Mines LGBTQIA+ Resources: Looking for preferred first name and pronounce instructions and support? Crisis support? Student support around healthcare? Find this and more:
For specific, up to date gender inclusive bathrooms and disability resources, check out the link below!
Why LGBTQ+ Resources matter:
A vast majority of people not in the LGBTQ+ community do not understand fully what L, G, B, and T (and others) is.
There is a lot of misunderstanding. People think it’s a choice (it’s not). People think that all gay men want to be women (no, only transgender do). People think that being LGBT is “contagious” (no, it’s just something inborn). People do not fully understand what it is to be transgender (I’m still trying to understand it myself).
LGBTQ+ people undergo a lot of discrimination, especially those who do not appear “normal”. Many societies look down on LGBT and even many that don’t do not allow marriage, denying them the right to be with the one they love. Resources not only allow LGBTQ+ people to find safe and specific resources made for them, but provide resources for people outside the community to be able to learn more about these communities and the struggles they face.
The LGBTQ+ community is there to take care of people who have been hurt, they are there to educate the world about what it really is about.
For Parents and Allies:
LGBTQIA Resource Center Glossary: This is a page that compiles a glossary of terms the encompass frequent terms you will hear/see in the LGBTQ+ community, especially when talking about gender identity and sexual orientation.
Parents Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG): PFLAG is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them – specifically for parents and friends of LGBTQ+ people/youth. PFLAG offers a large bank of resources for family and friends of LGBTQ+ people, including:
An Ally’s Guide to Talking about Marriage for Same-Sex Couples: This is a free pdf guide from GLAAD that offers and overview of terminology, vocabulary, terms to avoid, and general education for why same-sex marriage is so important.
Affirming vs. Non-affirming Parenting Behaviors: This is a free pdf to help parents understand how they can support their child’s self-esteem, self-worth, and creating a family environment that is supportive, respectful, and loving. Much of this content comes from the groundbreaking research conducted by the Family Acceptance Project, which indicates a direct and significant impact of family acceptance on rates of suicide, drug use, HIV-related risk, depression, outlook on life, and homelessness
Listening to community voices:
More of an audio person? Here is a currated list of podcasts and audio recordings specifically geared towards listening to LGBTQ+ community voices, learning more about the LGBTQ+ community and the issues we face, as well as general LGBTQ+ education!
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness: A weekly exploration of all the things Jonathan Van Ness (from the hit TV show – Queer Eye!) is curious about. Come on a journey with Jonathan and experts in their respective fields as they get curious about anything and everything under the sun.
LGBTQ&A: Weekly interviews with the most interesting LGBTQ+ people in the world. Recent guests include Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black), Janelle Monáe (Singer and actress), Pete Buttigieg (American Politician), Brandi Carlile (Songwriter), Alok Vaid-Menon (Writter and performer), and Angela Davis (Political activist and philosopher). LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters.
Teaching While Queer: Teaching While Queer provides queer folks working in education with a community to feel less alone and unload the burden of identity politics so you can work & live as your authentic self. Listen to: Be enveloped in a community of queer educators, Gain resources and advice on LGBTQ inclusion in School, Move from surviving to thriving authentically in your professional and personal life.
Bad Queers: This podcast is for people who feel like they came out of the closet and got placed in a box. It’s time to put the u-haul theory to bed, and connect over being Bad Queers. Join Kris and Shana, fellow Bad Queers, to discuss breaking stereotypes, owning your identity and their unpopular queer opinions. Bad Queers will leave you both offended and inspired by the news, stories and advice about the very fluid, very real LGBTQ+ experience.
Queerology: A Podcast on Belief and Being: Named one of the best LGBTQ podcasts by “O: The Oprah Magazine,” Queerology asks how might we live better as queer people of faith. Host Matthias Roberts brings together theologians, psychologists, poets, thinkers, and change makers for conversations around belief and being.
Quick Guides and Learning
Check out these small quick guides and 101 education pamphlets!
Mental Health 101 – Learn about information, resources, hotlines, misperceptions, definitions, statistics, and more!
Sexual Orientation 101 – Learn about sexuality, coming out, getting support, resources, definitions, and more all about sexual orientation.
Allyship 101 – Find out what allyship in action means, how to show your support for the LGBTQ+ community, definitions, challenges, and more!
Interpersonal Violence 101 – Learn about the impact and roots of voilence in the LGBTQ+ community, how to reach out, resources, and more.
Transgender 101 – Learn how to be supportive for transgender people, how coming out works, common misperceptions, and how gender is a spectrum.
Asexuality and Aromanticism 101 – What is asexuality and aromanticism, how are they different, how can you be supportive, and learn definitions!
HIV-AIDs 101 – Learn about these risks, how to end stigma around these topics, understanding definitions, prevention, and exposure!
Intersex 101 Transgender 101 – Learn about the spectrum of sex, how gender and sex is different, research, definitions, and what intersex means in general!
Genderqueer 101 – Learn about non-binary identities, how gender is a spectrum, different non-binary identities, how to be supportive, and more.
Lovestyles 101 – What are non-traditional relationship structures like? How do golygamy relationships work? Learn about more kinds of relationships!
Resources outside of Mines
Mental Health Resources
If you tend to travel or live outside of Colorado, or you have friends/family outside of the state here are some resources that are available across the entire United States!
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 is a national healthline that provides free 24/7 support for people in distress, crisis, or struggling with their mental health. They provide a wide variety of mental health resources for everyone, including LGBTQ+, Native American, Indian, Indigenous, veterangs, mothers, deaf/hard of hearing, POC, and more.
Human Rights Campaign: The Human Right Campaign works to ensure that every LGBTQ+ person is able to live openly, with their rights ensured and protected. They also work on education, support, and community growth for all LGBTQ+ members, including all age ranges, races, and more.
HearMe: HereMe is an LGBTQ+ founded company that provides on-demand mental wellness support through a text one-on-one chat. They also provide special advocasy and support for LGBTQ+ elders, as well as support for housing, long-term care, and more.
LGBT National Help Center: This is a national hotline that provides free and confidential peer-support, information, and local resources.
For people in Colorado, either living here for university, born and raised here, or just living here for a few years!
Colordo Crisis Services: CCS provides free, confidential, and immediate support via calls and texts for people who are who are struggling with their mental health, in crisis, or know someone who needs support. They cover a wide variety of topics, from depression, grief, loss, self harm, bullying, stress, parent concerns, trauma, substance abuse, and more. They also provide walk in centers that are open 24/7 if you need help in person or need somewhere to go.
Mental Health Colorado: Mental Health Colorado is an organization that works on passing laws, changing practices, and building improvements for mental health across Colorado. They can help get help, make connections, and find resources for people who are struggling.
Looking for mental health resources that are focused on young people in the LGBTQ+ community? This is a great place for young people as well as adults with young LGBTQ+ people in their lives.
The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and mental health organization for LGBTQ+ young people. Crisis counselors are available 24/7 every day of the year, from anywhere in the US. This service is also 100% free and anonymous.
IMatter: IMatter provides 6 free therapy sessions for any Colorado youth 18 years or younger. Therapy is provided by licensed clinicians in Colorado.
YouthSeen: YouthSeen works with the communities in Colorado to provide resources, education, and outreach to youth, specifically those that fall under BIPoC and LGBTQ+ umbrellas. They work strongly with the intersections that many communities of color face when talking about social issues. They also work on education, support, and creating a strong bond with parents or adults that have young people in their lives that are in these communities.
LGBT National Youth Talkline: This line comes from the LGBT National Help Center, providing safe and confidential spaces for callers of any age to talk about sexual orientation or gender identity/expression issues and problems.
Trans Youth Equality Foundation: TYEF provides education, advocacy, and support for transgender, nonbinary, and non-conforming youth and their families. They work on sharing information about the unique needs within the community, partnering with families, educators, and service providers to form strong, healthy, caring, and safe environments for all children and youth alike. They have strong support and educational resources for parents and adults with LGBTQ+ youth in their lives as well.
U.S Department of Education: The mission of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence through vigorous enforcement of civil rights in our nation’s schools. OCR enforces civil rights laws to protect all students from unlawful discrimination and harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age. This includes students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual, intersex, nonbinary, or identify their sexual orientation or gender identity in other ways (LGBTQI+).
Here are some curated resources for people who are transgender, non-binary, or non-gender conforming! If you do not fall under the cis umbrella this is the place for you!
Trans Lifeline: This line provides trans people peer support, connecting trans people to the community support and resources they need. They also provide tons of resources for trans people, including transition resources, terms and definitions, health and wellness, and more.
Transgender Center of the Rockies: The Transgender Center of the Rockies offers gender affirming individual and group counseling for transgender, non-binary, gender expansive, and gender-fluid indiciduals focused on support for mental health and substance use challenges. They are focused on trauma informed, diverse approaches to therapy and have backgrounds solidified with LGBTQ+ individuals.
Out Bolder: Out Bolder offeres several transgender support groups, meetings, and activites across Colorado.
Queer Asterisk: This group provides therapy for people within the LGBTQ+ community, as well as for allies looking for therapy and education support.
Trans Youth Equality Foundation: TYEF provides education, advocacy, and support for transgender, nonbinary, and non-conforming youth and their families. They work on sharing information about the unique needs within the community, partnering with families, educators, and service providers to form strong, healthy, caring, and safe environments for all children and youth alike. They have strong support and educational resources for parents and adults with LGBTQ+ youth in their lives as well.
Healthcare Resources
If you tend to travel or live outside of Colorado, or you have friends/family outside of the state here are some resources that are available across the entire United States!
Human Rights Campain – Affordable Care: Some guidelines and information on how people in the LGBTQ+ community can use the Affordable Care Act to help them secure healthcare and health insurance.
National LGBT Cancer Network: This network works to improve the lives of people within the LGBTQ+ community that have survived cancer, as well as working to educate people about increased cancer risks in the LGBTQ+ community itself. They also work with healthcare providers to train them on how to be safe, welcoming, and culturally aware of LGBTQ+ stigmas and how to provide us great care.
CDC LGBTQ+ Health: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) works on education and providing safe and knowledgable healthcare to people within the LGBTQ+ community – as well as educating allies and healthcare personel.
CDC – Lets Stop HIV Together: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides nation wide HIV resources for everyone, not just people within the LGBTQ+ community. They have resources from how to get tested, prevention, treatment, and more.
Gay Parents To Be: GPTB leads international fertility and family building resources built around the LGBTQ+ community. Helping with fertility, adoption, IUI vs IVF, and more.
SAGE – Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders: Sage provides advocacy resources for LGBTQ+ community members that are aging, as well as providing long-term care, LGBTQ+ housing, HIV and aging policy action coalition, and more!
Resources for people in Colorado, either living here for university, born and raised here, or just living here for a few years!
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment: The CO department of public health/environment provides health, prevention, and wellness healthcare for everyone! However – since marginalized communities constantly struggle to find resources and healthcare, they have specific resources for a wide variety of groups. This includes people who are two-spirt, nonbinary, asexual, intersex, as well as providing resources for allies and people who have LGBTQ+ people in their lives.
Denver Health LGBTQ+ Services: The Denver Health org has a wide variety of resources and support networks for people within the LGBTQ+ community. Their services include things like preventative health screenings, management of chronic conditions, pre-exposure prophylaxis, HIV servies, HRT support, voice therapy, and more!
Tabacco Free Colorado – LGBTQ+ CO: The Tobacco Free Colorado Org has resources specifically for Coloradans within the LGBTQ+ community that need support, resources, and help quitting tobacco. They offer things like coaching, medications, and more for free.
Looking for healthcare resources that are focused on young people in the LGBTQ+ community? This is a great place for young people as well as adults with young LGBTQ+ people in their lives.
Children’s Hospital Colorado – TRUE Center for Gender Diversity: The TRUE Center for Gender Diversity works to support the gender identity of children, adolescents, and their families. TRUE stands for Trust, Respect, Understand, Emerge – this Center provides services like nutrition, puberty-delaying treatments, hormone therapy, support groups, and more.
Inside Out Youth Services: Inside Out builds access, equity, and power with LGBTQIA2+ young people, through leadership, advocacy, community-building, education, and peer support.
bc4u: bc4u is an organization that helps LGBTQ+ members find birth control that works for their lives, clinics, STI treatment, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for HIV treatment, as well as other resources that deal with reproductive and sexual health.
OutCare: OutCare is a nonprofit organization that leads many worldwide LGBTQ+ equity changes, along with providing resources, support, and education. They are able to help LGBTQ+ members and loved ones find providers, community resources, mentors, support groups, and more.
Tabacco Free Colorado – LGBTQ+ CO: The Tobacco Free Colorado Org has resources specifically for Coloradans within the LGBTQ+ community that need support, resources, and help quitting tobacco. They offer things like coaching, medications, and more for free.
Here are some curated resources for people who are transgender, non-binary, or non-gender conforming! If you do not fall under the cis umbrella this is the place for you!
Center for Vocal Health: CVH provides comprehensive voice and swallow assessment and treatment for transgender and gender affirming care. They can help with pitch, resonance, non-verbal communication, articulation, and flow of speach.
National Center for Transgender Equality: NCTE provides education resources for trans issues across a wide (very wide) variety of topics. These can include healthcare resources, employment resources, anti-violence, discrimination laws, legal documents, travel, and more! A more specific healthcare resource and your rights can be found HERE.
World Professional Association for Transgender Health: WPATH is an international nonprofit prganization that promotes evidence based healthcare, education, research, public policy, and respect for transgender people. Not only do they provide healthcare, but they have plenty of education workshops, publications, and career support.