Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth

Resources (taken from 2021 YAR Conference, Robb Johnson, MPH, MPA)

Peer Support:

• BAGLY (Boston Alliance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Youth); Boston.

• NAGLY (North Shore Alliance of GLBTQ Youth). Salem.

Hotlines and Phone/Text Support

• The Trevor Project - If you are thinking about suicide and in need of immediate support, call the TrevorLifeline at 1-866-488-7386 or select TrevorChat to connect with a counselor (24 hours).

• Trans Lifeline. Crisis hotline (open 24 hours): 1-877-565-8860

• Samaritans Hope. Call or text (open 24 hours): 1-877-870-4673

• Fenway Health Peer Listening Line (ages 25 & Under): 617-267-2535; toll free: 1-800-399-PEER •

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Hotline (open 24 hours): 1-800-273-8255

Support for parents and families:

• Family Acceptance Project: familyproject.sfsu.edu

• TransYouth Family Allies: imatyfa.org

• Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays: pflag.org

Resources for Educators and Service Providers:

• Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves, Second Edition (2020), NAEYC.

• Safe Space or Safe Zone training: thesafezoneproject.com/

• Gay Straight Alliance Network: gsanetwork.org

• Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network: glsen.org Safe Space Kit: glsen.org/safespace \

• APA’s Division 44: (apadivision44.org) and Office of LGBT Concerns: (www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/)

• National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Position Statement on Safe Schools for Transgender and Gender Diverse Students: http://www.nasponline.org/about_nasp/positionpapers/Transgender_PositionStatement.pdf

• NASP-GLBTQ Committee: http://www.nasponline.org/advocacy/glb.aspx

• GLSEN (glsen.org) National Center for Transgender Equality’s Model Policy: https://www.genderspectrum.org/

Affirming Medical Care, Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment:

• Sidney Borum Jr. Health Center (LGBTQ+-affirming, for young people ages 12–29) o 617-457-8140 | 75 Kneeland St. Boston, MA 02111

• Fenway Health (LGBTQ+-affirming health center) o 617-927-6000 | 1340 Boylston St. Boston, MA 02215

• Boston Children’s Hospital Gender Multi-Specialty (GeMS) Clinic. 617.355.4367

• BAGLY also has mental and behavioral therapy programs, and a Healthcare Navigator, Narong at nsokhom@bagly.org

• MassHealth Connector. See also free, anonymous information about how to navigate the health care system at Health Care for All or call their consumer helpline at 1-800-272-4232.

Advocacy, Activism, & Organizing • Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ+ Youth

• GLAD (GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders)

• Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC)

• Massachusetts Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Leadership Council

• Zumix, empowering young people to build successful futures through music, technology, and creative employment

Tips for supporting transgender and gender diverse students in schools (taken from APA):

• In a gender inclusive school, diverse representations of gender are reflected in structural and interpersonal aspects of the running of a school, including policies, curriculum, facilities, and forms

• Make the diversity of gender visible in books, hallway displays, and everyday conversation.

• Make gender neutral bathrooms available.

• Use the pronouns that the student prefers.