Ralph Hyman

Ralph Hyman is in Little Rock now after being born in Davenport, Iowa, where he lived for nine years then moved to Southern California where he lived for nine more years, until he graduated high school. Little Rock is lucky to have him considering all the work he's done for the GLBT community over the past almost 30 years. “I went to college at New York University in New York City to get my bachelor's degree in psychology and then to my first graduate program at City College of New York and got my master's degree, again in psychology,” Ralph said. “I then moved to Alabama where I got my doctorate in counseling at Auburn University. I did my internship at the state hospital and Community Mental Health Center in Little Rock and opened a private practice here, where I have remained for the past 29 years." Ralph has a general private practice of psychotherapy as a licensed psychologist in Little Rock. We asked Ralph the usual Profiles in Pride questions: Talk about some of the work you have done for the GLBT community. “I did my master's thesis and my doctoral dissertation on reducing prejudice toward gays and lesbians. When I arrived in Little Rock, I began a free coming out group for people who were gay and lesbian and did not have any contact with other gay or lesbian people, and I provided that free service for 20 years.  “When I first arrived here, I also joined the Arkansas Gay and Lesbian Task Force where I helped organize events like gay pride week and various demonstrations like the march on the Capitol. I met my life partner at a gay pride week lecture I gave on gay personality development 25 years ago and we are still happily together and plan to be for at least another 25 years.  “When AIDS began in Little Rock, I visited the AIDS patients in hospitals, organized a buddy system for people who had no support network, ran a free AIDS group for 15 years for people with AIDS (PWA's) to come and talk and meet each other. I founded the Arkansas AIDS Foundation, and began an AIDS hospice at a house I bought for that purpose. “I helped create an adolescent gay and lesbian group at my office called Pe0ple of Alternative Lifestyles (PALS) which has now been in existence for over 20 years. Since one of my major interests has been theater, I began the Weekend Theater, dedicated to reducing prejudice toward all groups, including doing plays about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.  At the theater we continue to present shows which combat homophobia as well as racism, agism, sexism, and other forms of prejudice and cruelty. What are your thoughts on coming out, advice to others, etc.? “Coming out is a very psychologically healthy process, where a person can become their true and real self and slowly discard the false self which they have created to survive in a homophobic and evangelical or conservative religious environment,” Ralph said. “Twenty-five years ago, people began to come out in their 30s to 50s. Now, because of those brave people who became openly gay and lesbian, people are feeling safe enough to come out in their teens and 20s. “Coming out is a very scary process for most people because of the prejudice they have encountered throughout their lifetime. Support is vital for a person to successfully complete this process. Being able to emerge gay and proud enables a person to avoid becoming a sex addict and an alcoholic and drug addict which happens so often to people who lead double lives, straight during the day and covertly gay and frequenting gay bars at night.  “Coming out really is a lifetime process, as our society still assumes that a person is straight and therefore we must continually educate people about our being different than they assume.” What do you see in the near future and long-range for gay rights/equality? “I think that more and more states will legalize gay marriage and domestic partnerships. I believe that the U.S. government will eliminate the discrimination in the armed forces. I think we will elect more and more GLBT people for public office. “In the long term, I believe that we will no longer be second class citizens but will have equal rights, privileges and responsibilities.” Profiles in Pride Questions: Date and place of birth? Davenport, Iowa 4/18/51 What is your favorite food? Chinese What food will you not eat? Sushi What is the best job you've ever had? Psychotherapist What is your dream job?  Psychotherapist If you didn't have to work, what would you do with all of your time? Psychotherapy, reading, theater Who do you admire most (living or dead)? GLBT people who have come out Who would you lunch with if you could have anyone (living or dead)?  Sigmund Freud Who has had the greatest influence on your life? Sigmund Freud What one thing would you not have done if you could go back in time?  Argued with my partner What one thing would you have done if you could go back in time?  Cherished my partner more consistently What is your favorite word? Love Least favorite word? Hate Favorite curse word?  Sh*t What turns you on? Holding my partner What turns you off? Bitterness What word would others use to describe you? Loving What word sums you up? Human