LGBTGEQIAP+ Resources

Written By Meaghan Confer

I know I am not alone in feeling the weight of the present moment. Many of us are grappling with fear and uncertainty as we navigate the changes brought about by the new administration. These changes are discriminating against and jeapordizing the safety of many vulnerable communities, including the LGBTGEQIAP+ community. A significant focus of these actions is the attack on the rights of transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive folks.

To best support members of the LGBTGEQIAP+ community, particularly transgender and non-binary individuals, I have compiled a resource list to help us all navigate these changes together.

**DISCLAIMER:** This list is not exhaustive. I compiled it based on my own research and knowledge. The resources included focus on New York State and upstate New York. Please note that there may be changes to these resources over time, but this list is current as of February 9, 2025. Providing these resources is not an endorsement of any specific resource, but rather a way to show what resources are available and centered on empowering and supporting LGBTGEQIAP+ folks.

I hope this resource can assist individuals, providers, advocates, and anyone seeking support, information, and advocacy regarding LGBTGEQIAP+ rights.

Your authentic self is valid, beautiful, and deserving of respect and equality. Always.

LGBTGEQIAP+ Resources:

Support Resources

Crisis hotlines (for urgent/emergency help)

Trevor Project

Trans Lifeline

  • About: Peer support & crisis hotline for trans & questioning folks, answered by trans/non-binary peers. Free & Confidential.

  • Contact: Available M-F 1pm-9pm EST

LGBT National Hotline

  • About: LGBTQIA+ peer support for callers of any age can speak about sexual orientation or gender identity/expression issues. Free & Confidential.

  • Contact: Available M-F 4pm-12am EST or Sat 12pm-5pm EST

    • Call: 888-843-4564

Thrive Lifeline

  • About: Alternative to 988 (National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). A text-based mental health and/or identity crisis line staffed by people in STEMM with marginalized identities. Trans-led and operated. Free & Confidential.

  • Contact: Available 24/7/365

    • Text: “THRIVE” to 313-662-8209

Call Blackline

  • About: 24/7 crisis support with a Black, LGBTQ+ and Black Femme lens. Confidential space to report negative and inappropriate contact with police & vigliantes. Free & Confidential.

  • Contact: Available M-F 9am-11pm, Sat-Sun 8pm-12am ET

    • Call: 1-800-604-5841

    • Text: 1-800-604-5841

SAGE LGBT Elder Hotline

  • About: LGBTQ+ peer support & local resources for older adults.

  • Contact: Available 24/7

    • Call: 1-877-360-LGBT (5428)

Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line

  • About: Peer support and information about psychiatric diagnosis, trauma, addiction, etc, staffed by trained peer supports with first hand experience with these issues. Free & Confidential.

  • Contact: Available M-Th 7pm-9pm, F-Sun 7pm-10pm ET

    • Call: 888.407.4515

Helplines/warmlines (non-emergency mental health/identity support):

Warmline.org

The SQSH (St. Louis Queer Support & Healing)

  • About: Free, confidential, and identity-affirming emotional support and resource referrals by and for the LGBTQIA+ community.

  • Contact: Available in the US; Fri - Mon, 2pm - 8p ET

    • Call: 844.785.7774

LGBTQ+ Community organizations

Rochester LGBT+ Together (serving Monroe County, NY)

  • About: A community support and social group for members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and allies in Rochester and Monroe County, New York. Also includes an LGBTQ+ friendly directory of resources.

  • Contact: Visit their website to view available programs and resources:  https://rochester.lgbt/

Rochester Rainbow Union (Rochester, NY)

  • About: A community center & LGBTQ+ library offering LGBTQ+ social programming & resource directory.

  • Contact: Library hours Sundays 12PM - 4 PM, Wednesdays 6PM - 8PM, Fridays 6-8 PM

Trillium Health (Rochester, NY)

  • About: Community health center including LGBTQ+ health. Offers primary and specialty medical care, as well as mental health services & support groups.

  • Contact:

Mocha Center at Trillium Health (Rochester, NY)

  • About:  Offers social events and other programs focused on improving the health and wellness of LGBTQ people of color—in mind, body, and spirit. Offers free, confidential, safer sex support.

  • Contact: Available hours:

Monday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The Center- The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (NYC)

  • About: A safe and affirming community center for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers to access support services and connect with others. Offers resources and support related to health, housing, economic needs, and connecting with other LGBTQ+ folks.

  • Contact: Open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, Mon-Sat: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sun: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  • Call: 212-620-7310

  • Visit: https://gaycenter.org/

Support groups

Online Privacy Info/Resources

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)

  • About: An independent non-profit working to protect online privacy for over thirty years. Offers information, updates, and guides to help you protect your privacy online/through electronic devices.

  • Surveillance self-defense: (guides to help create a security plan, and learn about privacy settings/resources to protect your data.)

Article published by THEM: “How to Delete Yourself From the Internet: Cybersecurity Explained for LGBTQ+ People” By: Samantha Riedel. Published February 5th, 2025.

General LGBTQ+ Advocacy

Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

  • About: HRC’s campaigns are focused on mobilizing those who envision a world strengthened by diversity, where our laws and society treat all people equally, including LGBTQ+ people and those who are multiply marginalized.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

  • About: Defends the rights and liberties of individuals in the United States. Posts updates on executive orders and actions taken.

New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)

Legal support/advocacy

JustCause (Rochester, NY, serving all of Monroe County)

  • About: Volunteer attorneys for low-income residents of Monroe County, NY, providing legal services for a variety of cases, including name changes/transgender name changes.

  • Contact: Available M-F 9am-5pm

Legal Assistance of Western NY (LawNY, serves counties across Western, NY)

Lambda Legal

  • About: A national organization that uses litigation, public policy, and education to advance civil rights for LGBTQ+ people and those living with HIV. Provides information, resources, and a legal help desk to help Transgender and non binary folks navigate legal issues pertaining to their rights.

  • Contact:

  • Lambda help desk: Contact Lambda Legal’s Help Desk for additional information about your situation. The Help Desk does not give legal advice but usually has helpful information, can assist you to understand information you find online, and might have contact information for lawyers in your area with expertise relevant to your needs.  

Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE)

Transgender Law Center

  • About: A national, trans-led organization working to set all people free. Provides information, and advocacy services.

  • Legal Information Help Desk:

    • About: The Legal Information Helpdesk provides basic information about laws and policies in the United States that affect transgender people across many areas, including employment, health care, housing, civil rights, immigration, prisoners’ rights, and identity document changes.

Name changes/ID info & support:

Lambda Legal updated info about identity documents for transgender & non-binary people:

Advocates for Trans Equality- ID Documents Center

  • About: one-stop hub for name and gender change information. Find out how to update your name and gender on state and federal IDs and records.

  • Visit: https://transequality.org/documents

Misc information resources/articles:

Know Your Rights: Health care information for transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, and intersex New Yorkers (Webpage. last updated January 31st, 2025):  https://ag.ny.gov/resources/individuals/health-care-insurance/transgender-nonbinary-intersex-health-care

Meaghan Confer
Previous

Is Online Therapy Effective? Addressing Common Misconceptions
Next

How Summer Heat Impacts your Mental Health