This June, we celebrate and acknowledge the impact the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community has in our workplace and in society. The month of June marks Pride Month—a time to celebrate and honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. There is no better time to support local and national nonprofits protecting LGBTQ rights and serving the LGBTQ+ community, and while there are far too many organizations doing great work to list them all, here is a list of key organizations serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1920 “to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.”
European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights focuses on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons both inside and outside the European Union. Cross-party group of members of the European Parliament counting over 130 supporters coming from 5 political groups and 25 countries.
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images it presents and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively.
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) ensures equality in healthcare for LGBTQ+ individuals and healthcare professionals. GLMA utilizes the scientific expertise of its diverse multidisciplinary membership to inform and drive advocacy, education and research.
Gill Foundation is one of the nation’s leading funders of efforts to secure full equality for LGBT people. The foundation offers grant funding to nonprofits that work to advance equality through research, education, policy and the legal system. Their focus lies in securing change to administrative policies at the state level.
GLSEN (pronounced “glisten”) advises on, advocates for, and researches comprehensive policies designed to protect LGBTQ students as well as students of marginalized identities.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) educates the public on a wide array of topics affecting LGBTQ Americans—including relationship recognition, workplace, family and health issues—lobbies in Congress and provides campaign support to fair-minded candidates. HRC is the administrator of the Corporate Equality Index (CEI), an annual benchmark of LGBTQ workplace inclusion.
interACT (formerly known as 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.
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) is active in campaigning for LGBTI human rights on the international human rights and civil rights scene and regularly petitions the United Nations and governments. They are represented in 140+ countries across the world and are accredited by the United Nations for NGO Ecosoc consultative status.
It Gets Better Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting, empowering and connecting LGBTQ youth across the globe. Their goal is to show LGBTQ youth that although growing up is not easy, no one must do it alone.
Keshet is a national grassroots organization that works for the full inclusion of LGBT Jews in Jewish life.
Lambda Legal is a national nonprofit organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
LGBTQ Victory Fund is the only national organization dedicated to electing openly LGBTQ people to all levels of government. Founded in 1991 when less than 50 openly LGBTQ individuals held elected office at any level.
Matthew Shepard Foundation empowers individuals to embrace human dignity and diversity through outreach, advocacy and resource programs. Their work is an extension of Matt’s passion to foster a more caring and just world. We share his story and embody his vigor for civil rights to change the hearts and minds of others to accept everyone as they are.
Modern Military Association of America (MMAA) works to end discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and related forms of intolerance through national nonprofit legal services, watchdog activities and policy advocacy.
Movement Advancement Project is a think tank that provides rigorous research, insight and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all.
National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is a civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and same gender loving (LGBTQ/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS. NBJC’s mission is to end racism, homophobia, and LGBTQ/SGL bias and stigma.
National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is a nonprofit legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, legislation, policy, and public education. Projects and legal issue areas include: Asylum & Immigration; Elders; Employment; Family & Relationships; Federal Legislation & Policy; State Legislation & Policy; Hate Crimes; Healthcare; Housing; Low Income & Poverty; Prisons; Rural Communities; Sports; Transgender Law; and Youth.
National Center for Transgender Equality is the nation’s leading social justice advocacy organization winning life-saving change for transgender people. They work at the local, state and federal level to advance transgender equality. Their services also include resources for trans people on navigating legal issues such as changing the name and gender on their identification documents and an About Transgender People resource hub, where family members and other allies can go to find information to learn about and support the transgender people in their lives.
National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is a business advocate and direct link between LGBTQ+ business owners, corporation and government, representing the interests of more than 1.4 million LGBTQ+ businessman and entrepreneurs.
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 LGBTQ+ community in all its diversity. The association is affiliate of the American Bar Association and works closely with the ABA’s Section on Individual Rights and Responsibilities and its Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network is a healing justice organization that works to transform mental health for queer and transgender people of color. It provides a community for resource sharing, connection and learning among queer and transgender people of color committed to improving mental health for their communities. The organization also operates a Mental Health Fund for Queer and Trans People of Color, which provides financial assistance to increase access to mental health support and addresses the economic barriers many queer and transgender people of color face within the healthcare system.
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance builds the organizational capacity of LGBT Asian American and Pacific Islander groups, develops leadership, promotes visibility, educates the community, enhances grassroots organizing, expands collaborations and challenges anti-LGBTQ bias and racism.
National Resource Center for LGBT Aging provides technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender older adults.
Out and Equal Workplace Advocates champions safe and equitable workplaces for LGBTQ+ people. The organization advocates building and strengthening successful companies that value all employees, customers and communities.
Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is a national nonprofit grassroots organization that promotes the well-being of lesbian and gay people, their families and friends through education and advocacy. PFLAG’s Straight for Equality arm provides tools and resources to develop allyship programs.
Point Foundation provides financial support, mentoring, leadership training and hope to students who are marginalized due to sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Pride Fund to End Gun Violence is a political Action Committee (PAC) that supports candidates who will act on sensible gun policy reforms while championing LGBTQ safety and equality. Founded in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, America’s deadliest mass shooting in modern history, the Pride Fund to End Gun Violence acted to rally the LGBTQ community and allies in a call for common sense gun reform.
Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders (SAGE) is dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults by focusing on arts and culture, health and wellness, training aging providers, developing consumer resources and advocating for public policies to support LGBT older people.
Straight for Equality provides information and resources that will help allies understand their role in supporting and advocating for LGBTQ+ people.
Sylvia Rivera Law Project is a legal aid organization that serves low-income or people of color who are transgender, intersex and/or gender non-conforming.
Transgender Law Center is the largest national transgender-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Multidisciplinary organization that uses litigation, policy advocacy, education, movement building and direct service to meet the needs of transgender communities. Their programs include the Detention Project, which works to end the abuses transgender people experience in prisons, jails, immigration detention and the hands of law enforcement, the Legal Resistance Network, which provides pro bono legal services and the Transgender Immigrant Defense Effort, which provides legal services to transgender immigrants.
Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people under 25 years old. Services include in-person and online life-saving resources, including 24-hour mental health hotline, webchat and text message services.
Unid@s, the National Latino LGBT Human Rights Organization, is a Latina/o LGBT organization that is a committed to a progressive, multi-issue focus, to a movement sustaining local activism and to fostering membership to create sustainable efforts in our communities.
Williams Institute is a research center focused on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy. The institute disseminates its research to policymakers, judges, the media and other stakeholders to ensure that decisions impacting the lives of millions of LGBT people and families are based on data and facts and not stereotypes.
Zuna Institute was created to address the needs of black lesbians in the areas of health, public policy, economic development and education.
