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.