We are now one year out since the events at Pulse nightclub, a tragedy that explicitly targeted the Latinx LGBTQ community. We’ve seen Pride parades across the country not only responding to that unconscionable attack on our queer brethren but openly resisting this current administration’s outright indifference to the LGBTQ community at large.
And while the LGBTQ community as a whole is subject to discrimination, microaggressions, and hateful acts, it’s LGBTQ people of color who are disproportionately affected. A 2012 report on hate violence against the gay community found that LGBTQ people of color were 1.82 times more likely to experience physical violence. In 2012, 73.1 percent of anti-LGBTQ homicide victims were people of color, with Black/African Americans accounting for 54 percent and Latinxs for 15 percent, according to Colorlines.
At a time when intersectional politics should be at the center of any kind of political advocacy, we decided to compile a running (and not quite exhaustive) list of 15 centers, groups, and non-profits around the country whose purpose is to address the specific concerns of the Latinx LGBTQ community, which can sometimes feel overlooked at spaces meant for all who identify as LGBTQ.
Whether offering HIV prevention seminars, legal immigration aid, or support groups, they’re all making a difference in our communities. Check them out below and, in the spirit of Pride, feel free to donate, get involved, and spread the word about these groups, many of which depend on volunteers.
1
The Latino Equality Alliance (Los Angeles, California)
Who They Are:
“The mission of the Latino Equality Alliance (LEA) is to promote liberty, equality, and justice for the Latina/o lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. As a non-profit organization with a strong focus on family acceptance, LGBT equality, and immigration reform; LEA engages Latina/o LGBT community leaders and organizations in direct action organizing to address issues of bullying, homophobia, xenophobia, family separation, violence against youth, homelessness, high health risk behaviors and HIV/AIDS.”
What They Do:
- Leadership Development
- Community Outreach
- LGBTQA Youth Council
- Anti-Bullying School Climate Public Education Initiative
You can donate here and find out how to get involved here.
2
allgo (Austin, Texas)
Who They Are:
“allgo works to create and sustain queer people of color activists, groups, organizations, and allies through artistic expression, promoting wellness, and grassroots organizing. We believe that in doing so, together we can radically transform systems and policies toward a collective liberation.”
What They Do
- An annual season of offerings beginning every November with Day of the Dead/Día de Muertos
- HIV/AIDS prevention and safer sex education and supplies.
- Annual Statewide Queer People of Color Activist Summit.
- Brown Papers and other educational materials.
- Anti-oppression consultancies and trainings.
- Activism for and partnerships with sister organizations and coalitions on issues such as immigrant and refugee rights, anti-violence, sexual freedom, and reproductive justice.
You can donate here.
3
GLOBE, The LGBTQ Justice Project of Make the Road New York (New York)
Who They Are
“GLOBE is a group to support and empower the LGBTQ community through actions, organizing, workshops, and education.”
What They Do
- Weekly meetings every Friday at 6:30 p.m. Food and laughter is always provided.
You can donate here.
4
Latino PRIDE Center (New York)
Who They Are:
“The Latino Pride Center (LPC), New York City, was established in June 2013 as the first Latino organization in the US fully devoted to providing health and human services to the gay community. We are seeking fresh talent and highly motivated career-oriented professionals who possess the competencies to actively participate in the conceptualization, design, and implementation of new programs and expansion services that support our vision of a ‘healthy’ community of Latino gay and bisexual men and other Latinos affected by HIV and related conditions.”
What They Do:
- HIV testing
- Symposiums & Workshops
- Individual Emotional Support
- Special Events
You can donate here.
5
The Audre Lorde Project (New York)
Who They Are:
“Recognizing the full diversity of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two-Spirit, Trans and Gender Non Conforming (LGBTSTGNC) people of color, and our collective histories of struggle against discrimination and other forms of oppression, the Audre Lorde Project has been established to serve as a home base that LGBTST peoples of African / Black/ Caribbean, Arab, Asian & Pacific Islander, Latina/o, and Native/Indigenous descent can use to organize, support, and advocate for our diverse communities.”
What They Do:
- The Safe OUTside the System (SOS) Collective is an anti-violence program led by and for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans, and Gender Non Conforming people of color.
- TransJustice is a political group created by and for Trans and Gender Non-conforming people of color.
- The 3rd Space Support program seeks to work with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two-Spirit, Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color (LGBTSTGNC POC) who struggle with issues around employment, education, health care and immigration status.
You can donate here and find out how to get involved here.
6
TransLatina Network (New York)
Who They Are:
“The mission of Translatina Network is to gain equal and lasting rights for all Latina transgender women at a local, state, and federal level. Through the effective social mobilization of our community, we will have direct involvement in important policy changes. Ultimately, these policy changes will ease the effects of transphobic discrimination and eradicate structural barriers for all transgender Latinas in the United States.”
What They Do:
- Legal, Medical and Community Resources
- Resources for Immigrants
- Translatina Network also includes a team of leaders and allies passionate about fulfilling its mission both online and in person.
You can donate here & find out how to get involved here.
7
El/La Para TransLatinas (San Francisco, California)
Who They Are:
“El/La is an organization for transgender Latinas (TransLatinas) that works to build collective vision and action to promote our survival and improve our quality of life in the San Francisco Bay Area. Because we exist in a world that fears and hates transgender people, women and immigrants, we fight for justice. We respond to those who see us as shameful, disposable or less than human. We are here to reflect the style and grace of our survival, and to make new paths for ourselves.”
What They Do:
- Drop-In Space
- Health Promotion and Life Issues Groups and Workshops
- Individual Case Management (health, relationships/violence, immigration, housing)
- Linkage and Referrals for Survival Needs
- Mental Health Counseling Referrals
- Coalition Building and Advocacy on Transgender and Immigration Issues
You can donate here.
8
QLatinx (Orlando, Florida)
Who They Are:
“Founded in response to the mass shooting and act of hate that occurred on June 12th at Pulse nightclub, during the LGBTQ+ establishment’s Latinx-themed night, that robbed our community of 49 lives and left many more physically and psychologically wounded. QLatinx brought together members of the local community directly impacted by this tragedy to build a supportive infrastructure, address inequity, and promote inclusionary practices for local leadership and partnering agencies.”
What They Do:
- Weekly meetings on Thursday evenings, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
You can donate here and find out how to get involved here.
9
Hispanic Black Gay Coalition (Boston, Massachusetts)
https://www.facebook.com/hbgcboston/photos/a.903372123060963.1073741827.903372083060967/1446432565421580/?type=3&theater
Who They Are:
“The Hispanic Black Gay Coalition (HBGC) is one of few non-profit organizations in Boston dedicated to the unique and complex needs of the Black, Latinx, and POC (People of Color) LGBTQ community. Founded in 2009, we work to inspire and empower Latinx and Black LGBTQ individuals to improve their livelihood through activism, education, community outreach, and counseling.”
What They Do
- New Leaders Institute: A leadership development program for LGBTQ youth under 25.
- HUES: a program that creates spaces where LGBQ/T Black, Latinx, and other Queer Womyn of Color can be safe, visible and celebrated through various social events and support groups
- Tod@s In Action: An inter-agency collaboration designed to improve and increase access to intervention and prevention services for LGBQ/T Black and Latinx people affected by partner abuse.
- Tod@s Leadership Crew: TLC is a leadership development and community building program for LGBTQ people of color who have been impacted by domestic violence or partner abuse
You can donate here and find out how to get involved here.
10
AGUILAS (San Francisco, California)
https://www.facebook.com/aguilas.elambiente/photos/a.754891041216208.1073741828.751823634856282/1064172063621436/?type=3&theater
Who They Are
“AGUILAS is dedicated to creating a supportive, culturally sensitive environment for gay/bisexual Latinos. We strive to foster knowledge and pride of the diversity of our language, culture, history and spirituality. AGUILAS is committed to developing programs that promote health, well-being and community building that foster positive self-identities, healthy relationships and leadership skills.”
What They Do
- El Ambiente: An HIV prevention program of AGUILAS created by and for gay and bisexual Latino men
- HIV testing
- Bimonthly groups in Spanish
- Monthly Group in English
- Monthly Brazilian Group in Portuguese
- Counseling (English, Spanish, Portuguese)
- Socials the last Thursday of every month
You can find out how to get involved here.
11
Entre Hermanos (Seattle, Washington)
Who They Are:
Entre Hermanos hopes “to promote the health and well-being of the Latino Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and questioning community in a culturally appropriate environment through disease prevention, education, support services, advocacy and community building.”
What They Do:
- HIV Prevention (including free HIV testing)
- Grupo Positivo: support group for Latinos living with HIV
- Latina LBTQ Program
- Advocacy and Civic Engagement
You can donate here.
12
Galaei (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1251592864871969&set=t.100000638026262&type=3&theater
Who They Are:
“Galaei is a queer Latin@ social justice organization. Queer acknowledges and represents the mosaic of sexual and gender identities within our communities. Latin@ represents the multiracial, multicultural experience of Latinidad. Galaei embodies the common history of resistance and resilience of Latin@ and queer people. We are unwavering in our commitment to the advancement de nuestra familia through leadership and economic development, sexual empowerment, and grassroots organizing.”
What They Do:
- Youth Program
- HIV Prevention Program
- Trans-Health Information Project
- Cultural Literacy Trainings
- Grassroots Organizing
You can donate here and find out how to get involved here.
13
BIENESTAR (Los Angeles, California)
Who They Are:
“BIENESTAR is a unique non-profit social service organization dedicated to positively impacting the health and well-being of the Latino community and other underserved communities in Southern California. Founded in 1989, the organization uses an innovative and compassionate peer-to-peer model that is 100 percent culturally relevant to its constituents. Clients are met with understanding and acceptance that builds trust and fosters a unique sense of family.”
What They Do:
- HIV Testing
- Mental Health
- Housing Assistance
- Food Bank
- HIV Answers Support Groups
- Popular Opinion
- Leader Counseling
- Syringe Exchange
- Substance Abuse
- Case Management
- Treatment Education
- Peer Support
You can donate here.
14
Mariposas Sin Fronteras (Tucson, Arizona)
Who They Are:
“Mariposas Sin Fronteras is a Tucson, Arizona-based group that seeks to end the systemic violence and abuse of LGBTQ people held in prison and immigration detention. We envision a society that no longer finds solutions in the system of immigration detention or the prison industrial complex. As we work toward that goal, we support LGBTQ people currently detained in Eloy and Florence, Arizona through visits, letters, bond support, advocacy, and housing upon freedom from detention.”
What They Do:
- MSF provides solidarity to LGBTQ people in detention through visits, letters, bond fundraising, case support, advocacy, and post-detention hospitality.
You can donate here.
15
The Brown Boi Project (Oakland, California)
Who They Are:
“The Brown Boi Project is a community of masculine of center womyn, men, two-spirit people, transmen, and our allies committed to changing the way that communities of color talk about gender. Launched in 2010, the Brown Boi Project works to transform the way that communities of color talk about gender. We build the leadership, economic self sufficiency, and health of LGBTQ people of color–pipelining them into the social justice movement.”
What They Do:
- Five-day retreats provide the Latinx LGBTQ community a chance to talk about issues and decide whether organizing is the right step.
You can donate here and find out how to get involved here.