Immediate Support
*Starred resources are not LGBTQ-specific and may or may not be qualified in LGBTQ issues
| TrevorLifeline at 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678“Our trained counselors are here to support you 24/7. If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk” https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ |
| National Suicide Prevention Line*: 1-800-273-8255 En Español: 888-628-9454 Deaf & HOH: 800-799-4889 |
| Trans Lifeline (all ages): 877-565-8860 |
| Crisis Text Line*: Text HOME to 741741 |
| Fenway LGBT Helpline (for adults 25+) 617-267-9001, Toll-Free 888-340-4528 |
| Fenway Peer Listening line (25 and under) 617-267-2535, Toll-Free 800-399-PEER |
| LGBT National Youth Hotline: 800-246-PRIDE(7743)LGBT National Hotline (adults): 888-843-4564LGBT National Senior Hotline: 888-234-7243 Online peer support chat: https://www.glbthotline.org/peer-chat.html |
| National Runaway Safeline*: 1-800-RUNAWAY(786-2929) |
| Partner abuse hotline for gender & sexual minorities: 617-742-4911 or 800-832-1901 (Toll-Free) from The Network La Red |
| Legal help from GLAD Answers 800-455-GLAD (available 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Mon-Fri) |
| More complete list of national hotlines: https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/support/hotlines |
Resource Directories
- Greater Boston area community-created bank of resources and recommendations: https://bit.ly/bostonqueer
- Resource list created by MaeBright.
- Resource list from the Stonewall Center at UMass Amherst.
- Find a LGBTQ-competent healthcare provider through GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality
Statewide Resources
- Legal help and advice in Massachusetts: https://www.glad.org/locations/massachusetts/
- Help changing your legal name or gender marker: https://www.masstpc.org/get-help/identity-documents/ or https://www.glad.org/id/
Online or National Resources
- Database of resources for LGBTQ folks by state and topic: https://itgetsbetter.org/get-help/
- Microgrants to help with name or ID changes: https://www.translifeline.org/
- Information and links regarding partner abuse for LGBTQIA people: https://www.janedoe.org/find_help/for_lgbtqqi
Family Resources
- The Family Acceptance Project: http://familyproject.sfsu.edu/overview
- PFLAG offers education and support groups to families and allies: www.pflag.org (National) or gbpflag.org (Greater Boston)
- Gender Spectrum’s resources for parents and caregivers
LGBTQ+ Inclusive Curricula
- Downloadable K-12 curricula on LGBTQ topics, created by the Safe Schools Program of the MA Commission on LGBTQ Youth: www.mass.gov/info-details/safe-schools-program-for-lgbtq-students
- Free LGBTQ+ curricula and videos for GSAs: www.frameline.org/distribution/youth-in-motion
- GLSEN (National organization for inclusive K-12 schools): www.glsen.org & www.glsen.org/readysetrespect (K-5 curriculum)
- Free lesson plans on LGBTQ topics and other social justice areas: www.tolerance.org/topics/gender-sexual-identity
- Age-appropriate and honest sexual health education for young people through fun videos: amaze.org
Anti-Bullying Resources
- GLAD’s 3-pager on what to do if you’re being bullied for your sexual orientation or gender identity: https://www.glad.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ma-students-what-to-do-bullied.pdf
- Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s page of resources on bullying prevention and education: http://www.doe.mass.edu/sfs/bullying/
- Bullying Prevention Guide (123 pages): https://www.mass.gov/doc/bullying-prevent-guidepdf/download
- Compilation of Massachusetts laws about bullying: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-bullying-and-cyberbullying
- Ask your school to request training and assistance from the Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/safe-schools-program-for-lgbtq-students
Trans Youth & Children
- Gender Multispecialty Services (GeMS) at Boston Children’s Hospital: http://www.childrenshospital.org/centers-and-services/programs/f-_-n/gender-multispecialty-service
- Trans Youth Equality provides advocacy, education, and support for trans youth and runs summer camps: www.transyouthequality.org/
Learning Resources
- Educational resources on LGBT Health from the Fenway Institute: https://www.lgbthealtheducation.org/topic/lgbt-youth/
- Educational resources for youth, parents, and educators on gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual health, and more from Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexual-orientation-gender
- Resource and learning center on gender inclusivity: https://www.genderspectrum.org/
- Free LGBTQ curricula and downloadable Safe Zone window sticker: https://thesafezoneproject.com/
- CDC health reports and resources on LGBT youth: https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth.htm
- Research briefs from the California Safe Schools Coalition: http://www.casafeschools.org/
- Educational center by It Gets Better: https://itgetsbetter.org/education/
- Gender Spectrum’s “Principles of Gender Inclusive Puberty and Health Education”
- AIDS Action Health Library provides reliable information about HIV/AIDS: aac.org/health-library-2/
Advocacy Organizations
- MassEquality is the leading statewide grassroots advocacy organization working to ensure that everyone across Massachusetts can thrive from cradle to grave without discrimination and oppression based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression: www.massequality.org/
- InterACT Advocates for Intersex Youth: https://interactadvocates.org/
Dating & Sexual Violence
- Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC): https://barcc.org/
- The Network La Red: Survivor-led organizing to end partner abuse in LGBQ/T, SM, and polyamorous communities. http://tnlr.org/en/
- Violence Recovery Program at Fenway Health: https://fenwayhealth.org/care/behavioral-health/violence-recovery/
- Love is Respect educates and empowers teens to prevent and end abusive relationships: www.loveisrespect.org/
Book Lists
- Brochure and resource list compiled by the Commission on LGBTQ Youth: https://www.mass.gov/doc/a-selection-of-lgbtq-books-and-resources/download
- List of diverse books compiled by the Human Rights Campaign: http://www.welcomingschools.org/resources/books/
- American Library Association Rainbow Book List for Children and Teens: https://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/rainbow-books-lists
- LAMBDA Literary reviews: https://www.lambdaliterary.org/category/reviews/ya/ and book list (somewhat outdated): http://www.lambdaliterary.org/features/03/08/10-outstanding-lgbt-teen-books-from-the-last-ten-years/
- Social justice books from Teaching for Change: https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/lgbtq/
- CBC Diversity Goodreads list: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7947376-cbc-diversity?shelf=lgbtq
Videos
- The Safe Schools Program YouTube channel of videos sharing personal experiences of LGBTQ youth and families: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6mjOWyM05o9GcQzzXKsw3g?view_as=subscriber
- Video “Stories” from It Gets Better: https://itgetsbetter.org/stories/
- Frameline’s Youth in Motion program distributes free videos and curricula to registered GSAs: https://www.frameline.org/distribution/youth-in-motion
- I AM: Trans People Speak videos: http://www.transpeoplespeak.org/
- GLAD’s video promoting middle school GSAs: https://www.glad.org/post/glad-promotes-creation-middle-school-gsas-new-video-online-resources/
- “What it’s like to be intersex”: https://www.buzzfeed.com/lizzwarner/what-its-like-to-be-intersex
Member Organizations & Networks
- Find a youth group near you: https://www.bagly.org/the-agly-network
- Connect your school’s GSA to the GSA Leadership Council: http://www.doe.mass.edu/sfs/lgbtq/GSALcouncil.html
- National network of Gender and Sexuality (or Gay-Straight) Alliances https://gsanetwork.org/
- Social networking space for LGBTQ youth: https://www.trevorspace.org/
- Online LGBTQ center for youth: https://www.qchatspace.org/
Training and Professional Development
- Greater Boston PFLAG provides training and professional development for schools, youth, parents, and providers: https://gbpflag.org/training-and-workshops/ (low cost or free for schools and nonprofit clients)
- Welcoming Schools offers comprehensive training and resources for elementary school educators and districts: http://www.welcomingschools.org/training/request-a-training/ (fee unkown; $$$)
- Gender Spectrum: https://www.genderspectrum.org/we-can-help/trainings-schools/#more-436 (fee unknown)
- MaeBright consulting group provides PD to businesses, nonprofits, and government: https://www.maebright.com/ ($$$)
- Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition provides professional and corporate training on trans-related topics: https://www.masstpc.org/get-help/training/ (fee unknown)
- BAGLY training, workshops, and speakers: https://www.bagly.org/speakers-bureau ($100+)
- Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students (Joint program of Commission on LGBTQ Youth and Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education): https://www.mass.gov/info-details/safe-schools-program-for-lgbtq-students (FREE; limited; Donations requested)
- Stonewall Center at UMass Amherst serves Western MA schools, colleges, nonprofits, and communities with training: https://www.umass.edu/stonewall/workshops (Donations requested)
Mentorship Programs
- LGBTQ+ youth mentoring program through Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters (for youth of all religions). Contact Lorraine@jbbbs.org
- Mentorship for LGBTQ+ youth of color up to age 24 through Boston GLASS. Email the Outreach Specialist: Sol Martinez Guevara at smartinezguevara@jri.org
- Silver Lining mentorship for youth in foster care will match LGBTQ youth with LGBTQ or ally adults: https://www.silverliningmentoring.org/diversity-equity-inclusion/
Resources by Region
See the map for more resources by region
Greater Boston
- LGBTQ+ youth mentoring program through Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters. Contact Lorraine@jbbbs.org
Health
- Fenway Health: https://fenwayhealth.org/
- Boston Health Care for the Homeless – Transgender Program: https://www.bhchp.org/specialized-services/transgender-program
- GeMS – Gender Management Service at Boston Children’s Hospital: https://www.childrenshospital.org/centers-and-services/programs/f-_-n/gender-management-service
Southeastern MA
- South Coast Network: https://www.sclgbtqnetwork.org/resources.html
Western MA
- Stonewall Center at UMass Amherst: https://www.umass.edu/stonewall/