ARTICLES
RESOURCES
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians And Gays came into existence as a support group for those who knew and cared for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Since their inception in 1972, PFLAG has been working to help families, friends, and other allies understand and support LGBTQIA+ people, and has grown in both size of supporters and range of resources. There are over 400 chapters across America for people to meet at, to discuss, and to learn and understand the ideas, identities, and issues surrounding and within the LGBTQIA+ community. Their mission and vision are here for you to examine:
Vision:
PFLAG envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
Mission:
By meeting people where they are and collaborating with others, PFLAG realizes its vision through:
Support for families, allies and people who are LGBTQ
Education for ourselves and others about the unique issues and challenges facing people who are LGBTQ
Advocacy in our communities to change attitudes and create policies and laws that achieve full equality for people who are LGBTQ
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and mental health organization for LGBTQ young people. The Trevor Project has voice, text, and online chat hotline options for those in need of support. This organization has saved countless lives. Their mission is “To end suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning young people.”
The Human Rights Campaign, or HRC, is the largest LGBTQIA+ civil rights organization and has been a strong contributor to the current LGBTQIA+ civil rights movement. Their mission, in their own words, is this:
"The Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation together serve as America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBTQ equality. By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
The Human Rights Campaign envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people are ensured equality and embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community."
I've had the fortune of working with the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network on two occasions, and on both occasions GLSEN created a dialogue amongst the speakers and audience members that was both positive and informative. Their work is well-known throughout the country for being exceptionally educational and helpful for students in particular. Their focus is on K-12 students, which they explain in their mission:
"GLSEN strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. We believe that such an atmosphere engenders a positive sense of self, which is the basis of educational achievement and personal growth. Since homophobia and heterosexism undermine a healthy school climate, we work to educate teachers, students and the public at large about the damaging effects these forces have on youth and adults alike.
We recognize that forces such as racism and sexism have similarly adverse impacts on communities and we support schools in seeking to redress all such inequities.
GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community. We welcome any and all individuals as members, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or occupation, who are committed to seeing this philosophy realized in K-12 schools."
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, or GLAAD, is a group that supports and fights for LGBTQIA+ rights. They specialize in monitoring the media and helping shape the language with which the world talks about LGBTQIA+ issues. Their aim, in their own words, is to "[tackle] tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love."
The National Center for Transgender Equality is a group that focuses on transgender rights in America. They are a national organization that seeks, in their own words, "to [end] discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people.
By empowering transgender people and our allies to educate and influence policymakers and others, NCTE facilitates a strong and clear voice for transgender equality in our nation's capital and around the country."
The Transgender Law Center, as you may have guessed, fights for the rights of transgender people in America. Their mission is simple, honest, and bold: "[The] Transgender Law Center changes law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression."
All of these websites have further resources within their pages. This is not an exhaustive list of resources, especially because it excludes most local organizations. Most states and/or counties have further resources within their communities.
This article on drugwatch.com details some of the finer details in relation to medical trends within the LGBTQIA+ community. While many in the community have found or provided healthcare specifically related to transgender issues or LGBTQIA+ mental health, this article provides numerical data about cancer, suicide, HIV/AIDS, HPV, and many other rates that individuals in the community may think doesn’t apply to or won’t affect them. This factual data illuminates the need for LGBTQIA+ folks to pay attention to their healthcare as much as possible.
Drug Rehab USA has a filter that allows you to search for drug rehab centers across the United States that are LGBTQIA+ friendly. It also has a number of other filters through which you can search for other specific drug-related resources. While this website does not provide medical advice, it can lead you to a number of resources through which you can receive medical advice.
All of these organizations are linked both as buttons to their main home page, along with the link to their mission and/or values page, although I have copied the contents of those pages to this page for your convenience in your search for resources. Please contact me if you would like me to add your organization to this list or if you have any further questions.