2021 Community needs assessment
E-Newsletters
Community Announcements and Policy Briefs
Fact sheets & infographics
Education justice
This multi-page PDF includes infographics addressing all those questions, plus two pages of resources that can help support learning and action, including age-appropriate book recommendations, online resources from other great sources like the ACLU, Coleman Advocates, Community Works West, Impact Justice, NPR, and more.
- What is the school-to-prison pipeline and how does it affect our youth?
- How do police operate in schools and how can we change this relationship?
- Why should we divest from police and how can this help our community?
- What is restorative justice and how can we build and maintain community?
- How do we talk to kids about race and how does this intersect with LGBTQ identity?
Issues & Resources
Working with LGBTQ Families
We created a resource for the US Department of Health & Human Services’ National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage and Families, intended to provide service providers a concise, culturally conscious, research-based, and footnoted guide to who LGBTQ families are, and what impacts ours and our childrens’ well-being.
California LGBTQ Families in 2017: Challenges and Opportunities
In 20017 we presented this synopsis of the challenges and opportunities facing California LGBTQ families, at Equality California’s annual Fair Share for Equality convening. Following detailed and footnoted synopses of issues such as economic vulnerability, healthcare status, school climate, we offer a half dozen recommendations for positive change.
Diversity Practices for Distance Learning 2020-2021
Help your child’s school support LGBTQ-inclusive and anti-bias online learning environments using this fantastic resource developed by OFC in collaboration with our colleagues at ONE Archives.
Annual reports & impact sheets
2023
Families Resilience Joy
2022
Powered by community, inspired by love
2021
In community, we rise
2019
We do so much together! What we did, in numbers.
2018
Events, trainings, unique accomplishments, and more: the year in numbers.
2017
Events, trainings, projects, pathbreaking accomplishments and more: 2017 in numbers.
Bay Area Referrals
Please contact us with suggestions for additions or revisions to this list.
Parenting
Below is a collection of general information, developmental milestones, and some COVID-specific supports for a range of ages and stages of childhood and youth, as well as some general parenting resources.
Adoption and Foster Care Services
Adopt a Special Kid
888-680-7349 • www.aask.org
Adopt a Special Kid believes that every child has the right to a safe, stable and nurturing home and that all children are adoptable. Adopt a Special Kid provides education and support services to adoptive and foster families and children. We promote positive changes to benefit children who are in the child welfare system.
Adoption Connection
800-972-9225 • www.adoptionconnection.org
As a full-service, licensed agency, our highly regarded professional staff has completed more than 2,000 adoptions since 1984. By giving you the practical and emotional support you need throughout your adoption process, mediating the relationship with birthparents, and providing informational workshops, we help create a positive outcome for everyone involved.
Adoption San Francisco
888-732-4453 • www.adoptionsf.org
At Adoption SF, we are proud of the fact that nearly half of the families we work with are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families. Though there are states that prohibit LGBT families from adopting, happily, that is not the case in California. LGBT families are an invaluable resource for the many children and youth in foster care awaiting an adoptive family. They often bring unique strengths to meet their special needs.
Alternative Family Services
415-656-0116 • www.afs4kids.org
Alternative Family Services, Inc. (AFS) provides therapeutic foster care, short-term emergency foster care and adoption services for abused, neglected and developmentally disabled children in the Bay Area. AFS, a not-for-profit corporation, is licensed by the State of California as a Foster Family Agency and as an Adoption Agency.
ASPIRAnet
650-866-4080 • www.aspiranet.org
Our vision is to take collective action to support communities and families as they love and care for children. Our statewide network of services have touched the lives of over ten thousand families and children since our founding. This vision is realized through over 35 programs, more than 30 years of experience, and services in six areas of expertise – Family Services, Adoption, Foster Care, Education, Afterschool Programs and Community Collaboration.
Bay Area Homes for Kids
415-392-5437 • www.bakids.org
The mission of Bay Area Homes for Kids is to recruit foster and adoptive parents for children in three Bay Area counties — Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Mateo. Bay Area Homes for Kids accomplishes this goal through a series of of TV segments broadcast on CBS 5, a phone referral service, and a Web site focused on foster care and adoption.
A Better Way Foster Care
510-601-0203 • www.abetterwayinc.net
Our mission is to provide a nurturing environment and to make a positive difference in the lives of children we serve, and to help them become healthy, confident, and productive individuals. To accomplish this mission, we help children find their full potential through an array of foster care, adoptive, therapeutic and educational services.
Family Builders
510-536-5437 • www.familybuilders.org
Family Builders offers different programs for fostering, adoption, and other forms of permanency for those families who are ready to meet the needs of children and older youth waiting in the foster care system.
Independent Adoption Center
925-827-2229 • www.adoptionhelp.org
The mission of the Independent Adoption Center (IAC) is to provide open adoption placement and counseling to birth and adoptive families to ensure that every child grows up feeling loved and supported.
PACT: An Adoption Alliance
510-243-9460 • www.pactadopt.org
Pact is a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve adopted children of color. In every case, the child is always our primary client. In order to best serve children’s needs, we provide not only adoptive placement but lifelong education, support, and community for adoptees and their families on issues of adoption and race.
Seneca Center
510-495-9289 • www.senecacenter.org
Seneca Center, a non-profit foster family agency, welcomes LGBT families who have room in their hearts and homes to parent at-risk youth ages 6-18. As a Seneca Center foster parent, you’ll receive a tax free stipend of $2,100 per month, along with extensive support services from each child’s clinical team. Contact Seneca Center to discover how you can make a tremendous difference for youth in our community – one child at a time!
Family Formation: for prospective parents
Gay Future Dads
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gayfuturedads/
Gay Future Dads (GFD) is a social group for gay men interested in parenting. GFD consists primarily of single men, as well as couples, considering having children or who already have children. GFD meets every other month at members’ homes in a casual atmosphere to share information and socialize. The Facebook group for GFD is currently the best way to connect.
Fertility & Reproductive Services
California Cryobank
866-927-9622 • www.cryobank.comAn industry leader for 30 years, California Cryobank combines the world’s most comprehensive selection of stringently screened sperm donors with extensive quality control, a highly trained staff, and valuable post-conception services to offer the most complete sperm banking experience available.
Fertility SOURCE Companies
877.375.8888 • www.fertilitysourcecompanies.com
We are the largest egg donor & surrogacy agency operating on a national level in the United States. Our commitment is to provide the most compassionate and skilled care to couples seeking third-party assisted reproduction services.
Growing Generations (Los Angeles)
323-965-7500 • www.growinggenerations.com
Ground-breaking from the start, Growing Generations was the first surrogacy agency dedicated to serving the gay and lesbian community and the only agency to offer online donor videos. Over the last decade, Growing Generations has continued its work with all family types, regardless of marital status or sexual orientation.
Laurel Fertility Care
888-442-3888 • www.laurelfertility.com
We offer only the latest assisted reproductive technologies (ART) supported by our nationally accredited embryology laboratory, resulting in excellent success rates. In addition, we provide both male and female fertility solutions, reproductive surgery and specialize in challenges such as PCOS, endometriosis, tubal infertility, and diminished ovarian reserve.
LGBTQ Perinatal Wellness Associates of the Bay Area
www.lgbtqperinatalassociates.com
We are a group of exceptionally skillful, highly qualified, LGBTQ perinatal and family wellness practitioners. We are passionately dedicated to supporting your growing family’s needs from preconception preparation through childbirth to early parenthood and beyond.
Maia Midwifery & Fertility Services
www.maiamidwifery.com
70% of the families we work with are queer. We are comfortable and familiar working with all families: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, polyamorous, group families, etc. Having worked with more than 2,000 queer families around childbearing and parenting we are singularly positioned to help queer families with our culturally specific issues.
Pacific Fertility Center
415-834-3000 • www.pacificfertilitycenter.com
Located in the Northern California’s San Francisco Bay Area, Pacific Fertility Center is a leading infertility clinic specializing in ICSI, IVF – in vitro fertilization, PGD – preimplantation genetic diagnosis, egg donation and embryo freezing and other advanced female and male infertility treatments.
Pacific Reproductive Services
1-888-469-5800 • www.pacrepro.com
We’re very proud that for over 20 years, our fertility center and sperm bank has been a leader in helping women achieve their dreams of motherhood, regardless of their sexual orientation or marital status.
The Sperm Bank of California
510-841-1858 • www.thespermbankofca.org
The Sperm Bank of California (TSBC) is the first and only sperm bank in the United States to operate as a nonprofit organization. Our mission is to provide services, information, and resources to all individuals and families who choose to create or expand their families through donor insemination and sperm storage.
UCSF Center for Reproductive Health
415-464-8688 • www.ucsfivf.org
Health & Human Services
Here are some resources that can help you and your family maintain your physical, mental, and social well-being.
Asian Women’s Shelter San Francisco
415-751-7110 • www.sfaws.org
The mission of the Asian Women’s Shelter (AWS) is to eliminate domestic violence by promoting the social, economic, and political self-determination of women. AWS is committed to every person’s right to live in a violence-free home. It specifically addresses the cultural and language needs of immigrant, refugee, and U.S.-born Asian women, transgender people, and their children. AWS’s perspective is reflected in the agency’s broad strategy, which integrates culturally knowledgeable and language-accessible shelter services, educational programs, and community-based initiatives and advocacy.
API Wellness Center San Francisco
415-292-3400 • www.apiwellness.org
Trans, queer youth, and MSM sexual health and support programs. We transform lives by advancing health, wellness, and equality for people of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and immigration statuses. We believe everyone deserves to be healthy and needs access to the highest quality health care. At API Wellness Center, health care is grounded in social justice.
Community United Against Violence San Francisco
415-777-5500 • www.cuav.org
Founded in 1979, Community United Against Violence (CUAV) is a multicultural, anti-oppression organization working to end violence against and within our diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) communities. They believe that in order to end homophobia and heterosexism, we must confront all forms of oppression, including racism, sexism, ageism, classism, and ableism.
Dimensions Clinic San Francisco
415-487-7589 • www.dimensionsclinic.org
Dimensions is an open and friendly place to get support in being healthy. We offer low-cost health services for queer, transgender and questioning youth ages 12 to 25. With a staff made up of medical and mental health professionals, we can answer just about any question you might have, including things you may be too embarrassed to ask anyone else.
El/La Programa Para Trans Latinas Bay Area
(415) 864-7278 • www.ellaparatranslatinas.yolasite.com
This program was developed to reach out to the TransLatina community in and around the Mission District Neighborhood. They provide services for HIV Prevention, counseling, and referrals to other transgender services.
Gay Couples Institute San Francisco
877-424-1221 • www.GayCouplesInstitute.org
Founded by two partnered therapists in San Francisco to help gay men and women create and keep healthy relationships. Based on 35+ years of empirical research, they show couples how to use proven relationship-strengthening tools to improve their relationships. Their approach has been shown to help couples to: stop arguing, find solutions to problems, become better parents, recover from affairs, resolve sexual problems, you name it.
GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality
415-255-4547 • www.glma.org
GLMA’s mission is to ensure equality in healthcare for LGBT individuals and healthcare providers. GLMA can help individuals find culturally competent providers and help medical providers to become more familiar with the needs of LGBT people.
Gaylesta Psychotherapy Referral
415-729-3996 • www.gaylesta.org
Gaylesta members offer a wide range of specializations, allowing them to serve as a unique resource both to the LGBTQ community and to other service providers. Explore their site to find a therapist, learn more about us, or become a valued member.
Jewish Family & Children’s Services Bay Area
415-449-1200 • www.jfcs.org
JFCS’ programs are geared specifically to meet the LGBT community’s needs. They provide adoption and post-adoption services, services for people with HIV, workshops and seminars, and counseling services for LGBT individuals, couples, and families—with special outreach to the elderly. Their clinical staff possesses the skills, experience, and sensitivity to work with those who are dealing with issues and concerns relating to sexual orientation and identity.
Lou Sullivan Society Bay Area
www.lousullivansociety.weebly.com
The Lou Sullivan Society exists to provide information, education, support, community building, and advocacy for transgender and transsexual men.
Lyon-Martin Health Services San Francisco
415-565-7667 • www.lyon-martin.org
Lyon-Martin Health Services provides excellent health care to women, lesbians and transgender people in a safe and compassionate environment, with sensitivity to sexual orientation and gender identity; all services are regardless of ability to pay.
Pacific Center for Human Growth Berkeley
510-548-8283 • www.pacificcenter.org
Founded in 1973, Pacific Center is the oldest LGBTQ center in the Bay Area, the third oldest in the nation and operates the only sliding scale mental health clinic for LGBTQ people and their families in Alameda County. Pacific Center for Human Growth fosters and enhances the well-being and self respect of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer youth, seniors, and adults through the delivery of LGBTQ competent mental health and wellness services, and through the cultivation of a strong community of LGBTQ-proficient mental health care professionals.
PFLAG
East Bay 510-562-7692 • www.pflag-eastbay.org
San Francisco 415-921-8850 • www.pflagsf.org
San Jose / Peninsula 408-270-8182 • www.pflagsanjose.org
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays is an international organization promoting the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends. It does this through support to cope with an adverse society, education to enlighten an ill-informed public, and advocacy to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
PublicHealth: HIV/AIDS www.publichealth.org/public-awareness/hiv-aids/
PublicHealth.org is dedicated to connecting patients, students and professionals to the latest and most useful healthcare information and resources available. The site offers a comprehensive look into the expanding field of public health, the latest in health policy updates and recommendations, and information on launching a career in public health. As the issue on HIV/AIDS seems to have faded, the resource revisits the AIDS crisis to give readers an update of where we are in the fight against the disease. The resource includes a definition and history of the disease, current research and treatment, US and global strategies to combat the disease moving forward, and relevant resources.
San Mateo County Health System PRIDE Initiative San Mateo County
650-610-0800 • www.smchealth.org
An inclusive environment based in equality and parity for LGBTQQI communities of San Mateo County.The PRIDE Initiative is commited to fostering a welcoming environment through an interdisciplinary and inclusive approach.
Straight Spouse Network
510-525-0200 • www.straightspouse.org
The Straight Spouse Network provides personal, confidential support and information to straight partners, current or former, of LGBT mates. They strive to make it as easy as possible for straight spouses to find the level and type of support they need.
TALK Line Family Support Center San Francisco
415-441-KIDS • www.talklineforparents.org
The San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect, the promotion of healthy families and the mental health of children.
Law & Advocacy
Resources to support you to take political action for equity and to help your family better advocate for equal rights, protection, and recognition.
ACLU of Northern California
415-621-2493 • www.aclunc.org
The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these protections and guarantees: Your First Amendment rights – freedom of speech, association and assembly; freedom of the press, and freedom of religion. Your right to equal protection under the law – equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin. Your right to due process – fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake. Your right to privacy – freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs. We work also to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including Native Americans and other people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor.
Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach
415-567-6255 • www.apilegaloutreach.org
Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach (formerly Nihonmachi Legal Outreach), is a community-based, social justice organization serving the Asian and Pacific Islander communities of the Greater Bay Area. With a staff of 20 in offices in San Francisco and Oakland, we provide legal, social, and educational services in more than a dozen languages and dialects including Cantonese, Chiu-Chow, Hindi, Ilocano, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, Taiwanese, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Bay Area Legal Aid
415-982-1300 • www.baylegal.org
Bay Area Legal Aid provides free legal help for low-income people. We can help with issues relating to housing, domestic violence, public benefits and health care access. Our legal assistance is available to low-income people who live in the Bay Area counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara.
Community United Against Violence
415-777-5500 • www.cuav.org
Founded in 1979, Community United Against Violence (CUAV) is a multicultural, anti-oppression organization working to end violence against and within our diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) communities. We believe that in order to end homophobia and heterosexism, we must confront all forms of oppression, including racism, sexism, ageism, classism, and ableism.
Domestic Partnership Registry
California 916-653-4984 • www.sos.ca.gov/dpregistry/
Berkeley 510-981-6900 • http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/home.aspx
Oakland 510-238-7979 • www2.oaklandnet.com
San Francisco 415-554-4950 • www.sfgov2.org
Online information about how to register for a domestic partnership.
Equality California
415-581-0005 • www.eqca.org
EQCA works to achieve equality and secure legal protections for LGBT people. To improve the lives of LGBT Californians, EQCA sponsors legislation and coordinates efforts to ensure its passage, lobbies legislators and other policy makers, builds coalitions, develops community strength and empowers individuals and other organizations to engage in the political process.
Family Equality Council
www.familyequality.org
Family Equality Council works to ensure equality for LGBT families by building community, changing hearts and minds, and advancing social justice for all families.
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
323-933-2240 • www.glaad.org
The Gay & 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 eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
Lambda Legal Defense
213-382-7600 • www.lambdalegal.org
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
Legal Services for Children Queer Youth Project
415-863-3762 • www.lsc-sf.org
LSC’s mission is to ensure that all children and youth in San Francisco Bay Area have an opportunity to be raised in a safe environment with equal access to a meaningful education and the services and supports they need to become healthy and productive young adults. LSC pioneered a unique interdisciplinary approach to legal services, employing teams of attorneys and social workers to comprehensively meet the needs of our clients.
Mujeres Unidas y Activas
415-621-8140 • www.mujeresunidas.net
Mujeres Unidas y Activas is a grassroots organization of Latina immigrant women with a double mission of promoting personal transformation and building community power for social and economic justice. They achieve their mission by: creating an environment of understanding and confidentiality; empowering and educating members to provide mutual support; offering trainings to build economic security and leadership; working in diverse alliances on the local, regional, national, and international levels; and organizing campaigns to win immigrant, workers’ and women’s rights.
National Center for Lesbian Rights
415-392-6257 • Immigration Equality ext. 310 • www.nclrights.org
The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.
Out & Equal
415-694-6500 • www.outandequal.org
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates is committed to ending employment discrimination for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees. We believe that people should be judged by the work they do, not by their sexual orientation or gender identity. Every day, we work to protect and empower employees to be productive and successful—so they can support themselves, their families, and contribute to achieving a world free of discrimination for everyone.
San Francisco Human Rights Commission
415-252-2500 • www.sf-hrc.org
The Human Rights Commission works to provide leadership and advocacy to secure, protect, and promote human rights for all people.
Transgender Law Center
415-865-0176 • www.transgenderlawcenter.org
The Transgender Law Center (TLC) is a civil rights organization advocating for transgender communities. Every day we connect transgender people and their families to technically sound and culturally competent legal services, increase acceptance and enforcement of laws and policies that support California’s transgender communities, and work to change laws and systems that fail to incorporate the needs and experiences of transgender people.
Parenting
Resources to help support LBGTQ parents and the unique needs of our families.
COLAGE, Children of Lesbians And Gays Everywhere
415-861-5437 • www.colage.org
COLAGE unites people with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer parents into a network of peers and supports them as they nurture and empower each other to be skilled, self-confident, and just leaders in our collective communities.
PACT: An Adoption Alliance
510-243-9460 • www.pactadopt.org
Pact is a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve adopted children of color. In every case, the child is always our primary client. In order to best serve children’s needs, we provide not only adoptive placement but lifelong education, support, and community for adoptees and their families on issues of adoption and race.
PFLAG East Bay
510-562-7692 • www.pflag-eastbay.org
The Oakland/East Bay chapter of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays is part of an international organization promoting the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends. It does this through support to cope with an adverse society, education to enlighten an ill-informed public, and advocacy to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
PFLAG San Francisco
415-921-8850 • www.pflagsf.org
The mission of PFLAG San Francisco echoes that of the national organization. PFLAG SF promotes the health and well being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends, through support to cope with an adverse society, education to enlighten an ill-informed public, and advocacy to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. PFLAG SF provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
Seneca Center
510-495-9289 • www.senecacenter.org
Seneca Center, a non-profit foster family agency, welcomes LGBT families who have room in their hearts and homes to parent at-risk youth ages 6-18. As a Seneca Center foster parent, you’ll receive a tax free stipend of $2,100 per month, along with extensive support services from each child’s clinical team. Contact Seneca Center to discover how you can make a tremendous difference for youth in our community – one child at a time!
TALK Line Family Support Center
415-441-KIDS • www.talklineforparents.org
The San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect, the promotion of healthy families and the mental health of children.
Schools
Here you can find multiple resources for families and educators to help make your child’s school site welcoming and inclusive.
Gay-Straight Alliance Network
415-552-4229 • www.gsanetwork.org
Gay-Straight Alliance Network is a youth leadership organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources. Through peer support, leadership development, and training, GSA Network supports young people in starting, strengthening, and sustaining GSAs.
Gender Spectrum
510-567-3977 • www.genderspectrum.org
Gender Spectrum provides education, training and support to help create a gender sensitive and inclusive environment for all children and teens. In a simple, straightforward manner, we provide consultation, training and events designed to help families, educators, professionals, and organizations understand and address the concepts of gender identity and expression. Our accessible, practical approach is based on research and experience, enabling our clients to gain a deeper understanding of gender all along the spectrum.
GLSEN
212-727-0135 • www.gslen.org
At GLSEN, we want every student, in every school, to be valued and treated with respect, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We believe that all students deserve a safe and affirming school environment where they can learn and grow. We accomplish our goals by working in hallways across the country — from Congress and the Department of Education to schools and district offices in your community — to improve school climate and champion LGBT issues in K-12 education.
GroundSpark
415-641-4616 • www.groundspark.org
We specialize in crafting strategic documentary films and distribution campaigns with ambitious social, economic, and environmental justice goals. We have supported lesbians and gay men to redefine the definition of “family.”
Healthier SF LGBTQ Support Services
415-242-2615 • www.healthiersf.org/lgbtq
The San Francisco Unified School District provides this website to support educators with tools and resources to address lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) topics in a school setting. Our goal is to create a safer learning environment for all students with an emphasis on LGBTQ youth and their families.
Lesbian Game Changers
415-420-3794 • www.lesbiangamechangers.com
Lesbian Game Changers provides books, short-films, talks, and educational resources that help queer youth and young adults understand their own identities, especially in terms of how they were shaped by the stories of the rebels, game changers, and history makers who impacted today’s queer culture. Lesbian Game Changers works on the premise that the more we understand the stories of those who came before us, the more we understand ourselves and become empowered.
Not in Our Town
510-268-9675 • www.niot.org
Not In Our Town’s mission is to guide, support and inspire people and communities to work together to stop hate and build safe, inclusive environments for all.
Parents for Public Schools, SF
415-468-7077 • www.ppssf.org
For more than 12 years, Parents for Public Schools – San Francisco has been assisting families and working to ensure quality public schools for all children in our city. We help parents at each stage of the journey, from introducing them to the enrollment lottery process, to developing parent leaders in the schools and at the district, to improving systems at SFUSD and much more.
SF LGBTQ Speakers Bureau
415-681-9728 • www.sfspeakersbureau.org
A group of LGBTQ activists who speak to elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as to adults in community colleges and work settings such as hospitals and police departments. They believe that by personalizing the realities of LGBTQ people, we can help break down stereotypes which might otherwise lead to ongoing marginalization and violence against members of our communities.
San Francisco Public Library: Gays & Lesbians in Books for Children
www.sfpl.org
A selection from the San Francsico Public Library of children’s books with LGBTQ characters.
Welcoming Schools
www.welcomingschools.org
Welcoming Schools offers professional development tools, lessons aligned with Common Core Standards, and many additional resources for elementary schools on embracing family diversity, avoiding gender stereotyping and affirming gender ending bullying and name-calling.
Want to contact additional organizations in the Bay Area and Beyond? Visit our Key Partner Organizations page to find out more.
Transgender Referrals
Resources to help support Transgender, gender-variant, and gender-expansive families and children. Please note that other Trans resources and referrals can be found through other sources listed on our website.
Lincoln Ave Communi-T LGBTQ Connection, Napa, CA
707-251-9432 • http://www.lgbtqconnection.org/
Lincoln Ave Communi-T is for trans youth, young adults, and friends. 780 Lincoln Ave, Napa, CA. A once-a-month support group for trans youth. For more info: eliseo@lgbtqconnection.org.
Trans: Thrive Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center, San Francisco
415-292-3400 • http://apiwellness.org/site/transthrive/
Trans: Thrive is a safe space by and for the transgender community. The program includes a variety of support and social groups, including Transfeminine Group, Transmasculine Group, TransEmpowerment, and more. For a schedule of meetings and events, download the monthly calendar on their website. General drop-in hours are Tuesdays 2pm-5pm and Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 1pm-5pm.
Community
Asian & Pacific Islander Family Pride Bay Area and beyond
510-818-0887 • www.apifamilypride.org
API-Family Pride is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the isolation of API families with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members through support, education, and dialog. They provide one-on-one sessions with parents; connect parents with others who speak their language; conduct workshops at high schools, colleges, and adult gatherings; set-up information booths at street fairs; and interact with other organizations’ health and diversity programs. They have developed resources that have found their way into over 10,000 homes, schools and universities.
Billy De Frank LGBT Community Center San Jose
408-293-3040 • www.defrank.org
Through collaboration and unity, the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center strives to provide a diverse platform for our community to meet, learn, be challenged and grow. The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center strives to be the community’s premier resource hub and a recognized leader in promoting health, strength, diversity and inclusiveness.
Bi-Net USA
800-585-9368 • www.binetusa.org
As America’s umbrella organization and voice for bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer-identified and all other of us “somewhere in between” people as well as their lesbian, gay, transgender, “straight but not narrow” and questioning friends and allies, BiNet USA facilitates the development of a cohesive network of independent bisexual and bi-friendly communities; promotes bisexual, pansexual and bi-inclusive visibility; and collects and distribute educational information regarding sexual orientation and gender identity with an emphasis on the bisexual and pansexual and allied communities.
Camp It Up! Bay Area
510-338-0370 • www.campitup.org
Camp It Up! is known for its one-of-a-kind gay family vacations. They respect and celebrate all unique families. They provide children’s programs for kids 12 months to 12 years, teen and counselor-in-training programs, adult activities, three square meals a day cooked by a seasoned staff, and lodging for each family among the redwoods.
COLAGE, Children of Lesbians And Gays Everywhere USA
415-861-5437 • www.colage.org
COLAGE unites people with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer parents into a network of peers and supports them as they nurture and empower each other to be skilled, self-confident, and just leaders in our collective communities.
KidSpace at the SF LGBT Community Center San Francisco
415-865-5639 • www.sfcenter.org
KidSpace strengthens diverse LGBTQ and ally families’ readiness for school, and connects families to community resources and to each other. KidSpace children engage in super fun activities like dramatic and manipulative play, arts and crafts, story time, dance and fine motor development. The goal of KidSpace is to create a safe, trusting and challenging environment where children are encouraged to pursue new and familiar interests, develop friendships, grow in confidence and independence, and continue to develop respect for themselves and others. The KidSpace makes learning and growing fun while making awesome new friends, sharing our special family stories, and building memories that last a lifetime.
Lighthouse Community Center Southern Alameda County
510-881-8167 • www.lgbtlighthousehayward.org
It is the mission of the Lighthouse Community Center (LCC) to serve the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning Community, and Allies, in Southern Alameda County. We are a Resource Center and catalyst for community building, providing communication, education, support, social activities and programs in a safe and substance-free environment.
Mamas and Papas (A Project of Our Family Coalition) East Bay
415-981-1960 • www.ourfamily.org
Expand your circle of East Bay LGBTQ parents, swap parenting tips, and explore concerns shared by all parents as well as those of special interest to our families. Help your kids build lasting friendships with other children growing up with LGBTQ parents. Your kids will have a great time – keep your infants with you while all other kids get a chance to play in the Habitot Children’s Museum.
NIA Collective Bay Area
510-869-4403 • www.niacollective.org
The purpose of NIA Collective is to collectively build a network through self-definition, self-acceptance, and acceptance of each other as lesbians, as people of African descent, and as women. The NIA Collective’s main project has been an annual gathering. Recently, they have enlarged their vision and scope to meet the needs of lesbians of African descent throughout the year. They are committed to excellent social, political, educational, and spiritual health for us all!
Purple Moon Dance Project San Francisco
415-552-1105 • www.purplemoondance.org
Purple Moon Dance Project explores the continuum of intimacy between women and illuminates less visible, and unheard stories from our communities, through the integration of non-western and western dance forms and aesthetics and interdisciplinary collaboration. Its underlying mission is to contribute to transformation, peace and healing in our society, through the medium of dance. Purple Moon’s work is “diversity made physical!”
Rainbow Community Center Contra Costa County
925-692-0090 • www.rainbowcc.org
The Rainbow Community Center (RCC) is the only organization in Contra Costa County that is solely focused on serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) community. Their goal is to provide a safe, supportive and respectful environment for LGBTQ people of all ages, socio-economic status, races, cultures and religions. They strive to create services and activities that will promote the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of our community by providing professional services, peer support, referral services, social opportunities and educational programs of interest to our community as well as to the community at large.
San Francisco LGBT Community Center San Francisco
415-865-5555 • www.sfcenter.org
The mission of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center is to connect our diverse community to opportunities, resources and each other to achieve our vision of a stronger, healthier, and more equitable world for LGBT people and our allies. When visitors arrive at the Center, they find free services like career counseling, job fairs, computer lab, social activities, mentorships, youth meals, daycare, various workshops and much more. Here they can connect with other LGBT people and organize to secure our equal rights. The Center is truly the heart, home and hands of the San Francisco LGBT community.
San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration San Francisco
415-864-0831 • www.sfpride.org
The Mission of the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Celebration Committee is to educate the world, commemorate our heritage, celebrate our culture, and liberate our people.
San Jose Pride San Jose
408-475-5428 • www.sanjosepride.com
With year-round support from hundreds of community volunteers and sponsors, thousands from near and far continue to gather annualy to celebrate San Jose Pride, our diversity, and our community.
Santa Cruz Pride Santa Cruz
www.diversitycenter.org
This parade and street festival gives LGBTQ community members and allies the chance to celebrate their pride together. It includes performances, food booths, and a kids zone, among other attractions.
Spectrum LGBT Center North Bay
415-472-1945 • www.spectrummarin.org
Spectrum engages, empowers, and advocates for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people. Their vision: A Marin community where Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people are welcomed, affirmed, supported and advocated for by all community members. A community where it takes no special act of courage to live openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender person.
Stonewall Alliance Center Chico
530-893-3336 • www.stonewallchico.org
The Stonewall Alliance Center offers a range of services to help connect people with their community and the surrounding areas. We serve to unite and strengthen individuals and the community. Volunteers and staff provide information on activities and events and offer referrals for services. We are open, safe, and inclusive for all people. We are an active resource for the LGBTQ+ community which provides information, advocacy, referrals, and support to those all people.
United Territories of Polynesian Islanders’ Alliance (UTOPIA) San Francisco
www.utopiasf.org
A social LGBT group for Pacific Islander families, friends, and supporters. They are of many colors and embrace many different cultures that make up the diversity of San Francisco. The goal of their site is to provide information and resources to families, friends, and supporters of the LGBT communities at large. They welcome all ethnic backgrounds and celebrate diverse cultures.
The Women’s Building San Francisco
415-431-1180 • www.womensbuilding.org
The Women’s Building is a women-led community space that advocates self-determination, gender equality and social justice. It is a place where: Women can take care of themselves and their families by using social services; the well-being of women and girls is improved by social justice advocacy; and community groups, including in-house organizations strengthen their community work by interacting and partnering with each other in a vibrant, socially progressive and affordable space. They connect women and their families with social services, community involvement opportunities, the arts, wellness and educational events.
Youth
Note: Many of the community organizations listed eslewhere on the site include youth services.
Bay Area Rainbow Day Camp
www.rainbowdaycamp.org
The play-based camp provides a safe space for the exploration of gender identity and expression, to build community for gender expansive youth and their families and to support these youth and their families with self-empowerment and resiliency curriculum.
Bay Area Youth Summit
www.bayareayouthsummit.org
The Bay Area Youth Summit (BAYS) is the only completely youth-led LGBT organization in the world. BAYS seeks to empower fellow LGBT and allied youth to decide to make a difference in their communities by taking a leading role in the fight against bullying.
Camp Kickin’ It Bay Area
916-538-1466 • www.campkickinit.com
A social camp for transgender, gender nonbinary, and genderqueer teens to participate in identity exploration and Bay Area activities in community with their peers.
Dimensions Clinic San Francisco
415-487-7589 • www.dimensionsclinic.org
Dimensions is an open and friendly place to get support in being healthy. We offer low-cost health services for queer, transgender and questioning youth ages 12 to 25. With a staff made up of medical and mental health professionals, we can answer just about any question you might have, including things you may be too embarrassed to ask anyone else.
EMQ Families First San Francisco
www.emqff.org
EMQ FamiliesFirst is one of the largest, most comprehensive mental health treatment programs in the country. The agency takes a state-of-the-art approach to children and youth with complex behavioral health challenges: they combine research-based services (including evidence-based therapies and psychiatric services) with a family-centered effort to identify and address the social and other needs of the family.
Gay-Straight Alliance Network United States
415-552-4229 • www.gsanetwork.org
Gay-Straight Alliance Network is a national youth leadership organization that connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources through peer support, leadership development, and training.
Larkin Street Youth Services San Francisco
415-673-0911 • www.larkinstreetyouth.org
With 25 comprehensive youth service programs located throughout San Francisco in over 15 sites, Larkin Street Youth Services is now an internationally recognized model successfully integrating housing, education, employment and health services to get homeless and at-risk kids off the streets.
Lavender Youth Recreation & Information Center (LYRIC) San Francisco
415-703-6150 • www.lyric.org
LYRIC’s mission is to build community and inspire positive social change through education enhancement, career trainings, health promotion, and leadership development with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth, their families, and allies of all races, classes, genders, and abilities.
Legal Services for Children – Queer Youth Project San Francisco
415-863-3762 • www.lsc-sf.org
LSC’s mission is to ensure that all children and youth in San Francisco Bay Area have an opportunity to be raised in a safe environment with equal access to a meaningful education and the services and supports they need to become healthy and productive young adults. LSC pioneered a unique interdisciplinary approach to legal services, employing teams of attorneys and social workers to comprehensively meet the needs of our clients.
Project Outlet Mountain View
650-494-0972 • www.projectoutlet.org
Since 1997, thousands of LGBTQQ youth living in the Bay Area have come to Outlet for support, community, and opportunities to improve the world. As the Peninsula’s only organization for LGBTQQ teens, Outlet is working hard to support and empower local youth by providing counseling and community, leadership training, advocacy, and awareness outreach.
Prenatal
The prenatal period is marked as the time occurring before birth.
General information resources
Healthychildren.org is a website powered by the American Academy of Pediatrics and provides a variety of extensive articles regarding important decisions to make, the delivery process, and beyond.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/prenatal/Pages/default.aspx
Medline Plus provides health care information regarding prenatal care. This website links relevant articles, clinical research, and handouts that can aid individuals experiencing pregnancy.
Planned Parenthood provides general information regarding prenatal care and enables visitors to book an in-person or telehealth appointment at local Planned Parenthood near you.
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/pregnancy/prenatal-care
Developmental milestones resources
Very Well Mind gives a concise summary of the stages of prenatal development, starting at the germinal stage and ending at the fetal stage.
https://www.verywellmind.com/stages-of-prenatal-development-2795073
Healthline allows readers to familiarize themselves with the stages of pregnancy and the significant developmental milestones babies experience.
https://www.healthline.com/health/prenatal-development#labor-and-delivery
Helpful COVID-19 articles
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists enlists FAQs sections for patients and individuals who are either pregnant or plan to get pregnant regarding COVID-19, vaccines, breastfeeding, and other pregnancy-related questions.
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding
Infancy
Infancy is the period between birth and the first year of life.
General information resources
National Institutes of Health provides patients and consumers a general informational page. Site visitors can navigate the website by category; articles are linked accordingly.
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infantcare/resources/patients
The CDC offers a parent information page stocked with linked articles and how-to’s regarding your child’s health and safety, as well as helpful parenting guides
The US Department of Agriculture has an informational page for parents and caregivers of infants concerning nutrition and feeding.
https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/nutrition-age/infants
Developmental milestones resources
The Child Mind Institute chronicles the cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional developmental milestones of a child from birth to one year of age.
Bright Futures is a national health promotion and prevention initiative that is led by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources, and Services Administration. The following link is a free downloadable pdf chapter outlining infancy from the age of 0 to 11 months.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has a dedicated site that outlines significant developmental milestones that most commonly occurs for children between the ages of two months to five years.
Center on Developing Child, from Harvard University, provides an activity guide on how to enhance and practice executive functioning in children six months to eighteen months.
Helpful COVID-19 Articles
The Conversation has an interesting piece on children born during the pandemic (after March 2020) and its implications for their development.
https://theconversation.com/pandemic-babies-how-covid-19-has-affected-child-development-155903
Cynthia Ambler, MD, from Northwestern Medicine, gives insight into questions revolving around a baby’s development and what parents and caregivers should know.
Toddler and Young Children
The developmental stage of toddlers and young children begins at one year and ends around five years.
General information resources
As young children continue to develop, they start to form a mind of their own and throughout this process, the CDC offers basic information regarding the prevalence of mental health disorders among young-aged children.
Zero to Three allows families to explore varying topics related to parenting, nutrition, safety, as well as early development, and well-being.
https://www.zerotothree.org/early-development
Developmental milestones resources
Provides articles on a toddler’s development stages, common concerns raised by parents, and any other questions you need answering.
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/Pages/default.aspx
Perfect for parents with toddlers, this website provides tools and resources for issues like potty training, childcare, and health.
Child Development Institute provides tips on parenting, as well as books, and videos on child development.
https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/ages-stages/toddler-preschooler-development-parenting/#gs.84112s
Center on Developing Child, from Harvard University, provides an activity guide on how to enhance and practice executive functioning in children eighteen months to thirty-six months and three to five years old.
Middle Childhood
Middle childhood is a foundational period of a child’s life that begins at six years and ends around twelve years.
General information resources
Bright Futures is a national health promotion and prevention initiative that is led by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources, and Services Administration. The following link is a free downloadable pdf chapter outlining middle childhood from the age of five to 10 years.
https://www.brightfutures.org/physicalactivity/pdf/MiddleChildhood.pdf
The CDC provides an immersive guide on how to help children navigate through middle childhood. This resource is armed with scholarly articles and helpful tips for parents and caregivers.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/middle2.html
Developmental milestones resources
This article from the Pediatrics and Child Health Journal gives a detailed overview of the developmental changes during middle childhood, aka the “forgotten years”.
Center on Developing Child from Harvard University provides an activity guide on enhancing and practicing executive functioning in children five to 12 years of age.
Mental health
Coming Out Handbook is a great resource for LGBTQ Youth that provides tools and questions that helps them come out and share their sexual and/or gender identity.
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Coming-Out-Handbook.pdf
Time to Talk: Talking to Your Parents is a helpful resource that helps young people talk to their parents about mental health issues.
Adolescents
Adolescence is marked when an individual enters puberty and ends at 19 years of age.
General information resources
The CDC offers thorough informational resources to answer any questions regarding how to raise a teen (12-14 yrs).
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/adolescence.html
The CDC offers thorough informational resources to answer any questions regarding how to raise a teen (15-17 yrs).
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/adolescence2.html
Kidshealth.org provides information vetted by professionals and doctors about topics like nutrition, puberty, and mental health for teens.
https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/
Developmental milestones resources
Center on Developing Child, from Harvard University, provides an activity guide on how to enhance and practice executive functioning in adolescents.
Center for the Developing Adolescent is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving adolescent health, education, and well-being through developmental science; this organization also provides helpful tools and resources for navigating through this crucial developmental period.
The UN Children’s Fund organized the creation of The Adolescent Brain: A Second Window of Opportunity- A Compendium, which houses several articles that highlights the interactions between physical, sexual, and brain development during adolescence.
Mental Health
The Child Mind Institute speaks on the challenges that will come with teens transition back to in-person schooling and the implications that comes with socializing, managing stress, and relearning previous norms.
https://childmind.org/article/teenagers-and-back-to-school-stress/
The Trevor Project is a great resource for LGBTQ+ Youth to access as they provide educational resources about mental health and has a 24/7 support line.
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/trvr_support_center/mental-health/
Crisis Text Line is a free 24/7 text messaging service available for individuals in a crisis.
Coming Out Handbook is a great resource for LGBTQ Youth that provides tools and questions that helps them come out and share their sexual and/or gender identity.
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Coming-Out-Handbook.pdf
Time to Talk: talking to Your Parents is a helpful resource that helps young people talk to their parents about mental health issues.
Scarleteen is an inclusive resource for teens and young adults about sexuality and relationships.
AMAZE is an age-appropriate sex ed resource that answers any questions you may have and takes the awkwardness out of this topic.
Parenting Resources
Parenting styles
This article is an evidence-based, cross-cultural guide to the four different parenting styles proposed by Baumrind.
Parenting guides
Effective Child Therapy is a website recommended by the American Psychological Association that offers information for parents regarding symptoms and treatments for behavioral and mental health problems in children and adolescents.
https://effectivechildtherapy.org/concerns-symptoms-disorders/
Former APA president and director of Yale Parenting Center, Dr. Alan Kazdin developed a free online course through Coursera that provides instructional videos on parenting techniques that address problem behaviors and home and school.
Center for Early Literacy Learning provides parents, caregivers, and teachers evidence-based early literacy learning practices for children ages 0-5 years with delays in development, identified disabilities, and those at risk for poor outcomes.
Author of Families Like Mine, Abigail Garner detailed her experience growing up with a gay father who came out to her when she was five years old. Through this website, Garner creates a safe space for children with LGBTQ+ parents to have a community that they can relate to who’ve had similar life experiences.
The Trevor Project created an informative guide on how to be an ally to transgender and nonbinary youth.
PFLAG created a question and answer packet for parents, families, and friends who are transgender and nonbinary.
https://pflag.org/sites/default/files/Our%20Trans%20Loved%20Ones.pdf
Mental Health American provides parents and caregivers information about youth mental, how to detect the signs, and be an advocate for your child’s mental health.
The American Psychological Association gives parents and caregivers an extensive list of resources on how to effectively navigate through parenting.
https://www.apa.org/topics/parenting/index
Helpful COVID-19 Articles
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, raising children through these turbulent times can be challenging, Center on the Developing Child from Harvard University gives quick how-to guides and videos on how to support children, as well as parents, during COVID.
The CDC outlines what to expect at children’s K-12 school and childcare programs and aspects to consider to keep them safe as they return to in-school activities.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/groups/expect-school-child-care.html
Defending the Early Years guides supporting young children through COVID-19.
https://dey.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Guidance-FINAL.pdf
Direct Relief speaks on the experience of children growing up during the COVID-19 and the delays in development we can expect.
Other Helpful Resources
Books
Magination Press is the APA’s (American Psychological Association) children’s book resource list of over 180 titles that provide practitioners, educators, parents, and caregivers a guide on a variety of challenges, like school and mental health challenges.
Center for parenting education is a useful parenting tool that provides parents and caregivers a resource directory, access to a library of parenting articles, and an array of children’s books. They’re currently aiming to expand their education to be LGBTQ+ inclusive and are looking for individuals to share their stories.
California’s Department of Education offers a collection of highly recommended literature for children and adolescents (pre-K to 12th grade).
Pangea Publishing wrote the story The Unwelcome Stranger: COVID-19 which provides public health information while empowering families to discuss COVID-19 with their children.
Perinatal Psychological Services has a list of LGBTQ curated books on parenting, surrogacy, parenting, and adoption with links to purchasing.
https://perinatalpsychotherapy.com/perinatal-psychotherapy-resource-list/lgbtq/
Helpline
Parental Stress Line is a completely free, confidential, and anonymous helpline for parents and caregivers with problems related to their children.
Connect with our community!
Individual community members and fellow non-profits: we’d love to include your event notice in our next monthly E-news & events! Check out the guidelines and submission form.
