Resources
Local
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State
Equality Ohio educates Ohioans about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and their families. Here you can locate information on how to serve as an advocate and champion for fair treatment and equal opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens; collaborate with local, regional, statewide, and national organizations and government agencies.
This link off of HRC.org is for "HRC Local: Ohio" which contains information on Ohio Laws, State officials that do/do not support LGBTQ legislation, local organizations, news, and more.
An overview of the State of Ohio Laws, Midwest Region office contacts, and other LGBTQ-related legal resources.
SAIGE of Ohio is a division of the Ohio Counseling Association (OCA), the Ohio branch of the American Counseling Association (ACA). OCA is the professional organization representing all licensed counselors and counselors in training in the State of Ohio. This site will allow for counselors to keep up to date with Ohio counseling events and legislation, as well as become as active as they see fit.
Located in Columbus, Ohio, the Kaleidoscope Youth Center is an organization in Ohio solely dedicated to supporting LGBTQ youth. The mission of Kaleidoscope Youth Center is to work in partnership with young people in Central Ohio to create safe and empowering environments for LGBTQ youth through advocacy, education, and support.
Directory of LGBTQ-friendly businesses in Central Ohio.
National
American Counseling Association
The National ALGBTIC is a division of the American Counseling Association (ACA), one of the largest counseling associations in the world. The ACA website helps licensed professional counselors with resources, services, products, and information that could be used to work with LGBTQ clients.
American Civil Libertities Union
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a national organization whose purpose is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in the country. They also work to extend rights to populations that have traditionall been denied their rights, including people of color, women, LGBTQ, prisoners, and individuals with disabilities. There is currently a chapter in the State of Ohio that provides educational opportunities and resources that could be of great use to LGBTQ and their counselors.
Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities
SAIGE of Ohio is a state branch of the national SAIGE organization. SAIGE is the division of the ACA that promotes greater awareness and understanding of LGBTQ issues among members of the counseling profession, as well as improving the standards and delivery of counseling services provided to LGBTQ clients and communities. The SAIGE website provides a variety of materials for counselors working with LGBTQ clients, including a resource page with journal and book information on best and evidenced-based practices.
Asexuality Visibility and Education Network
Asexuality Visibility and Education Netowrk (AVEN) is the world largest online asexual community, as well as a large archive of resources on asexuality. AVEN strives to create open, honest discussion about asexuality among sexual and asexual people alike. This is a topic that some counselors may misunderstand and this site provides a lot of clarity on how one may experience asexuality.
College Schollarships for LGBTQ+ Students
LGBTQ resource centers are popping up on college campuses all over the United States. Even in areas that may lack legal protections for LGBTQ students, academic institutions are providing welcome space and offering LGBTQ-specific scholarships to encourage applicants from all backgrounds and identities and create a rich tapestry of college life. There are also regional scholarships for LGBTQ students and various organization, foundation and community funds that students in the spectrum can apply to for aid. In this overview of LGBTQ scholarship opportunities, discover community connections that can support you through your academic career and beyond!.
Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of elimination homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. GLAAD's website is good for counselors to use to stay up-to-date on the current representations of LGBTQ people, and to process how such perceptions may affect LGBTQ clients and their families.
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) is the leading national education organization focused on safe schools for all students. This is a great tool for counselors working with youth.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) represents a grassroots force of over 750.000 members and supporters nationwide. As the largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, HRC envisions a United States where LGBTQ people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest, and safe at home, work, and community.
Intersex Society of North America
The Intersex Society of North America (ISNA) is devoted to systemic change to end shame, secrecy, and unwanted genital surgeries for people born with an anatomy that someone else (e.g. physician, parent) decided is not standard for male or female.
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of LGBTQ people, and those people living with HIV (PLHIV) through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.
National Center for Lesbian Rights
The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of LGBTQ and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.
National Center for Transgender Equality
The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) is a non-profit social justice organization dedicated to advancing the equality of transgender people through advocacy, collaboration, and empowerment.
National Coalition for LGBT Health
The National Coalition for LGBT Health is committed to improving the health and well-being of LGBTQ individuals and communities through public education, coalition building, and advocacy which focuses on research, policy, education, and training. Their website is a good resource for counselors to use to better understand some facts about LGBT populations and health issues.
National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce
The National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce is an organization that uses grass-root activist methods within the LGBTQ community to defeat anti-LGBTQ referenda, and to advance pro-LGBTQ legislation. They do this by training activists, equipping state and local organizations with the skills needed to organize broad-based campaigns, and building the organizational capacity with the power of the LGBTQ movement.
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters, and over 500 affiliates in the United States. PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of LGBTQ persons and their families and friends through various support, education, and advocacy activities. PFLAG is a good resource to help clients with additional coping skills and social supports.
Pride at Work is a constituency group of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Their purpose is to mobilize mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the LGBTQ Community around organizing for social and economic justice. There currently is no chapter in the State of Ohio, but they may be a good resource for counselors to get ideas on helping clients deal with work-related discrimination and harassment.
Substance Use Disorder in the LGBTQ+ community- This article was published by Bicycle Health, a national treatment center for substance use disorders. While Bicycle Health doesn't yet have an Ohio location, the article provides valuable information about SUD in LGBTQ+ people, as well as a number of resources.
LGBTQ+ Drug and Alcohol Treatment Resources.
The Trevor Project is the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth. The site has an educator tool which is very useful for locating additional resources.
World Professional Association of Transgender Health
The World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) is a professional organization devoted to the understanding and treatment of gender identity disorders. Their site is a good resource for standard of care guidelines that promote health and respectful care for transgender individuals.
This website includes information about LGBTQ+ issues on college campuses, particularly safety of LGBTQ+ individuals.
This website is a way to search for LGBTQ+ campus centers on college campuses.
*note: the previous 2 resources were originally found here
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