Published: May 15, 2026
Listen to the episode on KGNU →
A rainbow sticker on the door does not make a treatment center culturally competent. That distinction sits at the center of Ryan Sturdevant’s conversation with Addison Herron-Wheeler on Spilling the Tea with OFM, the Outfront Magazine radio program on KGNU. As CEO and founder of Chroma Wellness Center in Denver, Sturdevant explains why so many in the queer community have historically been left behind in behavioral health, and what it actually takes to build a PHP/IOP where LGBTQIA+ clients see themselves reflected in the staff, the curriculum, and the space itself.
"There's so much more that goes into creating a safe space and creating a culturally competent curriculum that really speaks to the experience of the queer community."
Sturdevant also discusses the mental health disparities driving the need for Chroma’s model, including suicide rates and substance use rates significantly higher than the general population, and the isolation many clients describe when they first reach out. He shares how Chroma’s alumni groups and ongoing community programming extend support beyond formal treatment, and why he answers many of the intake calls personally so that prospective clients connect with a real person from the start.