There are many resources nationally and in the Chicago area that provide advocacy, support, education, medical and other resources to the LGBTQ community. Check out the list below or contact Gina Nunez at 312-261-3092 for personalized referrals.
Accredited Schools Online
Accredited Schools Online publishes an education-driven guidebook dedicated to the well-being of the teen and student LGBTQ community. The guidebook provides pertinent information, including a list of LGBTQ scholarships and support resources.
Affordable Colleges Online
Affordable Colleges Online provides a guide to campus and community resources for LGBTQ students in order to make the college experience more welcoming and supportive. Key elements of the guide include: programs and policies to look for when searching for a LGBTQ-friendly school, information about various LGBTQ student organizations that have a presence at most colleges and universities, and a list of online resources for LGBTQ students.
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
AIDS Foundation of Chicago is a local and national leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Access their site for advocacy, public policy, and latest news on treatment and prevention issues.
Affinity Community Services
Affinity Community Services is a social justice organization that works with and on behalf of Black LGBTQ communities, queer youth, and allies to identify emergent needs, create safe spaces, develop leaders, and bridge communities through collective analysis and action for social justice, freedom, and human rights.
ALMA (Association of Latino Men for Action)
Empowering Latino gay, bisexual, and questioning men by providing support, advocacy, and leadership opportunities, through innovative cultural programming.
American Veterans for Equal Rights
AVER is a non-profit, chapter-based association 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.
Amigas Latinas
Support, education and advocacy group for Latina lesbian, bisexual and questioning women. contact: 773-661-0940 or info@amigaslatinas.org
Asians and Friends Chicago
Supporting the gay Asian community in Chicago since 1984.
Center on Halsted
Center on Halsted is a focal point in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community of Chicago, serving the community’s diverse social, recreational, cultural, and social service needs.
Drug Rehab
DrugRehab.com is a website dedicated to providing information and support to people fighting substance abuse and addiction. Check out the following two links for information on resources specifically dedicated to LGBT Students and for students in general for success in college when dealing with addiction issues.
Equality Illinois
Equality Illinois is established to secure and protect full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Illinois.
Equip for Equality
The mission of Equip for Equality is to advance the human and civil rights of children and adults with physical and mental disabilities in Illinois. It is the only statewide, cross-disability, comprehensive advocacy organization providing self-advocacy assistance, legal services, and disability rights education while also engaging in public policy and legislative advocacy and conducting abuse investigations and other oversight activities.
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA)
The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association was founded in 1981 to help ensure equality in healthcare for the LGTB community. We offer an online directory of non-judgmental and culturally competent doctors, therapist, nurses, dentists and other providers that you can trust.
Find our online provider directory at: www.glma.org/referrals
GLSEN
GLSEN engages the Chicago education community in creating safer schools by working with area high school Gay-Straight Alliances, funding a youth scholarship program, advocating for legal and policy change, and holding regular events for students, educators and others interested in LGBTQ issues.
Go Grad
Go Grad provides a variety of LGBTQ-specific scholarships in popular career fields such as the arts, physical or social sciences, advocacy and education. Tips and resources for funding your Master's degree and scholarship application checklists are also available to help you succeed academically.
Howard Brown Health Center
Howard Brown Health Center exists to eliminate the disparities in health care experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through research, education and the provision of services that promote health and wellness. Howard Brown Health Center provides primary medical care, behavioral health, research, HIV/STD prevention, youth services, elder services, and community initiatives
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
Lambda is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, and people with HIV/AIDS through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.
Learn How to Become
Resources and expert advice for LGBT students on a social level including tips for navigating campus and ways to find support (Resource Page). Additionally, they have developed a financial aid resource guide dedicated to helping LGBT students navigate the costs of higher education (Financial Aid Guide).
Legal Rights Resources
Anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBT students: http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/non_discrimination_laws
Countries not safe to work or travel in for LGBT students: https://www.forktip.com/lgbt-couple-safety-worldwide/
Discrimination against the LGBT community in workplaces: http://www.workplacefairness.org/sexual-orientation-discrimination
Lesbian Community Care Project (LCCP) of Howard Brown Health Center
The Lesbian Community Care Project (LCCP) of Howard Brown Health Center promotes the health and wellness of the lesbian, bisexual, queer, and transgender community through healthcare services, public education, research, and programming.
National HIV Treatment Hotline – Project Inform
The Hotline has served tens of thousands of callers since 1985 and is staffed mostly with HIV-positive individuals who help callers sort through issues that most people living with HIV face at some time in their lives. Our operators know what it’s like to get an HIV diagnosis and how to live well with HIV.
Orgullo en Acción
Orgullo en Acción is a group of Latino/a LGBTQQ community members united in working for social and political change. Their goals are to promote education, provide leadership development, and to increase Latino/a LGBTQQ awareness within communities.
PFLAG
PFLAG is Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. It has seven chapters in Northern Illinois, and holds monthly support meetings.
Scholarships
Affordable Colleges.com has put together a listing of potential scholarship opportunities available to LGBT students.
T-PAN
TPAN empowers people living with HIV through peer-led programming, support services, information dissemination, and advocacy. They also provide services to the broader community to increase HIV knowledge and sensitivity, and to reduce the risk of infection.
Heartland Health Outreach - Vital Bridges
Vital Bridges helps people throughout metropolitan Chicago impacted by HIV and AIDS to improve their health and build self-sufficiency by providing food, nutrition, housing, case management and prevention services.