National LGBTQIA Resources
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interACT (formerly known as Advocates for Informed Choice (AIC))
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Modern Military Association of America (formerly known as OutServe-SLDN)
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National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals, Inc. (NOGLSTP)
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Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders (SAGE)
According to the Human Rights Commission,1,028 of the nation’s largest businesses demonstrated their commitment to LGBTQIA equality and inclusion in 2019. These companies are joining the multitude of nonprofit organizations working to make the lives of LGBTQ individuals better. Here are some highlights of these organizations advocating for LGBTQIA Americans.
More About The Resources
General Resources
Family Equality Council connects, supports, and represents the three million parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer in this country and their six million children. They work to ensure equality for LGBT families by building community, changing hearts and minds, and advancing social justice for all families.
The LGBT National Help Center is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to meeting the needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and those questioning their sexual orientation and gender identity. Their Gay & Lesbian National Hotline, which began in 1996 and utilizes a diverse group of LGBT volunteers, is a primary program of the GLBT National Help Center. They have 15,000 local resources for cities and towns across the country.
The Human Rights Campaign, the largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization, envisions an America where GLBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. HRC has close to 600,000 members—all committed to making this vision of equality a reality. Founded in 1980, HRC effectively lobbies in Congress, provides campaign support to fair-minded candidates, and works to educate the public on a wide array of topics affecting GLBT Americans, including relationship recognition, workplace, family, and health issues. The HRC Foundation engages in research and provides public education and programming.
Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians and Gays is a national nonprofit grassroots organization which promotes the well-being of lesbian and gay people, their families, and friends through education and advocacy. Online information on Project Open Mind offers hate crime and teen suicide statistics. The site also offers a directory of chapters across the country. PFLAG is a particularly useful resource for parents of students who are coming out in college or for faculty and staff when one of their children comes out to them. There are more than 250,000 members and supporters in over 500 chapters throughout the United States.
Legal Resources
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
Founded in 1978, GLAD works nationally to create a just society free of discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and expression.
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
The Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund is the largest legal organization in the United States. Since 1973, the staff has worked to secure civil rights for gays, lesbians and persons with HIV via education, public policy work and litigation.
National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (NLGLA)
The National LGBT Bar Association is a national association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, activists and affiliated lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legal organizations. The LGBT Bar promotes justice in and through the legal profession for the LGBT community in all its diversity.
Transgender Law Center works to change law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression. They envision a future where gender self-determination and authentic expression are seen as basic rights and matters of common human dignity.
interACT (formerly known as Advocates for Informed Choice (AIC))
Advocates for Informed Choice (AIC) uses innovative strategies to advocate for the legal and human rights of children born with intersex traits. Their work is grounded in a sense of respect and compassion for the children, parents, doctors, and intersex adults involved.
Professional Resources
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educators Network (GLSEN)
The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educators Network is the largest national organization of parents, educators, students and other concerned citizens working to end homophobia in K-12 schools, and to ensure all students are valued and respected, regardless of sexual orientation. Their site details their conference calendar, provides a regional chapter locator, and offers a “tool-kit” or resources to use in schools.
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA)
The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association works to ensure equality in healthcare for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and healthcare professionals. GLMA achieves its goals by using medical expertise in professional education, public policy work, patient education and referrals and the promotion of research.
National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is the business advocate and direct link between lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender business owners, corporations, and government, representing the interests of more than 1.4 million LGBT business and entrepreneurs. The NGLCC is committed to forming a broad-based coalition of LGBT owned and friendly businesses, professionals, and major corporations for the purpose of promoting economic growth and the prosperity of our members.
National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals, Inc. (NOGLSTP)
The National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals is comprised of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people and their allies employed or interested in scientific or high technology fields. NOGLSTP is an affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a participating professional society in the MentorNet Affiliated Partners Plus program.
National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA)
The National Gay Pilots Association is a national organization of gay and lesbian pilots and other aviation enthusiasts from across the country. NGPA’s goals are to encourage members of the LGBT community to begin piloting careers and to foster equal treatment of LGBT aviators through advocacy and outreach.
The Association of LGBTQ Journalists (NLGJA)
Founded in 1990, NLGJA is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students working from within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues. NLGJA opposes all forms of workplace bias and provides professional development to its members.
Lambda Literary believes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer literature is fundamental to the preservation of our culture, and that LGBTQ lives are affirmed when their stories are written, published and read.
Workplace Resources
Pride at Work is a nonprofit organization and an officially recognized constituency group of the American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations. The association organizes mutual support between the organized labor movement and the LGBT community for social and economic justice. In addition to national Pride at Work, more than 20 chapters organize at the state and local level around the country.
Out and Equal Workplace Advocates
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates champions safe and equitable workplaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The organization advocates building and strengthening successful companies that value all employees, customers and communities.
The Transgender Training Institute (TTI)
TTI provides national training and consulting services that are informed/provided by transgender and non-binary people, for the benefit of transgender and non-binary communities. The organization works across the United States, providing services including: expert facilitation of transgender-related professional development trainings, training of trainers/facilitators (TOTs), ally skill building seminars and keynote speaking.
Veteran Resources
Modern Military Association of America (formerly known as OutServe-SLDN)
Formed through the merger of the American Military Partner Association and OutServe-SLDN, the Modern Military Association of America is the nation’s largest non-profit organization for the LGBTQ military and veteran community. They are committed to education, advocacy and support for LGBTQ service members, veterans, military spouses, family members and allies.
They currently have 75,000 plus members and supporters around the globe.
Elderly Resources
Gay & Lesbian Association of Retiring Persons (GLARP)
The purpose Gay & Lesbian Association of Retiring Persons is to develop and operate retirement communities that are openly LGB-friendly and to promote, provide and support education on aging.
Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders (SAGE)
The mission of SAGE is to lead in addressing issues related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) aging. In partnership with its constituents and allies, SAGE works to achieve a high quality of life for LGBT older adults, supports and advocates for their rights, fosters a greater understanding of aging in all communities, and promotes positive images of LGBT life in later years.
Student Resources
LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS (Resource link provided by Stevens Institute of Technology)
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