SUPPORT GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS
*FOR GAYS, LESBIANS, BISEXUALS, OR TRANSGENDERED PEOPLE
Being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered is perfectly normal
and healthy. Your sexual orientation and gender identity make up
your personal composition. Sometimes, it takes time to figure out
all of these sexual and gender feelings. It is okay to be unsure
whether you are gay or straight or to be uncertain about whether
you should come out. Remember that you are not alone. There are
people out there with the same questions and concerns that you have.
The following is a list of internet resources that provide valuable
information to gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered people about
lifestyles, where to find support groups in your area, and various
issues faced by GLBT people everyday.
www.pflag.org
*PFLAG is a home for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.
PFLAG has chapters in over 460 communities across the nation along
with help-lines you can call. They can help find a chapter near
you, as well as answer important questions about pertinent issues
in the homosexual community. PFLAG also supports, educates and advocates
for equal civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trangendered
people.
www.GayPASG.org
The task force for same sex marriage has created a website devoted
to defeating anti-same sex marriage proposals. It provides a means
to contact government officials, view recent news articles, and
read real-life stories pertaining to gay and lesbian marriages.
www.igla.org
The International Lesbian and Gay Association is a world-wide federation
of national and local groups dedicated to achieving equal rights
for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people everywhere.
It provides information pertaining to how to get involved in the
liberation of GLBT's across the globe and information on government
and public events, recent activities, and an email directory of
members.
http://gaylife.about.com/cs/supportgroups
This is a guide to social and support organizations for gay lifestyles
that help people match their needs or interest with those of other
gays.
www.youthresource.com
This is a project developed by advocates for GLBT youths. It includes
sites pertaining to youth health issues, lives, stories, advocacy,
sexual health and well-being, information on how and why to have
safer sex, community, youth HIV, school life for high school and
college students, youth group listings, facts and stories about
coming out, resources, and support for young gay men, bi-youths,
youths of color, transgendered youths, lesbian youths, deaf GLBT
youths, and more.
*FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF GLBT'S
Finding out that a loved one is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered often triggers a difficult series of transitions away from past thought processes into new and more refined ones. Most people aren't prepared to hear, "I'm gay," from their loved ones. It is important to realize that many people have initial feelings of confusion when they are first introduced to this concept. Many may find themselves going through something similar to a grieving process with all the shock, denial, anger, guilt and sense of loss that accompanied the news. So if those are the feelings with which you're dealing, they're understandable. Statistics show that one in every ten people in this country and around the world is gay. Therefore, approximately one in four families has an immediate family member who is gay, lesbian or bisexual, and most people have at least one gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered member in their extended circle of friends and family.
Although, at times, it may feel as though you have lost someone close to you, you haven't. It is your perception of them that has changed. Your loved one is the same person he or she was before you heard the news; the only difference now is that they now have a different image in your eyes. That loss can be very difficult, but that image can, happily, be replaced with a new and clearer understanding of your loved one.
www.pflag.org
An excellent resource for friends and family.
www.colage.org
COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays everywhere) is the only national
and international organization in the world specifically supporting
young people with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender parents.
Their mission is to "foster the growth of daughters and sons
of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents of all racial,
ethnic, and class backgrounds by providing education, support and
community on local and international levels, to advocate for our
rights and those of our families, and to promote acceptance and
awareness that love makes a family."
www.queeramerica.com
QueerAmerica is a database published by OutProud, The National Coalition
for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth It is the largest
collection of lesbian and gay resources in the nation, and includes
information on community centers, support organizations, queer youth
groups, and more. These can be great places to meet friends, get
questions answered, or find support.
www.buddybuddy.com
This site was created by the Partners Task Force for Gay & Lesbian
Couples. It is a national resource for same-sex couples, supporting
the diverse community of committed gay and lesbian partners through
a variety of media, including more than 200 essays, surveys, legal
articles and resources on legal marriage, ceremonies, domestic partner
benefits, relationship tips, parenting, and immigration.