Meet Theresa Bethea, Neighborhood Administrator in the Bronx

June is National Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising and recognizes the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) people have made and continue to make on American history. In honor of Pride Month, we’re highlighting the work of NYCHA’s LGBTQ+ employees.   

In 1984, Theresa Bethea was only 18 when she started to work for NYCHA. Not long before that, at the age of 16, Theresa came out as a lesbian to her family and friends. She said that society was not so accepting back then, but her parents were not surprised and were supportive.

“I think my parents naturally knew; they were just waiting for me to say. My dad and my mom were very liberal. Coming out to them was easy. They wanted me to be able to live my life, speak my truth. So, once I spoke it to them, they told me I don’t need anybody else’s approval. It made my life a lot easier,” said Ms. Bethea.

Growing up in a NYCHA apartment in Throggs Neck, in the Bronx, Ms. Bethea was the youngest of eight children. She started her career at NYCHA as a maintenance trainee; after 37 years of holding different positions, she became a Neighborhood Administrator in the Bronx Property Management Department. Ms. Bethea recalled that 37 years ago the world was a different place. She was the only open lesbian among her family and friends. However, she was not afraid to speak up and let everybody know who she was. She felt empowered by telling the truth. 

“Every development I worked at, every position I worked in, I wanted people to know who I was – let there be no mistake. You don’t have to whisper about me. My dad said, ‘Whispers will make you nervous. Your truth will set you free.’ I always wanted to have that. If you don’t say anything, people will whisper about you, but if you just tell them, there is no question about who you are anymore,” said Ms. Bethea.

Ms. Bethea’s siblings were not as understanding as her parents at first. Her two older brothers were upset with her coming out.

“They were military men, not as liberal as my parents. Initially they did not like it. First two years they thought it was just a phase. But after they saw who I really am, they had to accept it. They realized I am still their little sister. Now we all are super close.”

When Ms. Bethea started her career at NYCHA, she was often the only female employee in her team. Workplaces were not made for women back then, and her coworkers were not as tolerant.

“Initially I was nervous about it. I would go home and tell my mom and dad what the guys were saying. I was going into a predominantly male field at the time, maintenance. I had to go somewhere else to change, they did not have women’s lockers at that time. I had to use the back office. After discovering that I am lesbian, some guys did not want to work with me; others understood and accepted me for who I was. It was tough, but I made it through.”

Ms. Bethea informs her coworkers about her sexual orientation at the beginning, to avoid any kind of confusion and to also let other LGBTQ colleagues know that she is there, ready to speak up and advocate for them should they need her. She became the union representative for the same reason. Back in the day, when Ms. Bethea was the only openly lesbian person around, there was no one to speak to or to ask an advice from. The only place where she met gays and lesbians in New York City was Greenwich Village, the historical hub for gay life and the Pride March.

“I think Pride Month events, and especially the March, are as important as every other parade. Let the world know that we are here too. This is why we do what we do. We need to know that we have the support and acknowledgment of others.”