CoastPride provides this clearinghouse of all things LGBTQ. Whether you’re a Coastsider looking for additional services and support, a visitor searching for LGBT-friendly businesses and services, or a professional seeking opportunities or training, CoastPride is here for you. Contact us if you don’t see a resource you are looking for or wish to share a new resource with us.
Disclaimer | We are providing this as information only. Inclusion of an organization, program, or service on this list does not imply endorsement, nor are we liable for errors of omission in publishing this list. Information and/or content at links to third party services from this site, is in no way an affiliation, endorsement, support or approval of the third party.
Ridgefield Recovery | The 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that 18.7 million people age 18 or older had a substance use disorder in the United States. Furthermore, people who identify as gay or lesbian are more than twice as likely than those who identify as heterosexual to have a severe alcohol or tobacco use disorder.
Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program | Since 1991, The Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program (ASAT) of Adolescent Counseling Services has been providing professional assessment and outpatient treatment services specifically designed for youth struggling with substance abuse and/or addiction. ASAT is a harm reduction outpatient treatment program for adolescents that addresses the underlying causes of use/abuse, along with encouraging abstinence and healthy lifestyles. To schedule an appointment, please contact 650.424.0852 x108, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
StopBullying.gov | Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) youth and those perceived as LGBTQ are at an increased risk of being bullied. Learn how to identify bullying and how to stand up to it safely.
Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits | Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) exists to restore and recover the role of Two-Spirit people within the American Indian/First Nations community by creating a forum for the spiritual, cultural and artistic expression of Two-Spirit people.
CoastPride invites you to ask whether your congregation is both affirming and welcoming of our LGBTQ neighbors and to share this information with us so that we may list all welcoming congregations here:
There are several Christian denominations that have been engaged in an ongoing effort to create an LGBTQ Welcoming Congregations Movement for over 20 years. In researching the process, they have found several important links between pro-LGBTQ advocacy and religious community vitality. Jane Heckles (1997) found that, during 11 periods from 1981-1995, churches that took on an Open and Affirming (ONA) process experienced increases in memberships. Open and Affirming is the designation for congregations, campus ministries, and other bodies in the United Church of Christ which make public statements of welcome into their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
The Welcoming Synagogues Project was partially developed to conduct a never before assessment of Jewish denominations around LGBT inclusion. As part of the research phase, which began the Welcoming Synagogues Project, every synagogue in the country across denominations (over 3000 synagogues in North America) were surveyed. Of the 760 rabbis who responded, 41% indicated that when their congregations pro-actively reached out to gay and lesbian Jews, they gained members, and only 2% reported losing members (Aviv, Cohen, & Veinstein, 2009)
The research shows that congregations that engage in a Welcoming process actually become involved in and hold more progressive attitudes toward a wider breadth of social justice issues (Schlager, 2004). In fact, in To Do Justice, Voelkel found that over half of the pastors of Welcoming congregations felt that their work on LGBT issues made the congregation more active regarding other social justice issues, such as universal human rights, homelessness, immigration, economic justice, racial justice, environmental justice, HIV/AIDS, health care, hunger, women’s rights, disability rights, and hate crimes. That research shows that these same congregations, while attracting new LGBT members, also attract younger heterosexuals and their families and others who want to support an “extravagantly” welcoming congregation.
1 Open and Affirming is the designation for congregations, campus ministries, and other bodies in the United Church of Christ which make public statements of welcome into their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. See http://www.ucccoalition.org/programs/ONA/ for more information.
Fiscal Tiger | Fiscal Tiger is an online personal finance resource created by a collective of finance authors and researchers. We recognize the distinct financial challenges that people in the transgender community face as they begin their gender transition, so we created a guide that aims to provide readers with detailed information to help them understand the medical and legal costs associated with gender transition.
Eliminating LGBT health disparities and enhancing efforts to improve LGBTQ health are necessary to ensure that LGBT individuals can lead long, healthy lives. Efforts to improve LGBTQ health include:
A health disparity is a health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, or environmental disadvantage.
Healthy People 2020 – Focus LGBTQ | The Office of Disease Prevention and Health conducts a Healthy People initiative every decade.
Fenway Institute | The Fenway Institute is an interdisciplinary center for research, training, education, and policy development, focusing on national and international health issues. Our mission is to ensure access to quality, culturally competent medical and mental health care for traditionally underserved communities, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and those affected by HIV/AIDS.
First Do No Harm – Reducing Disparities for LGBTQ CA Populations (2014) | In collaboration with Equality California Institute and Mental Health America of Northern California, the Strategic Planning Workgroup (SPW) of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ) Reducing Disparities Project was charged by the former California Department of Mental Health (DMH) to seek disparities across the state of California.
LGBTQ Mental Health Brief (HRC)
San Mateo County Coastside Clinics
Center of Excellence for Transgender Health | Resources on routine care, cultural competency, HIV prevention, mental health, and policies. Some of their resources include:
Jim Collins Foundation | Jim Collins was an avid trans ally, a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and a clinical instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. The Jim Collins Foundation funds gender-affirming surgeries for transgender people.
National LGBT Health Education Center | Provides educational programs, resources, and consultation to health care organizations with the goal of optimizing quality, cost-effective health care for LGBT people. The Education Center is a part of The Fenway Institute, the research, training, and health policy division of Fenway Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center, and one of the world’s largest LGBT-focused health centers. Some important publications:
WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) | International multidisciplinary association that publishes the Standards of Care and Ethical Guidelines, about psychological, medical and surgical treatment.
American Psychological Association
California Department of Public Health Office of Aids
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
The Center for HIV Law Policy in California
San Mateo County Department of Public Health | HIV Positive Services
AIDS Program Prevention | Edison Clinic, San Mateo
The Trevor Project | Counseling for young people in distress, via phone or online chat. 24-hour hotline: (866) 488-7386
Transgender Suicide Prevention Lifeline or Trans Life Line | Run by transgender volunteers. 24-hour hotline (877) 565-8860
Suicide Prevention Lifeline | Hotline, chatline, and LGBTQ support services. 24-hour hotline. Dial 988 or (800) 273-8255
Peer Listening Line | Project of Fenway Health Anonymous and confidential help line for accessing support from other LGBTQ youth (not specific to suicide) (800) 399-PEER
California’s Safe Schools Coalition | Resources for understanding school safety for transgender students
Family Acceptance Project (San Francisco State University) | A research, intervention, education and policy initiative that works to prevent health and mental health risks for LGBT children and youth, including suicide, homelessness and HIV—in the context of their families, cultures and faith communities.
Trans Justice Project | Support grassroots, trans justice groups run by and for trans people.
Trans Youth Equality Foundation | Education, advocacy and support for transgender youths and their families.
It Gets Better Project | Collects videos geared toward LGBT youth, and BetterLegal uses the video library to support the efforts of legal services organizations.
Campus Pride | A national student-led organization that offers the Campus Pride Index, a list of L.G.B.T.-friendly colleges and universities.
PFLAG | A national organization for the families, friends and allies of L.G.B.T.Q. people, with many local chapters.
Gender Spectrum | A community for families, schools, professionals and organizations that fosters gender-sensitive environments for all young people.
Live Out Loud | Connects transgender high school students with transgender professionals in their community.
GLSEN: Transgender Student Rights | Provides resources, legal support and a student network for creating safe schools.
GLAAD | Uses media to raise awareness to (1) end HIV/AIDS; (2) accelerate LGBTQ acceptance; (3) advance meaningful representation of LGBTQ Latinx people and (4) promote anti-bullying of LGBTQ youth through spirit day.
GSA Gay Straight Alliance Network | provides resources to start and support existing GSAs in schools.
Equality California | A statewide advocacy group that is the largest LGBTQ organization in the US
The National Center for Transgender Equality | A national advocacy group with a legal document service center.
The National Lesbian Rights Task Force
Transgender Law Center | A national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice. Some important publications include:
Transgender Law and Policy Institute | A national advocacy group
Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund | Offers legal services, test-case litigation and public education.
UNICEF
American Civil Liberties Union | Updated information about transgender rights.
Human Rights Campaign | A national LGBT advocacy organization.
CenterLink | National coalition of LGBT community centers.
The National LGBTQ Task Force | Trains activists to address a range of issues.
Transgender Law Center | Provides information about relevant laws.
Lambda Legal | A national LGBT advocacy organization
National Center for Lesbian Rights | transgender law
National Center for Transgender Equality
Black Trans Men | Provides resources and advocacy, including scholarships.
Trans Women of Color Collective | A national social-justice organizing group.
Honor 41 | A national Latino LGBTQ online community.
Lambda Legal | Resources and Support for Transgender Immigrants
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance | Focuses on grass-roots organizing and leadership development.
American Military Partner Association | Resource and support network for the partners, spouses, families and allies of LGBT service members and veterans.
Palm Center | Sponsors research about transgender people in the military.
Transgender American Veteran’s Association | Advocacy, employment and benefits for open trans service members, spouses and family.
Pride@Work | Builds ties between organized labor and the LGBT community.
Out and Equal | Workplace-equality advocates for LGBT employees.
Give a Damn Campaign | Resources and information about LGBT equality.
Allyship, Gender Equity Resource Center | Offers resources on a range of issues.
Athlete Ally | Builds solidarity with the LGBT community in athletics.
TransYouth Family Allies | Resources for parents, educators, health care practitioners and youths.
CORA | Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) is the only agency in San Mateo County solely dedicated to helping those affected by intimate partner abuse. From counseling, to emergency housing, to legal assistance, our services are designed to provide safety, support, and healing. 24-hour hotline 800.300.1080
Transgender older adults face profound challenges and experience striking disparities in areas such as quality of health and access to health care services, mental health care, employment, housing and other areas of livelihood. Research reveals that many transgender elders routinely encounter both a health care system and an aging network that are ill-prepared to provide culturally competent care and services and create residential environments that affirm the gender identities and expressions of transgender older people. Residential care facilities must have transgender cultural competency training for administrators in senior care facilities. (See Cal. Health and Safety Code Section1562.3). Licensed health professionals in nursing homes and senior care facilities must receive transgender training. (See Cal. Health and Safety Code Section 1257.5.) Transgender seniors must receive adequate services and protections from discrimination in state-funded programs. All local needs assessment and area plans must consider the unique needs of transgender seniors. (See Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 9103 and 9103.1.)
Some transgender people engage in sex work, drug sales or other aspects of the street economy in order to survive. This puts them at a higher risk of arrest and imprisonment. Some transgender people have also been arrested simply because they are transgender because of prejudice on the part of a police officer who believes that all transgender people are engaged in illegal work. Current California laws protect people from discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression. California non-discrimination laws, including hate crimes, define "gender" to mean sex including a person’s gender identity and gender expression. (See Cal. Penal Code Sections 422.55(a)(2) and 422.56(c).)
In a criminal case, a party can request a jury instruction that defines bias: inclusive of bias against the victim based upon gender identity or sexual orientation, thereby judicially limiting a defense strategy, known as the gay panic defense, to neutralize jurors’ transgender bias and reduce a defendant’s culpability for killing a gender-nonconforming individual. Prosecutors must receive training materials explaining how to prevent bias, including transgender bias, from affecting the outcome of a trial. (See The Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act and Cal. Penal Code Section 1127h.)
Discrimination is a major contributor to the tremendously high rates of unemployment and underemployment faced by transgender people. United States Attorney General Holder announced in December 2014 that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will take the position in litigation that the protection of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 extends to claims of discrimination based on an individual’s gender identity, including transgender status. It is unlawful for an employer to refuse to hire, accept for a training program, or employ a person, or to discharge a person from employment, or to discriminate against a person in compensation or in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of the person’s gender identity or gender expression. (See Cal. Gov’t. Code Sections 12940(a) and 12926(p).)
Like most people, transgender and gender non-conforming people have great difficulty securing affordable, comprehensive health care. The situation is exacerbated by systemic discrimination and health care providers’ lack of basic cultural competency on transgender issues. It is unlawful for an insurance or health care service plan to refuse to enter into any contract, or to cancel or decline to renew or reinstate any contract, because of a person’s gender identity. The California Department of Managed Health Care has ordered California’s health plans to remove blanket exclusions of coverage based on gender identity or gender expression in compliance with the California Insurance Gender Nondiscrimination Act, passed in 2005. (An insurer is not required to offer a policy that includes coverage for hormone replacement therapy or transition-related surgery. It is currently permissible for an insurance plan to contain exclusions for certain medical conditions, and some insurers consider being transgender a medical condition.) This law does mean, however, that when an insurer offers a plan to a transgender person, the terms of the plan must apply equally to transgender and non-transgender people. (See Cal. Health and Safety Code Section 1365.5(a).)
Discrimination in housing for transgender and gender non-conforming people often lead to negative housing impacts in other critical areas of life such as employment, health care and criminal justice and, moreover, safety nets meant to help people in a housing crisis often fail transgender people. Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming people. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development clarified that the Fair Housing Act (FHA)’s prohibition against “gender discrimination” included protection for transgender people. The FHA is the federal law that prohibits discrimination in federally funded housing properties, as well as with regard to federally funded housing loans. It is unlawful for the owner of any housing accommodation to discriminate against or harass any person because of gender identity. (See Cal. Gov’t. Code Section 12955(a).)
In order to live safe, full, and authentic lives, it is essential that transgender people have access to identity documents, such as photo ID, that accurately reflect their current name, gender identity, and gender expression. The State Registrar must issue a new birth certificate reflecting the person's correct sex and any change in name without a court order for any person born in California who submits a physician’s affidavit stating that the person has undergone clinically appropriate treatment for the purpose of gender transition. (See Cal. Health and Safety Code Sections 103426 and 103430.)
Any place that provides goods and services to the general public is considered a public accommodation. This includes restaurants, grocery stores, health clinics, hospitals, health clubs, homeless shelters and most social services. Transgender and gender nonconforming people often experience discrimination when accessing public accommodations including being refused service, being treated differently than their non-transgender peers, or being victims to harmful verbal and physical violence when simply trying to carry out their daily activities. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigates the reports of discrimination based on gender identity, can arrange mediation, sue an employer, or give the person making the report permission to bring a lawsuit. The EEOC found that "discrimination against a transgender individual because that person is transgender is . . . discrimination ‘based on . . . sex,' and . . . violates Title VII." All persons regardless of gender identity are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever. (See Cal. Civ. Code Section 51(b).)
Young people, who are perceived as gender nonconforming or who identify as trans or gender queer, regularly face harassment and abuse at school, in group homes, and other settings. In California, they have a right to a safe, welcoming place to learn free of discrimination. A student has the right to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities (lockers and restrooms) consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the student’s records. (See Cal. Education Code Sections 220, 221.5, 235, 260, 51500, 66251, and 66270.) The National Collegiate Athletic Association, which organizes competitive sports at over 1,000 colleges and universities, allows transgender student-athletes to participate in sex-segregated sports consistent with their gender identity.
ACLU | LGBTQ Rights
California’s Safe Schools Coalition | Understanding School Safety for Transgender Students and Safe Schools Resource Guide
Campus Pride's Trans Policy Clearinghouse
Center of Excellence for Transgender Health | part of UCSF
courts.ca.gov | Gender Change
Equality California | Transgender Rights
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network | Transgender Rights
Gay Straight Alliance Network publications
GLAAD Transgender Media Project
International Foundation for Gender Education
Jim Collins Foundation | Jim Collins was an avid trans ally, a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and a clinical instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. The Jim Collins Foundation funds gender-affirming surgeries for transgender people who need surgery to live a healthy and happy life, but cannot afford the surgery.
Lambda Legal | Transgender rights
National Center for Lesbian Rights | Lesbian and transgender law
National Center for Transgender Equality
National LGBT Health Education Center | part of the Fenway Institute
PFLAG | Transgender
Susan’s Place Transgender Resources | News and an online forum.
SageUSA | Transgender Elders
TransGuys | An Internet magazine for transgender men.
Transgender Law Center | Highlights from Website
Transgender Law and Policy Institute
Transgender Legal | Defense and Education Fund (transgenderlegal.org)
Trans Academics | archived site, but has active listserv/gender identity resources for academia
Trans Women of Color Collective (twocc.us)
UNICEF | Position Paper: Sexual Identification and Gender Identity (November 2014)
World Professional Association for Transgender Health (wpath.org)
Assembly Bill 2119, authored by gay Assemblyman Todd Gloria (D-San Diego), and adopted in 2018, requires transgender foster youth receive health care services consistent with their gender identity. It includes interventions to align a patient’s physical appearance with the patient’s gender identity and interventions to alleviate symptoms of gender dysphoria. The California Department of Social Services, in consultation with the California Department of Healthcare Services, is required to develop guidelines by January 1, 2020 on how to identify, coordinate, and support foster youth who wish to access gender-affirming health care.
Assembly Bill 711, authored by Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) and adopted in 2019, ensures that transgender students can obtain their school records and diplomas with their preferred name and gender pronoun.
Assembly Bill 493, authored by Assemblyman Gloria (D-San Diego), the Safe and Supportive Schools Act of 2019, calls on public schools to provide training on LGBT cultural competency and how to address LGBT-based bullying to teachers and other certificated staff members. While the bill takes effect in 2020, it gives the California Department of Education, overseen by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, until July 1, 2021 to develop and update its resources and training materials so they incorporate the LGBT topics. At the request of Governor Gavin Newsom, lawmakers removed from the bill the requirement that the training be mandatory as it was estimated to cost the state’s 343 school districts a combined $3.25 million. In exchange, he promised to work with LGBT lawmakers and advocates on providing funding for school districts to train their teachers in his 2020 budget proposal.
Senate Bill 495, authored by Senator Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), codifies into state law that a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity can’t be used to disqualify them as being an adoptive parent or legal guardian of a child.
AB 2684, the LGBTQ Family Law Modernization Act of 2018 authored by Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), takes effect January 1, 2020. It ensures that the parentage provisions of the state Family Code treat same-sex parents equally.
Assembly Bill 785, the Uniform Parentage Act Updates, authored by Assemblyman Bloom (D-Santa Monica), will assist LGBT couples and others who use gamete banks when wanting to have children. It requires gamete banks receiving donors’ gametes to maintain the contact information of the gamete bank from which the samples were received. The measure also clarifies health code regulations to include oocyte and embryo donors.
Assembly Bill 962, co-authored by Assemblywoman Autumn Burke (D-Inglewood) and Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), requires California hospitals to publicly disclose how much they are contracting with LGBT-owned businesses. The reports must also include businesses owned by women, minorities, and other disadvantaged groups.
Senate Bill 534, authored by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), requires the state’s $310 billion insurance industry biennially report how much it is contracting with businesses owned by women, people of color, veterans, and LGBT individuals. Gay Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara co-sponsored the legislation, as it revives the state agency’s Insurance Diversity Initiative, which aims to see insurers have diverse suppliers and governing boards, and expands its scope to include LGBT- and veteran-owned businesses.
California’s long experience with the utility companies shows that simply requiring firms to report their levels of contracting with businesses owned by people of color, women, veterans and LGBT people leads to big increases in contracting with diverse businesses.
Senate Bill 159, authored by Gloria and gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), authorizes pharmacies to furnish at least 30 days worth, and up to 60 days, of pre-exposure prophylaxis pills that have proved to be effective at preventing the transmission of HIV. Local pharmacies are required to provide a two-month supply of an HIV prevention medicine known as PrEP to customers without having a prescription from their primary care doctor.
Pharmacies will also be able to supply customers with a 28-day regimen of drugs for PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, that has proved to be effective at keeping someone HIV-negative if they have been exposed to HIV through sex.
The legislation also prohibits insurance companies from requiring patients to obtain prior authorization before using their insurance benefits to obtain PrEP or PEP from a pharmacy.
The Board of Pharmacy has until July 1, 2020 to adopt the emergency regulations needed in order for SB 159 to be implemented.
Outlet | Founded in 1997, the Outlet program of Adolescent Counseling Services empowers Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ+) youth and builds safe and accepting communities through support groups, educational workshops, consultations, and advocacy. Outlet program staff provide a safe environment that is confidential, inclusive, and non-judgmental. Outlet envisions a world that embraces, empowers, and celebrates LGBTQ+ youth. For more information, please contact 650.424.0852 x107, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
LGBTQ Mental Health Brief | HRC
Briana Carr, Psy.D | Dr. Carr has worked with a diverse range of clients in regard to age, ethnicity, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation and religion/spirituality on a wide spectrum of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, parent-child/family issues and adjustment to life changes. She has additional training in LGBTQ mental health issues.
Caroline Morton, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Ms. Morton’s areas of expertise include mood disorders, life transitions, relationships, parenting/co-parenting, trauma and grief/loss, with an approach guided by Humanistic Existential principals. Her focus is strength-based, with an emphasis on the body-mind connection, and interventions are eclectic and tailored to the needs of my clients
Ms. Morton is bilingual, speaking Spanish and English.
Sources: One of eleven issue briefs based on the SAGE/MAP report Improving the Lives of LGBT Older Adults. See more at: http://www.lgbtagingcenter.org/resources/resource.cfm?r=24#sthash.lHeSjl4a.dpuf; http://sageusa.org/issues/general.cfm#sthash.DAYUxoxF.dpuf; https://www.sageusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sageusa-the-facts-on-lgbt-aging.pdf
Sharing and Caring for lesbians 55+ | Fridays, 3:00 – 4:00 pm.
Meet interesting people like yourself. Build community and make new friends. Understanding and empathy to provide comfort when life gets challenging.
These gatherings are guided by trained facilitator Roberta Gonzales-Gregg, Outlook Video LGBTQ+ Magazine talk show host and producer. All you need is a computer, tablet or smartphone. Zoom training is provided. For the Zoom link, please rsvp to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Schools are on the front line of providing a safety net against the effects of discrimination and lack of acceptance for the LGBTQ community, which can result in higher dropout rates, lower economic success, higher rates of homelessness, higher rates of substance abuse and suicide, and all the disparities in health and well-being that LGBTQ people face. If LGBTQ students have support in school, their likelihood of overcoming these disparities and succeeding later in life increases significantly.
Since 1994, LGBT History Month has been raising awareness of the role of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in American history. By increasing visibility, we build community and underscore the civil rights that must be safeguarded for everyone and highlight the contributions of LGBTQ people and allies.
Spirit Day is a means of speaking out against LGBTQ bullying and standing with LGBTQ youth, who disproportionately face bullying and harassment because of their identities. Pledging to go purple on Spirit Day is a way for everyone to visibly show solidarity with LGBTQ youth.
Suicide Prevention Training for Teachers and School Staff – AB 2639 (2018):
Anti-Bullying Training for Teachers and School Staff – AB 2291 (2018):
LGBTQ Cultural Competency Training for Teachers and School Staff – AB 2153 (vetoed by Gov. 2018):
LGBTQ communities face disproportionately high rates of poverty, suicide, homelessness, isolation, substance abuse, and violence, and low rates of health insurance. These issues are more prevalent for youth and seniors, communities of color, and transgender and undocumented communities. Unless sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) data are collected, it is not possible to determine if programs are meeting the needs of the LGBTQ community.
There are studies that show integrating sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) data collection into all settings is both acceptable to our community and feasible using existing SOGIE question designs.
Codifying LGBT-inclusive data collection in all settings, at intake and upon evaluation of services, will help us detect and address disparities, while also serving to show that the Coastside is a model for ensuring equal opportunity for all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Based on the results of a study the Fenway Institute came up with some best practices for collecting sexual orientation and gender identity data in a clinical setting. The questions include the following:
Do you think of yourself as:
☐ Lesbian, gay or homosexual
☐ Straight or heterosexual
☐ Bisexual
☐ Something else
☐ Don’t know
What is your current gender? (check all that apply)
☐ Male
☐ Female
☐ Female-to-Male (FTM)/Transgender
☐ Male/Trans Man
☐ Male-to-Female (MTF)/Transgender
☐ Female/Trans Woman ☐ Genderqueer, neither exclusively male nor female
☐ Additional Gender Category/(or Other), please specify
☐ Decline to Answer, please explain why
What sex were you assigned on your original birth certificate?
☐ Male
☐ Female
☐ Decline to Answer, please explain why
Williams Institute | A research center at the University of California at Los Angeles, focusing on gender identity law.
Sharing and Caring for lesbians 55+ | Fridays, 3:00 – 4:00 pm.
Meet interesting people like yourself. Build community and make new friends. Understanding and empathy to provide comfort when life gets challenging.
These gatherings are guided by trained facilitator Roberta Gonzales-Gregg, Outlook Video LGBTQ+ Magazine talk show host and producer. All you need is a computer, tablet or smartphone. Zoom training is provided. For the Zoom link, please rsvp to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Trans athlete resources | Resources for students, athletes, coaches, and administrators to find information about trans inclusion in athletics at all levels of play.
Camp Tawonga Keshet LGBTQ Family Camp | The first of its kind in the Jewish camping world, Keshet LGBTQ Family camp is a summer weekend designed for non-traditional families to come together and celebrate who they are. Yosemite, CA.
Camp it Up! | The first LGBTQ+ family and allies camp in the United States is a dynamic and diverse community that gathers each year in the summer for a eight-day family-camp program at Feather River Camp in Quincy, CA.
Brave Trails | Brave Trails was formed to respond to the needs of the large and growing population of LGBTQ youth in the greater Los Angeles area, and empower the next generation of LGBTQ leaders and give them the tools to continue in the quest for justice and civil rights, for all. San Bernardino National Forest
Trans Student Educational Resources | The longest list of LGBTQ+ camps on the internet.
Ridgefield Recovery | The 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that 18.7 million people age 18 or older had a substance use disorder in the United States. Furthermore, people who identify as gay or lesbian are more than twice as likely than those who identify as heterosexual to have a sever alcohol or tobacco use disorder.
Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program | Since 1991, The Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program (ASAT) of Adolescent Counseling Services has been providing professional assessment and outpatient treatment services specifically designed for youth struggling with substance abuse and/or addiction. ASAT is a harm reduction outpatient treatment program for adolescents that addresses the underlying causes of use/abuse, along with encouraging abstinence and healthy lifestyles. To schedule an appointment, please contact 650.424.0852 x108, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
StopBullying.gov | Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) youth and those perceived as LGBTQ are at an increased risk of being bullied. Learn how to identify bullying and how to stand up to it safely.
Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits | Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) exists to restore and recover the role of Two-Spirit people within the American Indian/First Nations community by creating a forum for the spiritual, cultural and artistic expression of Two-Spirit people.
CoastPride invites you to ask whether your congregation is both affirming and welcoming of our LGBTQ neighbors and to share this information with us so that we may list all welcoming congregations here:
There are several Christian denominations that have been engaged in an ongoing effort to create an LGBTQ Welcoming Congregations Movement for over 20 years. In researching the process, they have found several important links between pro-LGBTQ advocacy and religious community vitality. Jane Heckles (1997) found that, during 11 periods from 1981-1995, churches that took on an Open and Affirming (ONA) process experienced increases in memberships. Open and Affirming is the designation for congregations, campus ministries, and other bodies in the United Church of Christ which make public statements of welcome into their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
The Welcoming Synagogues Project was partially developed to conduct a never before assessment of Jewish denominations around LGBT inclusion. As part of the research phase, which began the Welcoming Synagogues Project, every synagogue in the country across denominations (over 3000 synagogues in North America) were surveyed. Of the 760 rabbis who responded, 41% indicated that when their congregations pro-actively reached out to gay and lesbian Jews, they gained members, and only 2% reported losing members (Aviv, Cohen, & Veinstein, 2009)
The research shows that congregations that engage in a Welcoming process actually become involved in and hold more progressive attitudes toward a wider breadth of social justice issues (Schlager, 2004). In fact, in To Do Justice, Voelkel found that over half of the pastors of Welcoming congregations felt that their work on LGBT issues made the congregation more active regarding other social justice issues, such as universal human rights, homelessness, immigration, economic justice, racial justice, environmental justice, HIV/AIDS, health care, hunger, women’s rights, disability rights, and hate crimes. That research shows that these same congregations, while attracting new LGBT members, also attract younger heterosexuals and their families and others who want to support an “extravagantly” welcoming congregation.
1 Open and Affirming is the designation for congregations, campus ministries, and other bodies in the United Church of Christ which make public statements of welcome into their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. See http://www.ucccoalition.org/programs/ONA/ for more information.
Fiscal Tiger | Fiscal Tiger is an online personal finance resource created by a collective of finance authors and researchers. We recognize the distinct financial challenges that people in the transgender community face as they begin their gender transition, so we created a guide that aims to provide readers with detailed information to help them understand the medical and legal costs associated with gender transition.
Eliminating LGBT health disparities and enhancing efforts to improve LGBTQ health are necessary to ensure that LGBT individuals can lead long, healthy lives. Efforts to improve LGBTQ health include:
A health disparity is a health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, or environmental disadvantage.
Healthy People 2020 – Focus LGBTQ | The Office of Disease Prevention and Health conducts a Healthy People initiative every decade.
Fenway Institute | The Fenway Institute is an interdisciplinary center for research, training, education, and policy development, focusing on national and international health issues. Our mission is to ensure access to quality, culturally competent medical and mental health care for traditionally underserved communities, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and those affected by HIV/AIDS.
First Do No Harm – Reducing Disparities for LGBTQ CA Populations (2014) | In collaboration with Equality California Institute and Mental Health America of Northern California, the Strategic Planning Workgroup (SPW) of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ) Reducing Disparities Project was charged by the former California Department of Mental Health (DMH) to seek disparities across the state of California.
LGBTQ Mental Health Brief (HRC)
San Mateo County Coastside Clinics
Center of Excellence for Transgender Health | Resources on routine care, cultural competency, HIV prevention, mental health, and policies. Some of their resources include:
Jim Collins Foundation | Jim Collins was an avid trans ally, a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and a clinical instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. The Jim Collins Foundation funds gender-affirming surgeries for transgender people.
National LGBT Health Education Center | Provides educational programs, resources, and consultation to health care organizations with the goal of optimizing quality, cost-effective health care for LGBT people. The Education Center is a part of The Fenway Institute, the research, training, and health policy division of Fenway Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center, and one of the world’s largest LGBT-focused health centers. Some important publications:
WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) | International multidisciplinary association that publishes the Standards of Care and Ethical Guidelines, about psychological, medical and surgical treatment.
American Psychological Association
California Department of Public Health Office of Aids
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
The Center for HIV Law Policy in California
San Mateo County Department of Public Health | HIV Positive Services
AIDS Program Prevention | Edison Clinic, San Mateo
The Trevor Project | Counseling for young people in distress, via phone or online chat. 24-hour hotline: (866) 488-7386
Transgender Suicide Prevention Lifeline or Trans Life Line | Run by transgender volunteers. 24-hour hotline (877) 565-8860
Suicide Prevention Lifeline | Hotline, chatline, and LGBTQ support services. 24-hour hotline. Dial 988 or (800) 273-8255
Peer Listening Line | Project of Fenway Health Anonymous and confidential help line for accessing support from other LGBTQ youth (not specific to suicide) (800) 399-PEER
California’s Safe Schools Coalition | Resources for understanding school safety for transgender students
Family Acceptance Project (San Francisco State University) | A research, intervention, education and policy initiative that works to prevent health and mental health risks for LGBT children and youth, including suicide, homelessness and HIV—in the context of their families, cultures and faith communities.
Trans Justice Project | Support grassroots, trans justice groups run by and for trans people.
Trans Youth Equality Foundation | Education, advocacy and support for transgender youths and their families.
It Gets Better Project | Collects videos geared toward LGBT youth, and BetterLegal uses the video library to support the efforts of legal services organizations.
Campus Pride | A national student-led organization that offers the Campus Pride Index, a list of L.G.B.T.-friendly colleges and universities.
PFLAG | A national organization for the families, friends and allies of L.G.B.T.Q. people, with many local chapters.
Gender Spectrum | A community for families, schools, professionals and organizations that fosters gender-sensitive environments for all young people.
Live Out Loud | Connects transgender high school students with transgender professionals in their community.
GLSEN: Transgender Student Rights | Provides resources, legal support and a student network for creating safe schools.
GLAAD | Uses media to raise awareness to (1) end HIV/AIDS; (2) accelerate LGBTQ acceptance; (3) advance meaningful representation of LGBTQ Latinx people and (4) promote anti-bullying of LGBTQ youth through spirit day.
GSA Gay Straight Alliance Network | provides resources to start and support existing GSAs in schools.
Equality California | A statewide advocacy group that is the largest LGBTQ organization in the US
The National Center for Transgender Equality | A national advocacy group with a legal document service center.
The National Lesbian Rights Task Force
Transgender Law Center | A national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice. Some important publications include:
Transgender Law and Policy Institute | A national advocacy group
Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund | Offers legal services, test-case litigation and public education.
UNICEF
American Civil Liberties Union | Updated information about transgender rights.
Human Rights Campaign | A national LGBT advocacy organization.
CenterLink | National coalition of LGBT community centers.
The National LGBTQ Task Force | Trains activists to address a range of issues.
Transgender Law Center | Provides information about relevant laws.
Lambda Legal | A national LGBT advocacy organization
National Center for Lesbian Rights | transgender law
National Center for Transgender Equality
Black Trans Men | Provides resources and advocacy, including scholarships.
Trans Women of Color Collective | A national social-justice organizing group.
Honor 41 | A national Latino LGBTQ online community.
Lambda Legal | Resources and Support for Transgender Immigrants
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance | Focuses on grass-roots organizing and leadership development.
American Military Partner Association | Resource and support network for the partners, spouses, families and allies of LGBT service members and veterans.
Palm Center | Sponsors research about transgender people in the military.
Transgender American Veteran’s Association | Advocacy, employment and benefits for open trans service members, spouses and family.
Pride@Work | Builds ties between organized labor and the LGBT community.
Out and Equal | Workplace-equality advocates for LGBT employees.
Give a Damn Campaign | Resources and information about LGBT equality.
Allyship, Gender Equity Resource Center | Offers resources on a range of issues.
Athlete Ally | Builds solidarity with the LGBT community in athletics.
TransYouth Family Allies | Resources for parents, educators, health care practitioners and youths.
CORA | Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) is the only agency in San Mateo County solely dedicated to helping those affected by intimate partner abuse. From counseling, to emergency housing, to legal assistance, our services are designed to provide safety, support, and healing. 24-hour hotline 800.300.1080
Transgender older adults face profound challenges and experience striking disparities in areas such as quality of health and access to health care services, mental health care, employment, housing and other areas of livelihood. Research reveals that many transgender elders routinely encounter both a health care system and an aging network that are ill-prepared to provide culturally competent care and services and create residential environments that affirm the gender identities and expressions of transgender older people. Residential care facilities must have transgender cultural competency training for administrators in senior care facilities. (See Cal. Health and Safety Code Section1562.3). Licensed health professionals in nursing homes and senior care facilities must receive transgender training. (See Cal. Health and Safety Code Section 1257.5.) Transgender seniors must receive adequate services and protections from discrimination in state-funded programs. All local needs assessment and area plans must consider the unique needs of transgender seniors. (See Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 9103 and 9103.1.)
Some transgender people engage in sex work, drug sales or other aspects of the street economy in order to survive. This puts them at a higher risk of arrest and imprisonment. Some transgender people have also been arrested simply because they are transgender because of prejudice on the part of a police officer who believes that all transgender people are engaged in illegal work. Current California laws protect people from discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression. California non-discrimination laws, including hate crimes, define "gender" to mean sex including a person’s gender identity and gender expression. (See Cal. Penal Code Sections 422.55(a)(2) and 422.56(c).)
In a criminal case, a party can request a jury instruction that defines bias: inclusive of bias against the victim based upon gender identity or sexual orientation, thereby judicially limiting a defense strategy, known as the gay panic defense, to neutralize jurors’ transgender bias and reduce a defendant’s culpability for killing a gender-nonconforming individual. Prosecutors must receive training materials explaining how to prevent bias, including transgender bias, from affecting the outcome of a trial. (See The Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act and Cal. Penal Code Section 1127h.)
Discrimination is a major contributor to the tremendously high rates of unemployment and underemployment faced by transgender people. United States Attorney General Holder announced in December 2014 that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will take the position in litigation that the protection of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 extends to claims of discrimination based on an individual’s gender identity, including transgender status. It is unlawful for an employer to refuse to hire, accept for a training program, or employ a person, or to discharge a person from employment, or to discriminate against a person in compensation or in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of the person’s gender identity or gender expression. (See Cal. Gov’t. Code Sections 12940(a) and 12926(p).)
Like most people, transgender and gender non-conforming people have great difficulty securing affordable, comprehensive health care. The situation is exacerbated by systemic discrimination and health care providers’ lack of basic cultural competency on transgender issues. It is unlawful for an insurance or health care service plan to refuse to enter into any contract, or to cancel or decline to renew or reinstate any contract, because of a person’s gender identity. The California Department of Managed Health Care has ordered California’s health plans to remove blanket exclusions of coverage based on gender identity or gender expression in compliance with the California Insurance Gender Nondiscrimination Act, passed in 2005. (An insurer is not required to offer a policy that includes coverage for hormone replacement therapy or transition-related surgery. It is currently permissible for an insurance plan to contain exclusions for certain medical conditions, and some insurers consider being transgender a medical condition.) This law does mean, however, that when an insurer offers a plan to a transgender person, the terms of the plan must apply equally to transgender and non-transgender people. (See Cal. Health and Safety Code Section 1365.5(a).)
Discrimination in housing for transgender and gender non-conforming people often lead to negative housing impacts in other critical areas of life such as employment, health care and criminal justice and, moreover, safety nets meant to help people in a housing crisis often fail transgender people. Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming people. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development clarified that the Fair Housing Act (FHA)’s prohibition against “gender discrimination” included protection for transgender people. The FHA is the federal law that prohibits discrimination in federally funded housing properties, as well as with regard to federally funded housing loans. It is unlawful for the owner of any housing accommodation to discriminate against or harass any person because of gender identity. (See Cal. Gov’t. Code Section 12955(a).)
In order to live safe, full, and authentic lives, it is essential that transgender people have access to identity documents, such as photo ID, that accurately reflect their current name, gender identity, and gender expression. The State Registrar must issue a new birth certificate reflecting the person's correct sex and any change in name without a court order for any person born in California who submits a physician’s affidavit stating that the person has undergone clinically appropriate treatment for the purpose of gender transition. (See Cal. Health and Safety Code Sections 103426 and 103430.)
Any place that provides goods and services to the general public is considered a public accommodation. This includes restaurants, grocery stores, health clinics, hospitals, health clubs, homeless shelters and most social services. Transgender and gender nonconforming people often experience discrimination when accessing public accommodations including being refused service, being treated differently than their non-transgender peers, or being victims to harmful verbal and physical violence when simply trying to carry out their daily activities. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigates the reports of discrimination based on gender identity, can arrange mediation, sue an employer, or give the person making the report permission to bring a lawsuit. The EEOC found that "discrimination against a transgender individual because that person is transgender is . . . discrimination ‘based on . . . sex,' and . . . violates Title VII." All persons regardless of gender identity are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever. (See Cal. Civ. Code Section 51(b).)
Young people, who are perceived as gender nonconforming or who identify as trans or gender queer, regularly face harassment and abuse at school, in group homes, and other settings. In California, they have a right to a safe, welcoming place to learn free of discrimination. A student has the right to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities (lockers and restrooms) consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the student’s records. (See Cal. Education Code Sections 220, 221.5, 235, 260, 51500, 66251, and 66270.) The National Collegiate Athletic Association, which organizes competitive sports at over 1,000 colleges and universities, allows transgender student-athletes to participate in sex-segregated sports consistent with their gender identity.
ACLU | LGBTQ Rights
California’s Safe Schools Coalition | Understanding School Safety for Transgender Students and Safe Schools Resource Guide
Campus Pride's Trans Policy Clearinghouse
Center of Excellence for Transgender Health | part of UCSF
courts.ca.gov | Gender Change
Equality California | Transgender Rights
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network | Transgender Rights
Gay Straight Alliance Network publications
GLAAD Transgender Media Project
International Foundation for Gender Education
Jim Collins Foundation | Jim Collins was an avid trans ally, a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and a clinical instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. The Jim Collins Foundation funds gender-affirming surgeries for transgender people who need surgery to live a healthy and happy life, but cannot afford the surgery.
Lambda Legal | Transgender rights
National Center for Lesbian Rights | Lesbian and transgender law
National Center for Transgender Equality
National LGBT Health Education Center | part of the Fenway Institute
PFLAG | Transgender
Susan’s Place Transgender Resources | News and an online forum.
SageUSA | Transgender Elders
TransGuys | An Internet magazine for transgender men.
Transgender Law Center | Highlights from Website
Transgender Law and Policy Institute
Transgender Legal | Defense and Education Fund (transgenderlegal.org)
Trans Academics | archived site, but has active listserv/gender identity resources for academia
Trans Women of Color Collective (twocc.us)
UNICEF | Position Paper: Sexual Identification and Gender Identity (November 2014)
World Professional Association for Transgender Health (wpath.org)
Assembly Bill 2119, authored by gay Assemblyman Todd Gloria (D-San Diego), and adopted in 2018, requires transgender foster youth receive health care services consistent with their gender identity. It includes interventions to align a patient’s physical appearance with the patient’s gender identity and interventions to alleviate symptoms of gender dysphoria. The California Department of Social Services, in consultation with the California Department of Healthcare Services, is required to develop guidelines by January 1, 2020 on how to identify, coordinate, and support foster youth who wish to access gender-affirming health care.
Assembly Bill 711, authored by Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) and adopted in 2019, ensures that transgender students can obtain their school records and diplomas with their preferred name and gender pronoun.
Assembly Bill 493, authored by Assemblyman Gloria (D-San Diego), the Safe and Supportive Schools Act of 2019, calls on public schools to provide training on LGBT cultural competency and how to address LGBT-based bullying to teachers and other certificated staff members. While the bill takes effect in 2020, it gives the California Department of Education, overseen by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, until July 1, 2021 to develop and update its resources and training materials so they incorporate the LGBT topics. At the request of Governor Gavin Newsom, lawmakers removed from the bill the requirement that the training be mandatory as it was estimated to cost the state’s 343 school districts a combined $3.25 million. In exchange, he promised to work with LGBT lawmakers and advocates on providing funding for school districts to train their teachers in his 2020 budget proposal.
Senate Bill 495, authored by Senator Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), codifies into state law that a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity can’t be used to disqualify them as being an adoptive parent or legal guardian of a child.
AB 2684, the LGBTQ Family Law Modernization Act of 2018 authored by Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), takes effect January 1, 2020. It ensures that the parentage provisions of the state Family Code treat same-sex parents equally.
Assembly Bill 785, the Uniform Parentage Act Updates, authored by Assemblyman Bloom (D-Santa Monica), will assist LGBT couples and others who use gamete banks when wanting to have children. It requires gamete banks receiving donors’ gametes to maintain the contact information of the gamete bank from which the samples were received. The measure also clarifies health code regulations to include oocyte and embryo donors.
Assembly Bill 962, co-authored by Assemblywoman Autumn Burke (D-Inglewood) and Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), requires California hospitals to publicly disclose how much they are contracting with LGBT-owned businesses. The reports must also include businesses owned by women, minorities, and other disadvantaged groups.
Senate Bill 534, authored by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), requires the state’s $310 billion insurance industry biennially report how much it is contracting with businesses owned by women, people of color, veterans, and LGBT individuals. Gay Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara co-sponsored the legislation, as it revives the state agency’s Insurance Diversity Initiative, which aims to see insurers have diverse suppliers and governing boards, and expands its scope to include LGBT- and veteran-owned businesses.
California’s long experience with the utility companies shows that simply requiring firms to report their levels of contracting with businesses owned by people of color, women, veterans and LGBT people leads to big increases in contracting with diverse businesses.
Senate Bill 159, authored by Gloria and gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), authorizes pharmacies to furnish at least 30 days worth, and up to 60 days, of pre-exposure prophylaxis pills that have proved to be effective at preventing the transmission of HIV. Local pharmacies are required to provide a two-month supply of an HIV prevention medicine known as PrEP to customers without having a prescription from their primary care doctor.
Pharmacies will also be able to supply customers with a 28-day regimen of drugs for PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, that has proved to be effective at keeping someone HIV-negative if they have been exposed to HIV through sex.
The legislation also prohibits insurance companies from requiring patients to obtain prior authorization before using their insurance benefits to obtain PrEP or PEP from a pharmacy.
The Board of Pharmacy has until July 1, 2020 to adopt the emergency regulations needed in order for SB 159 to be implemented.
Outlet | Founded in 1997, the Outlet program of Adolescent Counseling Services empowers Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ+) youth and builds safe and accepting communities through support groups, educational workshops, consultations, and advocacy. Outlet program staff provide a safe environment that is confidential, inclusive, and non-judgmental. Outlet envisions a world that embraces, empowers, and celebrates LGBTQ+ youth. For more information, please contact 650.424.0852 x107, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
LGBTQ Mental Health Brief | HRC
Briana Carr, Psy.D | Dr. Carr has worked with a diverse range of clients in regard to age, ethnicity, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation and religion/spirituality on a wide spectrum of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, parent-child/family issues and adjustment to life changes. She has additional training in LGBTQ mental health issues.
Caroline Morton, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | Ms. Morton’s areas of expertise include mood disorders, life transitions, relationships, parenting/co-parenting, trauma and grief/loss, with an approach guided by Humanistic Existential principals. Her focus is strength-based, with an emphasis on the body-mind connection, and interventions are eclectic and tailored to the needs of my clients
Ms. Morton is bilingual, speaking Spanish and English.
Sources: One of eleven issue briefs based on the SAGE/MAP report Improving the Lives of LGBT Older Adults. See more at: http://www.lgbtagingcenter.org/resources/resource.cfm?r=24#sthash.lHeSjl4a.dpuf; http://sageusa.org/issues/general.cfm#sthash.DAYUxoxF.dpuf; https://www.sageusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sageusa-the-facts-on-lgbt-aging.pdf
Sharing and Caring for lesbians 55+ | Fridays, 3:00 – 4:00 pm.
Meet interesting people like yourself. Build community and make new friends. Understanding and empathy to provide comfort when life gets challenging.
These gatherings are guided by trained facilitator Roberta Gonzales-Gregg, Outlook Video LGBTQ+ Magazine talk show host and producer. All you need is a computer, tablet or smartphone. Zoom training is provided. For the Zoom link, please rsvp to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Schools are on the front line of providing a safety net against the effects of discrimination and lack of acceptance for the LGBTQ community, which can result in higher dropout rates, lower economic success, higher rates of homelessness, higher rates of substance abuse and suicide, and all the disparities in health and well-being that LGBTQ people face. If LGBTQ students have support in school, their likelihood of overcoming these disparities and succeeding later in life increases significantly.
Since 1994, LGBT History Month has been raising awareness of the role of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in American history. By increasing visibility, we build community and underscore the civil rights that must be safeguarded for everyone and highlight the contributions of LGBTQ people and allies.
Spirit Day is a means of speaking out against LGBTQ bullying and standing with LGBTQ youth, who disproportionately face bullying and harassment because of their identities. Pledging to go purple on Spirit Day is a way for everyone to visibly show solidarity with LGBTQ youth.
Suicide Prevention Training for Teachers and School Staff – AB 2639 (2018):
Anti-Bullying Training for Teachers and School Staff – AB 2291 (2018):
LGBTQ Cultural Competency Training for Teachers and School Staff – AB 2153 (vetoed by Gov. 2018):
LGBTQ communities face disproportionately high rates of poverty, suicide, homelessness, isolation, substance abuse, and violence, and low rates of health insurance. These issues are more prevalent for youth and seniors, communities of color, and transgender and undocumented communities. Unless sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) data are collected, it is not possible to determine if programs are meeting the needs of the LGBTQ community.
There are studies that show integrating sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) data collection into all settings is both acceptable to our community and feasible using existing SOGIE question designs.
Codifying LGBT-inclusive data collection in all settings, at intake and upon evaluation of services, will help us detect and address disparities, while also serving to show that the Coastside is a model for ensuring equal opportunity for all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Based on the results of a study the Fenway Institute came up with some best practices for collecting sexual orientation and gender identity data in a clinical setting. The questions include the following:
Do you think of yourself as:
☐ Lesbian, gay or homosexual
☐ Straight or heterosexual
☐ Bisexual
☐ Something else
☐ Don’t know
What is your current gender? (check all that apply)
☐ Male
☐ Female
☐ Female-to-Male (FTM)/Transgender
☐ Male/Trans Man
☐ Male-to-Female (MTF)/Transgender
☐ Female/Trans Woman ☐ Genderqueer, neither exclusively male nor female
☐ Additional Gender Category/(or Other), please specify
☐ Decline to Answer, please explain why
What sex were you assigned on your original birth certificate?
☐ Male
☐ Female
☐ Decline to Answer, please explain why
Williams Institute | A research center at the University of California at Los Angeles, focusing on gender identity law.
Sharing and Caring for lesbians 55+ | Fridays, 3:00 – 4:00 pm.
Meet interesting people like yourself. Build community and make new friends. Understanding and empathy to provide comfort when life gets challenging.
These gatherings are guided by trained facilitator Roberta Gonzales-Gregg, Outlook Video LGBTQ+ Magazine talk show host and producer. All you need is a computer, tablet or smartphone. Zoom training is provided. For the Zoom link, please rsvp to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Trans athlete resources | Resources for students, athletes, coaches, and administrators to find information about trans inclusion in athletics at all levels of play.
Camp Tawonga Keshet LGBTQ Family Camp | The first of its kind in the Jewish camping world, Keshet LGBTQ Family camp is a summer weekend designed for non-traditional families to come together and celebrate who they are. Yosemite, CA.
Camp it Up! | The first LGBTQ+ family and allies camp in the United States is a dynamic and diverse community that gathers each year in the summer for a eight-day family-camp program at Feather River Camp in Quincy, CA.
Brave Trails | Brave Trails was formed to respond to the needs of the large and growing population of LGBTQ youth in the greater Los Angeles area, and empower the next generation of LGBTQ leaders and give them the tools to continue in the quest for justice and civil rights, for all. San Bernardino National Forest
Trans Student Educational Resources | The longest list of LGBTQ+ camps on the internet.
GET INVOLVED | Are you passionate about what we’re doing? Let us know! We are always looking for volunteers, supporters, and allies to help us make our vision a reality.
CoastPride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our tax ID number is 84-2227224.