MCPS takes pride in the level of support for both students and staff who identify in the LGBTQIA+ community. We have welcoming, affirming schools, classrooms, teams, and clubs. We value all of our children, youth, teachers, staff, and parents. 

For more information, please visit the following website: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/lgbtq/ 

Resource List for LGBTQ+ Youth in MOCO

Under the MoCo Pride Center, Inc. umbrella, we are the consortium of LGBTQIA+ Service, Advocacy, and Arts & Culture Organizations that serve Montgomery County, Maryland, and the surrounding region. 

The Montgomery County Pride Family comprises Live In Your Truth, Trans Maryland, Drag Story Hour DMV, MoCo Pride Prom, The Coalition For Inclusive Schools & Communities, and Maryland Trans Unity. Click through our “Orgs & Programs” tab to learn more about what each organization does as part of MoCo Pride!

Our physical location is in Bethesda, Maryland. You can learn more about the services and programs on site by clicking here or navigating the dropdown menu above.

OUR MISSION? To champion the unwavering right to self-determination of our LGBTQIA+ community, uplift the most vulnerable, and catalyze lasting change through empowerment, advocacy, and solidarity. 

Website: https://www.mocopridefamily.org/ 

Missioon: To ensure each child has the opportunity to see themselves represented in texts, curriculum, policy, and faculty in our school systems. We will seek to engage and outreach to communities not traditionally represented in the policy process in the school system, and will support our members as we all seek to understand our social locations and work through implicit biases. 

Vision: Schools that offer culturally accurate representations of the diverse ways our students, families/guardians, faculty and community members exist. Acknowledging and celebrating race, gender, sexual orientation, sexual characteristics, religion, age, ability, financial means, country of origin as core aspects of the ways we move about in the world, and reflecting those lived experiences (and their overlaps) in our curriculum. 

Values: Coalition members and member organizations should be dedicated to the following (in no particular order): 

Understanding our own social locations and working to better understand how to show up for and in solidarity with others by better understanding ourselves .

Combating anti-LGBTQIA+ bias

Combating anti-Black bias

Combating anti-Muslim bias 

Combating anti-immigrant bias 

Combating ableism (visible and non-visible disabilities)

Combating anti-Asian & Pacific Islander bias 

Combating anti-Latine/Latinx bias 

SMYAL’s free mental health counseling services are tailored to meet your unique needs and provide a safe and inclusive space for you to explore your emotions and experiences. We know that finding a therapist who understands you and your community can be frustrating, expensive, and nerve-wracking. At SMYAL, we’re working to remove these barriers.Our team of compassionate and understanding therapists are well-versed in the challenges that LGBTQ+ youth face, and we are here to help you navigate those challenges with confidence and resilience. Whether you’re struggling with self-acceptance, coming out, or dealing with discrimination, SMYAL is here for you. 

Mental health services are open to queer and trans youth ages 6-24

Learn More Here: https://smyal.org/clinicalservices/

The Family Acceptance Project® is a research, intervention, education and policy initiative to prevent health and mental health risks and to promote well-being for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-identified (LGBTQ) children and youth, including suicide, homelessness, drug use and HIV — in the context of their families, cultures and faith communities.

Our team has put research into practice by developing and implementing the Family Acceptance Project’s Family Support Model - the first of its kind - to prevent health risks, strengthen families and build healthy futures for LGBTQ and gender diverse children and youth. We provide training and consultation on working with diverse families and implementing FAP's evidence-based family support model across the United States and in other countries.

To learn more, please visit the following website: https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/ 

Mission: Gender Spectrum’s mission is to create a gender-inclusive world for all children and youth. To accomplish this, we help families, organizations, and institutions increase their understanding of gender and consider the implications that evolving views have for each of us. 

Vision: We envision a world that is affirming and inclusive of children and teens of all genders.

For more information, please visit the following website: https://www.genderspectrum.org/home 

Trans Maryland is a multi-racial, multi-gender, trans-led community power building organization dedicated to Maryland’s trans community. By trans folks, for trans folks. 

Our new name Trans Maryland (formerly Trans Healthcare MD), ties us to a legacy of multi-racial, multi-gender trans organizing in Maryland. 

For more information, please visit the following website: https://transmaryland.org/ 

It Gets Better is a nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe. Learn more about our work by visiting the following website: https://itgetsbetter.org/ 

Glisten is dedicated to creating safe and respectful learning environments for youth of all sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, race and abilities.

Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth