LGBT Non-profit Organizations

Non-profit Organizations

The significance of non-profit organizations relies on the fact that the majority of resources gathered are distributed and utilized to achieve organization-related objectives. A non-profit organization's purpose is to attain its goals and inform specific populaces of their core-values, essentially spreading awareness regarding key issues and resolutions. Furthermore, non-profit organizations exist to serve in human services. Many organizations seek to assist individuals socially, personally, psychologically and physically, and inspire and motivate others to do the same. Organizations are thus vital sources in spreading social awareness regarding the good, the bad, the ugly, the discriminatory, the non-discriminatory, and the desired support of the LGBT and non-LGBT communities.

The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

Organizational Vision: “To build an inclusive global economy in which LGBT entrepreneurs are free to trade, develop, and succeed” (nglcc.org).

The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), is a non-profit organization serving the United States and worldwide as the business voice of the LGBT community. The NGLCC, with its headquarters located in Washington, D.C., was established in November of 2002. Founders Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell reached the realization that no one had prior considered the economic equality or the lack thereof within the LGBT community, as well as the ways in which economics could impact the LGBT equality movement. Nelson and Mitchell co-founded the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to demonstrate the existence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals within the economic world. The NGLCC strives to make apparent that LGBT individuals are business owners, employers, tax payers, and providers of healthcare (nglcc.org). Thus, LGBT individuals are a fundamental part of the U.S. business world, contribute to the U.S. economy, and hence deserve equality.

According to NGLCC, many business owners are coming out as openly gay individuals. Prior to this, most LGBT individuals remained silent on their sexuality and gender identity. However, NGLCC has provided a network of support for business owners throughout the LGBT community. The NGLCC works with state and local chambers of commerce (business networks with an interest in furthering the interest of businesses) and businesses themselves. A chamber of commerce cannot directly pass laws or regulations, but however can pitch an attempt to get laws passed in favor of businesses.

The Supplier Diversity Initiative

The NGLCC since the year of 2004 has offered a certification program to businesses owned by LGBT individuals. The Supplier Diversity Initiative is a business program which supports LGBT-owned businesses as suppliers, a type of networking that involves moving products or service from supplier to consumer. In essence, the Supplier Diversity Initiative is the focal bridge between corporate America and LGBT-owned businesses/entrepreneurs.

As LGBT-owned business owners certify their businesses with NGLCC, there are a multitude of benefits for and towards their companies. For example, if you are an LGBT individual who owns a business, certification would provide you and your business with nationwide acknowledgment as a certified LGBT Business Enterprise. Furthermore, certification of your business would make you eligible to exhibit at the yearly NGLCC Business and Leadership Conference, as well as at regional proceedings. Also, you will be eligible to receive sourcing opportunities via e-mail from the NGLCC and its corporate partners. These e-mails will provide you with information regarding the LGBT-business world and LGBT-national networking. Most importantly, certification of your business will lead to an automatic inclusion in the NGLCC’s online database of certified businesses. This searchable online database is accessible to NGLCC corporate partners. Why is this significant? Existing within NGLCC's online searchable database provides your business with the opportunity to be recognized by corporate partners of NGLCC to expand your business.

Minimum Criteria for Certification of Your Business With NGLCC

To certify your business with NGLCC, your business should be at least 51% owned, operated, managed, and coordinated by an LGBT person(s) who are either U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (nglcc.org). Your business must also be independent of any non-LGBT business enterprise(s). Your business must also be headquartered in the United States of America. Lastly, your business should be formed as a legal entity in the United States of America.

The application process for certifying your LGBT-business will take an estimated 60 to 90 days. Failure to submit a completed application will result in a delay of processing. Once granted certification, your business will be an LGBT Business Enterprise for two years from the date of initial certification.

Please note that your business can be jointly owned by a LGBT person(s) and a non-LGBT person(s). However, the LGBT individuals must be the majority owner of your business (51% ownership), must demonstrate management control of the company, and must display his or her contribution of capital and/or expertise.

Lastly, NGLCC waives the certification fee and certification fee ($400 and $200 respectively) for applicants who submit proof of valid and current membership with their local chamber of commerce. Applicants who are not affiliated with their local chamber of commerce will be prompted to pay a non-refundable certification and recertification fee prior to business certification taking place.

Businesses in Support of the LGBT community and NGLCC

Wells Fargo is the American nation’s leading small business lender and is also devoted to meeting the needs of the LGBT business community. Wells Fargo is a founding corporate partner of the NGLCC and is also a strong supporter for LGBT inclusion within the business world. As an employer, Wells Fargo encourages a culture in which individuals and their differences are recognized, valued, respected, and celebrated. Thus, Wells Fargo is dedicated to assisting LGBT business owners to start, run, and grow their business.

A few other businesses that are in support of the LGBT community, as well as are affiliated with NGLCC as founding corporate partners are:

American Airlines – the official airline of the NGLCC. American Airlines offers unique tour packages to the LGBT community including tourist and luxury accommodations, car rentals, airport transfers, and sightseeing tours.

Hilton Hotels and Resorts offers LGBT travelers and friends of the LGBT community special and unique rewards towards the Stay Hilton. Go Out. Package. For more information on this package, visit:

Stay Hilton. Go Out. Package.

NGLCC Global

The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is currently working to recognize businesses outside of the United States of America that are majority-owned by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

To register as an International LGBT Supplier, please visit the following website:

NGLCC International LGBT Supplier Registration

If you are an LGBT-owned business and seek to certify your business with NGLCC, please visit:

Get Certified!

If you are an LGBT-owned business located in Canada looking to certify your business, please visit:

Canadian Gay& Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's LGBT Supplier Diversity Program

BiNet

BiNet, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is a non-profit organization which advocates for bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer-identified and unlabeled individuals. BiNet assists in the development of an interconnected network of independent bisexual and bi-friendly communities. BiNet further promotes bisexual and bi-inclusive visibility, and collects and allocates educational information concerning sexual orientation and gender identity with an emphasis on bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer (bi+) communities (binetusa.org). BiNet strives to emphasize the B* in LGBT, raise visibility of the bisexual individual, and uplift the bisexual community in terms of acceptance and equality.

Definitions for your consideration:

1.     Bisexuality refers to the romantic or sexual attraction toward both men and women.

2.     Pansexuality refers to the romantic and/or sexual attraction to individuals of any sex or gender identity, thus not limiting sexual choice with regard to anatomical sex, assigned gender, and/or personal gender identity.

3.  Fluid, or gender fluid, refers to individuals whose gender can vary over time. A gender fluid individual may at any time identify as male, female, or any other non-binary identity. Gender fluidity can also refer to a combination of identities.

4. Queer-identified individuals (genderqueer) refers to individuals who challenge gender and sexuality establishments.

The History of Bisexuality and BiNet

Bisexuality

Bisexual individuals make up one-half of the LGBTQ community and have been part of the modern Lesbian and Gay Civil Right and Liberation Movement since the mid-1960s (binetusa.org). Bisexual individuals have continued to be active in gay and lesbian movements as well as have participated separately in bisexuality-exclusive organizations.

BiNet

Formed in 1990, BiNet is the oldest national organization advocating for bisexuality. In 2014, BiNet USA co-authored the Movement Advancement Project “Understanding Issues Facing Bisexual Americans.” “Understanding Issues Facing Bisexual Americans” is an introductory report demonstrating the multitudinous issues that bisexual Americans face, oftentimes facing unfair laws and stigma and health-related, safety-related, and economy-related inequalities (lgbtmap.org). This report ultimately demonstrates policy recommendations which tackle the aforementioned inequalities and improve the lives of bisexual Americans (lgbtmap.org).

Understanding Issues Facing Bisexual Americans (2014)

According to this guide, an estimated 52% of the LGBT community identify as bisexual. While discriminatory treatment, high levels of poverty, and poor psychological and physiological conditions continue to threaten the bisexual community – oftentimes at higher detrimental rates in comparison to lesbian and gay counterparts – the need to provide services to the bisexual community is evident. Thus, this guide was published as an informative text demonstrating the ways in which individuals can support bisexual individuals through the means of advocacy, research, and programming (or otherwise organizing together to make a positive impact through human services) (lgbtmap.org).

In “Understanding Issues Facing Bisexual Americans,” BiNet desires to make apparent the discriminatory attitudes and behaviors bisexual American continue to face – not only from non-LGBT individuals but also from the LGBT community. Oftentimes bisexual individuals are said to be confused in terms of their sexuality. It seems as though one can either be heterosexual or homosexual. In essence, you are either one or the other. However, BiNet, through its organization and advocacy, strives to break these exact barriers by supporting bisexual individuals.

Discrepancies and Statistical Information

Poverty

BiNet demonstrates the ways in which the bisexual community oftentimes receives more stigma and discrimination in comparison to the gay and lesbian community. As demonstrated within the report, 25% of bisexual men and 30% of bisexual women are impoverished in comparison to the 20% of gay men and 23% of lesbian women.

Workplace and Employment

According to the report, bisexual individuals face discriminatory behavior in the workplace. An estimated 60% of bisexual individuals report experiencing anti-bisexual comment while on the job. Also, an estimated 50% of bisexual individuals have not acknowledged their bisexuality to coworkers or colleagues in comparison to 24% of gay and lesbian individuals.

Violence

According to the report, BiNet asserts that bisexual individuals experience higher rates of sexual and intimate partner violence in comparison to gay, lesbian, and straight individuals. For example, 46% of bisexual women have experienced rape in comparison to 13% of lesbian and 17% of straight women. 61% of bisexual women have been raped, experienced physical violence and/or have been stalked by an intimate partner (in comparison to 43% and 35% of lesbian and straight women respectively). In regards to bisexual men, 47% report experiencing sexual violence.

Health

Higher rates of poor psychological and mental health are reported within the bisexual community. Hypertension, smoking, and risky drinking have all been reported in higher rates compared to heterosexual, lesbian, and gay counterparts.

BiNet Policy Recommendations to Improve the Lives of Bisexual Individuals

Cultural Competence

The first policy recommendation BiNet suggests is cultural competence. Cultural competence refers to a set of actions, approaches, and strategies that are utilized in a system to work effectively in cross-cultural situations. BiNet suggests for community organizations in support of the LGBT community to be provided with bi-specific training, which can assist providers in feeling comfortable working with bisexual clients and vice versa (lgbtmap.org).

Visibility

BiNet further suggests to provide the bisexual community with bi-specific service, such as healthcare pamphlets and healthcare programming in order to reaffirm bisexual identity and to meet the medical needs of bisexual individuals.

Below is a link to Understanding Issues Facing Bisexual Americans for your consideration:

Click here!

Faith Cheltenham Meeting President Obama in 2014

Most recently in BiNet news, Faith Cheltenham, president of BiNet USA, was invited to the White House to witness an Executive Order signing as a stage participant (binetusa.org). Cheltenham also met privately with Obama, which marked the first a president of a bisexual organization was granted to do so.

Internet Activism

As of 2008, under the leadership of former president Wendy Curry, BiNet increased its platform with internet activism. BiNet remains active on its Blogspot webpage, where individuals can read news, essays, and editorials. BiNet also remains active on Facebook and Twitter, utilizing both social media platforms to spread awareness, connectedness, and raise funds in support of the organization itself and to support the bisexual community.

BiNetUSA
@BiNetUSA

BiNet on Facebook

Global Action for Trans* Equality (GATE)

Global Action for Trans* Equality is a New York headquartered non-profit organization which was founded in the year of 2009 in support of transgender rights. Co-directors include Mauro Cabral Grinspan and Masen Davis. According to GATE, trans* individuals are ostracized and oftentimes in extreme forms, in all societies and in all portions of the globe. GATE acknowledges the up –and-coming political movement currently occurring by activist groups who do not associate themselves and work independently regardless of aiming to achieve similar goals. GATE further states that these activists have very little or no experience in the activist world. Also, GATE articulates that these newly-formed activist groups do not possess the financial resources that are necessary to be successful and achieve its goals.

GATE articulates that many trans* activists feel excluded by LGBT groups and are dissatisfied with the representation of trans* individuals at the worldwide level. Thus, trans* activists felt the need to generate a structure autonomous from the LGBT community which focuses exclusively on trans* issues. GATE is determined to work globally on gender identity, gender expression, and bodily issues. GATE further desires to defend human rights and spread critical knowledge universally (transactivists.org).

GATE hopes to transform the ways in which gender identity, gender expression, and bodily issues are perceived and treated in societies by dismantling the stigma, discrimination, and violence non-conforming individuals face. In totality, GATE recognizes and respects all forms of local, national, regional, and worldwide organization in regards to gender identity, gender expression, and bodily diversity issues (transactivists.org).  

Mauro Cabral Grinspan

Mauro Cabral Grinspan, most often referred to as Mauro Cabral, is an Argentinian intersex and trans* activist. Cabral at birth was assigned female. However, he later described his body as being discovered as “incomplete” by doctors. In the words of Cabral himself, “The gynecologist, the endocrinologist, the surgeon and his team, they were all nice people, polite and well-meaning, but absolutely incapable of accepting what I had to say; they could not accept that my body was fine as it was, and could not accept that I identified myself as a boy who liked boys. From their perspective, my flesh, my identity, my sexuality, my whole life was coded in terms of a diagnosis – and, according to that diagnosis, I was defined as malformed” (intersexday.org).

Cabral identified himself at a boy, however the doctors could not live with this notion regardless of the fact that Cabral – the patient – was unbothered and rather at peace with this revelation.

Since the year of 2005, Cabral has been involved in trans* activism and intersex issues. Cabral desires for all individuals to be open to the experience of intersex individuals. Cabral essentially desires to make apparent the ways in which the medical world affects intersex individuals by anatomically “fixing” the issue and how most oftentimes doctors make the wrong choice by choosing one’s anatomical sex.

Intersex

What does it mean to be intersex? Intersex individuals are born with an atypical variation(s) in anatomical, genetic, and/or hormonal sex characteristics (intersexday.org). For example, an intersex individual can possess both an ovary (female reproductive system) and a teste (male reproductive system). In terms of the medical field, doctors attempt to “fix” intersex bodies via surgical and hormonal means (intersexday.org). Such treatments include clitoridectomies (the excision of the clitoris; female circumcision), vaginoplasties (reconstruction and tightening of vaginal wall), and gonadectomies (the surgical removal of an ovary of testis).

Trans*

What does it mean to be trans*? Trans* refers to individuals whose gender identity or gender expression differs from the gender in which they were assigned at birth. For example, a man who is seemingly male may identify himself as a female, as well as a woman who seemingly is female may identify herself as male.

GATE, Trans* Community Mental Health Classification, and the ICD Reform

GATE is actively working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA) to change the mental classification of trans* identities. WHO and the APA are both reviewing the International Code of Diseases (ICD) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in regards to the classification of trans* identities as a “personality disorder.” Also, GATE desires to shed light on the legal, medical, and social issues trans* individuals face all over the world. According to GATE, the 10^th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) is under modification and reform. The awaited ICD-11 (11^th edition) will expectantly be approved by the World Health Assembly in the year of 2017 (transactivists.org).

Advancing Trans* Movements Worldwide

Assessing Appropriate and Quality Health Care

Advancing Trans* Movements Worldwide is a report published by GATE which demonstrates the ways in which the trans* community calls for positive change and how individuals can contribute to this movement, as well informing individuals about the trans* community and the trans *challenges at hand. According to this report, intersex individuals are face with violence that is condoned by both society and their families (9). GATE mentions that groups are responding with strategic litigation against medical facilities in response to “corrective” or “normalization” surgery. Also, GATE desires to make it evident that such surgeries are rarely ever for medical purposes but occur out of fear in terms of social anxiety and social stigma. Thus, any kind of corrective surgery should be held to the discretion of the individual himself or herself. Oftentimes intersex individuals assert that the decision in which doctors and/or parents made to select the person’s gender was in fact the wrong decision.

The Trans* Movement and Health Care

GATE continues to work on raising awareness in regards to the lack of equality within the healthcare system for trans* individuals. For example, “Advancing Trans* Movements articulates the faulty medical system for trans* individuals. Trans* individuals continue to be vulnerable to HIV infection while still receiving little attention from national and global approaches and funding to battle HIV (globaltractionfiles.wordpress.com). Thus, trans* individuals are oftentimes denied basic human rights such as the right to privacy, education, healthcare, and work.

For more information, visit: 
Global Action for Trans* Equality

Queer Nation NY

“We’re Here! We’re Queer! Get Used To It!”

Queer is originally said to describe something that is “strange” or “peculiar.” However, International Spectrum states that queer can be used describe the entire LGBT community (internationalspectrum.umich.edu). Nadia Cho of Huffington Post states, “Being queer is first and foremost a state of mind. It is a worldview characterized by acceptance, through which one embraces and validates all the unique, unconventional ways that individuals express themselves, particularly with respect to gender and sexual orientation” (huffingtonpost.com). Thus, being queer mean to deconstruct the established notions of gender and/or gender conformity. Also, being queer means ignoring the social beliefs and expectancies that are imposed by society in accordance to gender assignment.

Queer Nation is an LGBT activist organization which was founded in March of 1990 in New York by founders Tom Blewitt, Alan Klein, Michelangelo Signorile, and Karl Soehnlein. The aforementioned founders were also AIDS activists from ACT UP New York, a political action group formed in 1987 in response to the AIDS crisis and seeking ways to end it. Queer Nation was founded in response to the outrageous escalation of violence and discrimination against the LGBT community in New York, Queer Nation also focuses on the continued existence of anti-gay discrimination (queernationny.org). Thus, Queer Nation’s mission throughout its organizational history remains to eliminate homophobia and increase LGBT visibility (queernationny.org).

The History and Timeline of Queer Nation

On March 20^th, 1990, 60 queer individuals gathered in response to the escalation of anti-gay and anti-lesbian violence on the streets of New York and the prejudices displayed within the arts and media. The gathering occurred at the then-called Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center, which is presently called The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center). The organization at this time was unnamed, but its goal was evident.

On April 4^th, 1990, the still unnamed organization held its first official conference. Discussed were ways to build a community via public and sex-positive direct actions that would ultimately create safe spaces for gay and lesbian individuals. The groups visibility actions were to “mystify, terrify, and enchant” (queernationny.org).

On April 13^th, 1990, “Nights Out” was established in response to make it evidently clear that queers would not be restricted to gay bars for socialization and for public displays of affection. In other words, queer individuals desired for a less limiting bar scene; queers desired to ability to socialize freely without experiencing hatred or discrimination. Also, queer individuals desired the ability to display affection in everyday life and not just gay bars where it was openly acceptable to do so.

After a 120% increase of violence in New York City against queers, Queer Nation climbed the roof of a West Village Bar by the name of Badlands with a banner reading “Dykes and Fags Bash Back!” on April 26^th, 1990.

A pipe bomb exploded on April 28^th, 1990 in Uncle Charlie’s located in Greenwich Village, a gay bar. Three individuals were injured and in protest Queer Nation assembled 1,000 queers within hours, traveled to Newport Mall (Jersey City, NJ), and handed out pamphlets with information regarding queers, safe sex tips, and a list of famous queer individuals throughout history.

August 18^th, 1990: Jackson Heights, Queens, resident Julio Rivera was an openly gay man who was murdered while walking home late at night on July 2, 1990. Rivera was hit in the head 14 times and was stabbed in the back by three armed men. Rivera managed to drag himself onto the sidewalk and was coincidentally found by his former lover as they waited for help to arrive. After police framed this incident as a drug-deal-gone-bad instead of a hate crime, Queer Nation, alongside the Julio Rivera Anti-Violence Coalition of Queen, organized a march through the neighborhood in which Rivera was brutally murdered in. This became the first case to be tried as a hate crime in the state of New York (latinousa.org).

Present Day Queer Nation

The Dump Russian Vodka Campaign

#DumpRussianVodka

Most recently, in response to the anti-LGBT laws enacted in Russia, Queer Nation continues to boycott against Russian vodka and Russian goods. Queer Nation desires to inform individuals worldwide of the legal and social challenges fellow Russian LGBT individuals experience since the passage of such repressive anti-gay regulations. For example, neither same-sex marriage nor civil unions of same-sex couples are legal in Russia. Also, a single person, regardless of sexual orientation, can adopt children. However, same-sex couples cannot adopt children together.

Raising Awareness

How You Can Dump Russian Vodka

Queer Nation seeks for a positive global effect in boycotting Russian goods. Queer Nation suggest for LGBT and non-LGBT individuals to stop consuming Russian Vodka. Queer Nation further suggests to tell your local liquor store to stop carrying Russian vodka, to tell your bartender to stop serving Russian vodka, and to tell local restaurants to stop purchasing Russian vodka. Queer Nation lastly states to stage a “Dump Russian Vodka” event at your bar(s).

Queer Nation Nationwide

Throughout the early 1990s, Queer Nation developed chapters nationwide, including Atlanta, Denver, Houston, Portland, and San Francisco.

Throughout the early 1990s, Queer Nation developed chapters nationwide.

• Queer Nation/San Francisco was established in June of 1990. An attempt to revive the group in 1992 was unsuccessful and ultimately led to the end of Queer Nation/San Francisco.
• Queer Nation LA staged protests in the early 1990s against Hollywood’s perceived homophobia.
• Queer Nation in Houston held multiple major demonstrations:
• Protesting against the death of Paul Broussard, a 27-year-old gay man who was attacked and stabbed to death outside of a Houston, Texas nightclub after an intoxicated encounter between Broussard himself and a group of high school students on the night of July 4, 1991.
• Protesting against the discrimination in which Brian Bradley, an HIV-positive nurse, endured after being removed from his position as an O.R. nurse at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (TX).
• Protesting against Houston City Councilman John Goodner, who called for a quarantine against HIV-positive individuals in the early 1990s (anti-gay politics).

For more information regarding Queer Nation, please visit the following websites:

QueerNationNY
@QueerNationNY

QueerNationNY on Facebook

Equality California

Equality California (also referred to simply as EQCA), is a statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization and is the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender movement organization based in the state of California. Amongst the organization’s standards are seeking equality, acceptance, and social justice for the LGBT community in California. Also included within the aforementioned standards are the well-being of the LGBT Californians and advancing the health care services provided to those in the LGBT community. With a goal to educate the minds of many individuals regarding the effects of the LGBT community using electoral, advocacy, and mobilization programs, Equality California strives to create a broad and diverse LGBT alliance with the help of educators, government officials, and social justice communities. Equality California is an organization in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals will feel safe and accepted within their own community. Equality California strives to expand this safety and acceptance globally.

Affiliated Organizations

Equality California is comprised of two organizations: Equality California (EQCA) and the equality California institute (EQCAI). The two organizations utilize the electoral, advocacy, education, and mobilization programs.

Equality California Political Action Committees

Equality California supports candidates who support the advocacy of full equality for all Californians. Equality California further supports campaigns that sponsor the fair treatment of all Californians.

What Has Equality California Achieved?

As the largest nationwide LGBT civil rights organization, Equality California seeks to expand the rights of all individuals within the LGBT community. Equality California continues to tackle critical issues faced within the LGBT community both inside and outside of the state of California.

Equality California and Civil Rights

Non-discrimination

Equality California has set the most inclusive set of non-discrimination defenses of any state in the United States. These non-discrimination defenses essentially guarantee the protection of every member in the LGBT community regardless of skin complexion, residence, or immigration status.

Marriage and Relationship Recognition

Since the 2013 passage of the United States Supreme Court decision to guarantee the right of same-sex marriage in America, Equality California works to warrant that same-sex couples and their families are provided the full and equal protections that marriage provides in the state of California.

Immigration

LGBT individuals are represented in every community within the state of California as well as throughout the United States. This representation includes undocumented and immigrant communities. Equality California strives to assist LGBT community and non-LGBT community  undocumented individuals safely come out instead of hiding.

Transgender Rights

Despite the multitude of historic events that have taken place in the state of California – and in the United States as an entirety – the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community continues to experience discrimination in many aspects of life. Equality California for over the last ten years has been working to secure non-discrimination protections for transgender individuals. Protections include education, employment, housing accommodations, and healthcare.

Youth and Schools

According to research, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth are three to four times more likely than non-gay peers to attempt suicide. A reported 60% of transgender youth report having considered suicide alone. 40% of homeless youth are LGBT – homelessness is often due to the lack of family acceptance.

Criminal Justice

According to Equality California, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals face disparate rates of arrest, conviction, and incarceration. Equality California makes it evident that LGBT individuals, upon entrance into the criminal justice system, are more likely than non-LGBT individuals to experience sexual and physical harassment. Equality California strives to work in coalition with an array of allies to address the aforementioned inequalities and improve LGBT interaction with the criminal justice system.

Seniors

The senior population within the LGBT community is expected to rise by the year of 2030 (Baby Boomers). As LGBT seniors near retirement, they face many potential challenges. Oftentimes, seniors are never much thought of, and as LGBT individuals, it is important to keep senior individuals into consideration. LGBT senior – like most LGBT individuals of all ages – continue to face discrimination, harassment, and dismissal. Oftentimes, LGBT individuals within the senior community are rejected by assisted living center and nursing home. Thus, Equality California continues to work on the necessary budgetary resources to ensure that LGBT seniors in California live dignified lives.

HIV/AIDS

Upon scientific research, HIV/AIDS continues to take the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. The Center for Disease Control has reported a significant increase (132%) in new HIV infections in gay and bisexual men from the ages of 13 to 24. The funding for many HIV/AIDS programs has ultimately been reduced. One of Equality California’s priorities are to effectively fund HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs.

Faith

In 2015 Equality California merged with California Faith for Equality. California Faith for Equality is a network of an estimated 300 clergy members from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish Californian congregations. The California Faith for Equality program strives to provide a network of acceptance and a tolerant voice of religion in response to the anti-LGBT rhetoric oftentimes preached by many leaders of faith. California Faith for Equality essentially desires for congregations to support and welcome LGBT members and support LGBT civil rights and equality.