGBTQ+ Commission. The Commission was created through a Board action last June in response to numerous anti-LGBTQ+ bills being proposed (and adopted in some cases) across the country, including proposals to censor books, ban LGBTQ+ curriculum and attempts to restrict public drag performances in at least 12 states. 

Soria, who resides in Sylmar, is senior director of Outpatient Mental Health at the Village Family Services in North Hollywood and also has a private practice in the City of San Fernando. He has provided therapeutic services for children, teens and adults for more than 20 years, treating trauma, anxiety and depression, relationship and family issues, and LGBTQ+ youth and adults.

“I’m really excited and honored about this opportunity to serve my community,” said Soria, who has been working in the San Fernando Valley since 2014. “On this Commission, I would love to not just be LGBTQ+ affirming, especially as a gay man myself, but I also want to make sure I bring and push for mental health care.

“My goal is to continue to identify and point out the needs of any community,” he continued, “but specifically with this appointment, in the LGBTQ+ underserved populations that require and need more support with mental health services.”

Despite his busy schedule working with Village Family Services and in private practice, Soria said he felt motivated to accept the role on the Commission because he “sees what’s happening in our communities every day,” and how much is rooted in a lack of adequate mental health care. 

“I facilitate homeless programs for transitional-age youth and adults and within these populations and in the LGBTQ+ populations, I’m seeing a growing need for mental health services,” he said. “So when this opportunity came up, and [they said], ‘We’d like to hear not just what you think, but also what you’ve experienced,’ and that’s what I’m really hoping to do … to share what I’m experiencing every day [in my work] with LGBTQ+ youth and adults and their families.”

Especially, he noted, when mental health issues have not been addressed, resulting in personal struggles for individuals and family conflicts, including between youth and their parents. A primary goal, added Soria, is to encourage families to work on “trying to communicate better with their kids, trying to communicate better with each other and trying to understand each other.”

Soria said he also brings to the table his experience addressing the “cultural piece” related to mental health care – from issues confronting LGBTQ+ cultural biases and stereotypes to an overall reluctance (or even embarrassment) to seek out mental health therapy for any reason.

“There’s a culture piece because we learn how to be from our parents, and many of them came from another country,” he said, noting that the added component of acclimating to a new culture can lead to many struggles and people often end up needing emotional support, but they often don’t seek help.

“It’s important to emphasize that mental health is a priority – that it’s OK to address your needs, it’s OK to ask your kids how they feel [and] what they’re experiencing,” continued Soria. He said he hopes his work with the Commission can help destigmatize mental health care for all, including LGBTQ+ individuals. 

“I want people to realize the importance of mental health and the needs we all have,” he said.

Horvath said Soria and Rogers have “expertise … and passion for uplifting all of our LGBTQ+ family. … I look forward to working together to deliver for our LGBTQ+ communities and to ensure Los Angeles County is a place where everyone is welcomed, supported and empowered.”