GBTQ+
RESOURCES
The Chicago Society works to continually gather resources for members and allies of the GBTQ+ community.
General.
LGBTQ+ Terminology
Terms and definitions are always evolving, changing and often mean different things to different people. This glossary is provided as a starting point for discussion and understanding. The Glossary has been collectively built and created by the staff members of the UC Santa Barbara LGBTQIA Resource Center since the early 2000s.
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PFLAG
Parents and Families of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) ​is the nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. Currently, there are more than 350 chapters and over 200,000 members.
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LGBTQ Center Directory
CenterLink is an international nonprofit organization and member-based association of LGBTQ centers and other LGBTQ organizations serving their local and regional communities.
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Matthew Shepard Foundation
By erasing hate and building compassionate and accepting communities, the Matthew Shepard Foundation hopes to empower LGBTQ individuals to challenge and address discriminatory behavior in their schools, neighborhoods and homes.
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Coming Out
Exploring your sexual orientation and/or gender identity can bring up a lot of feelings and questions. The Trevor Project handbook, helps to explore your identity, what it might be like to share your identity with others, and provides tools and guiding questions to help you think about what coming out means to you.
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Out & Equal
Out & Equal is a nonprofit organization working exclusively on LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Through their worldwide programs, strategic corporate partnerships, and sought-after events, they help LGBTQ+ individuals realize their fullest, most authentic potential, while supporting organizations in creating cultures of belonging for all.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project’s mission is to end suicide among LGBTQ+ young people.
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Gay & Lesbian International Sport Association
With an international reach, GLISA brings together international sports federations, human rights organizations, associations representing sport teams, clubs from major regions, and other stakeholders to facilitate partnerships for building bridges between sports and the LGBTQ community.
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Mental Health
Here are some helpful resources to help you explore the topic of mental health. Remember, you can always reach out, to the Trevor Project 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386 or by TEXT to 678-678 if you need immediate help.
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Straight 4 Equality
Straight for Equality is a national outreach and education program to empower new allies who don’t necessarily have a family connection to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community. If you’re one of the roughly 8 in 10 people who can say, “I have an LGBTQ+ friend (or coworker, or fraternity brother!)” this is the place for you.
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Religion and Faith
Around the world, people look to their faith as a source of guidance, hope and inspiration — and LGBTQ+ people, as well as our families, friends and allies, are no different. In times of trial and in the face of rejection, LGBTQ+ people of faith have held on to our beliefs and traditions — and at times have formed new ones.
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GLAAD
With a national focus on leading conversations about equality for the LGBTQ community and informing the media narrative, this organization works with news and entertainment media of all formats and communications and digital strategy outlets to ensure the public is provided with powerful stories about the LGBTQ community that advocates for greater equality.
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Aging.
National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging
Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders
The National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging is the country's first and only technical assistance resource center focused on improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender older adults, their families and caregivers.
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SAGE is the country’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older people. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBTQ+ older people and their caregivers.
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Religion.
Believe Out Loud
Keshet
Muslims for Progressive Values
Believe Out Loud is a digital community working to move all people toward an expansive, transformative understanding of divine love. We center and sanctify queer spirituality across our programs, from our online worship services led by LGBTQIA faith leaders to our grantmaking program supporting faith-driven LGBTQIA peacebuilders around the world. .
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Keshet envisions a world in which all LGBTQ Jews and thier families can live with full equality, justice, and dignity. By strengthening Jewish communities and equipping Jewish organizations with the skills and knowledge they need to make all LGBTQ Jews feel welcome, they work to ensure the full equality of all LGBTQ Jews and their families in Jewish life.
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MPV advocates for women and LGBTQIA+ rights, for the separation of religion and state, and for freedom of conscience. In advancing these human rights values, MPV provides an alternative progressive voice to these issues by participating in civil discourse, engaging with the media and government entities, with public educational forums as well as cultural events, and by partnering with both Muslim and non-Muslim progressive organizations.
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Military.
American Veterans for Equal Rights
Modern Military Association of America
American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) is a non-profit, non-partisan, chapter-based Veterans Service Organization of active, reserve, and veteran service members dedicated to full and equal rights and equitable treatment for all present and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
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As the nation’s largest organization of LGBTQ+ service members, military spouses, veterans, their families, and allies we provide a united voice for the LGBTQ+ military and veteran community. MMAA works to uphold and expand LGBTQ+ civil rights progress through education, advocacy, support networks, and discrimination tracking.
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Political.
Equality Federation
National LGBTQ Task Force
Equality Federation is an advocacy accelerator rooted in social justice, building power in our network of state-based lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) advocacy organizations.
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The National LGBTQ Task Force is dedicated to achieving freedom and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer people, and their families through proactive, targeted, change-inducing initiatives. The organization is also an excellent resource for learning about the beliefs and platforms of those running for public office in regards to LGBTQ interests.
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Human Rights Campaign
By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, the Human Rights Campaign strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
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