LGBTQ+ Friendly

Hartford County

LGBTQ+ friendly simply means that these organizations have made providing members of this community feel welcomed. They strive to create an environment that is safe and supportive at all times. They believe in equality and are respectful of everyone’s right to be who they are as an individual, and how they choose to live their lives.

AARP – LGBT Pride: The American Association of Retired Persons’ dedicated page to LGBT issues and concerns.

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Enrollment Assistance for LGBT Communities: This resource guide assists health professionals with helping lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people understand health insurance options under the Affordable Care Act, particularly mental health and substance use benefits and services, and enroll in plans.

Location: National Program

Community Health Center, Inc.: At our core, we are a community based health organization. Though we have a national reach, we understand that health care takes place where our patients live. Our clinical teams offer Medical, Dental, and Behavioral Health.

We are dedicated to providing comprehensive and respectful care to our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community. We welcome all sexual orientations and gender identities. We know that those in the LGBT+ community face many barriers to accessing compassionate, informed care. Our providers are trained to provide exceptional care to serve the specialized needs of this community. Visit their LGBT+ page HERE

If you do not have insurance, or you’re underinsured (your insurance doesn’t cover everything you need it to), CHC offers a Sliding Fee Discount program, which provides reduced rates for those who quality. If you qualify, visit fees will be based on a sliding scale using income and household size

Location: Various around the state, different locations offer different services. For their complete service map click HERE

Connecticut VA Healthcare System: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Veteran Care The Department of Veterans Affairs (VHA) is committed to providing quality care to all Veterans including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Veterans. Excellent care has no boundaries.

Location: Please visit your local VA for more information.

Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective: We offer several convenient ways of getting tested for HIV! All the tests are “fourth generation” tests that show the presence of antibodies and the P24 antigen. This means these tests are more accurate and can show if someone has HIV sooner than older tests. Make An Appointment Today! Call us at 860-278-4163

Independence Unlimited: Envisions a society that, by design and commitment, is barrier free and promotes the rights, value, and dignity of individuals with disabilities as fully participating in self directing their lives. The mission of Independence Unlimited is to assist individuals with disabilities in the Greater Hartford Area to achieve their goals and dreams.

Location: Hartford, CT

The Institute of Living – “The Right Track” LGBTQ Specialty Track: An Intensive Outpatient Program in Young Adult Services for 16- to 24-year olds who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and are experiencing significant emotional distress who need a more skills-based therapeutic program.

Goals of the program include validating aspects of emerging identity, building on role models and “family of choice” support systems to reduce feelings of isolation, and developing skills to identify, modulate and deal with stress and stigma. There is an emphasis on expressive therapies, mindfulness/movement and family support.

In addition, as an adjunct to the clinical program, twice a month—2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 5 PM to 6:15 PM, there is a LGBTQ Youth Support group open to members of the community. The LGBTQ Support Group is located in the Center building, 2nd floor.

Location: Hartford, CT

It Gets Better Project: The It Gets Better Project is a nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe.

Growing up isn’t easy, especially when you are trying to affirm and assert your sexual orientation and/or gender identity. It can be a challenging and isolating process – but, the good news is, no one has to do it alone.

Location: Online Resource

Join Rise Be: A statewide, peer-run initiative for young people in Connecticut. We share our experiences to influence change at the local, regional, and state levels. We connect with our peers and community partners to reduce discrimination against young people. We cultivate the belief that recovery is possible and we all have the capacity to achieve success.

Location: New Britain, CT

The Statewide Young Adult Warmline is a phone-based peer support line:  1-855-6-467-3669

7 Days a Week   12noon – 9PM

Lambda Legal (Main Site) – Lambda Legal (Connecticut Site) is the oldest and largest national legal organization whose mission is to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we do not charge our clients for legal representation or advocacy, and we receive no government funding. We depend on contributions from supporters around the country.

LGBT Aging Issues Network (LAIN) a constituent group of the American Society on Aging, works to raise awareness about the concerns of LGBT elders and about the unique barriers they encounter in gaining access to housing, healthcare, long-term care and other needed services.

LAIN has an excellent Website with a great deal of information including a The LGBT Aging Resources Clearinghouse.

Location: State Wide Access / Online

LGBTQQIAAP2S+ Global Community Support Group – Facebook Group: We believe all persons are created equal. Our goal is to foster a global family of love and support for one another.

We seek to uplift our entire community and create a space for people to interact, find a sense of belonging and support. This group is comprised of people from the full spectrum of the LGBTQQIAAP2S+ community, including: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans*, Queer*, Questioning, Intersex*, Asexual, Ally, Pansexual, Two Spirit and the entirety of this collective.

Location: Online

MedlinePlus Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Health Resources: LGBT individuals have special health concerns besides the usual ones that affect most men and women. MedlinePlus has a section on their Website that provides information about these specific health issues.

Location: State Wide Access / Online

MyTransHealth designed a guided search to make the process of finding access to quality healthcare easier. Access to quality care is a human right. Our mission is to ensure that all trans and gender nonconforming people receive culturally competent service.

Location: State Wide Access

PFLAG Hartford: Through support, education, and advocacy, PFLAG Hartford is helping make our community a healthier, more well-informed, safer, fairer, and happier place for LGBTQ+ people, their families, and their loved ones. Please explore our website, come to a meeting, drop us an email, or give us a call to see what PFLAG Hartford can do for you!

Location: Hartford, CT

PrideCounseling.com: Whether you are struggling with mental health issues, your identity, or just need someone to talk to, we believe help should be accessible to everyone. We noticed that individuals in the LGBTQ community suffer from mental health issues at a disproportionately high rate and we wanted to help.

By providing online counseling to the LGBTQ community, we make help accessible and accepting of everyone. We provide a platform for people to get the help they need discreetly, affordably, and conveniently. Message your counselor whenever an issue arises. Schedule sessions that work with your schedule.

Prudence Crandall Center has been a leader in our state’s efforts to reduce the devastating impact of domestic violence in the lives of victims, their children, and our community.

Today PCC is one of only a few programs in the country offering the full spectrum of shelter, housing and support services needed to offer practical, long-term solutions to the challenges faced by victims, helping them heal and move forward to safe, self-sufficient lives, free of violence. We also provide professional trainings, prevention programs for youth, and outreach to raise awareness, reach victims in need, and prevent violence in the future. Through all of our programs and services, we touch the lives of 8,000 adults and children each year throughout our region and state.

Our shelter home includes individual bedrooms, a common living room, a large kitchen and dining area, laundry and health facilities, a children’s playroom, teen resource room, and playground. There is a separate space for male victims and/or families with older adolescent males, as needed, to ensure these victims remain connected to essential services while respecting the privacy needs of all clients.

24-Hour Emergency Helpline: 1-888-774-2900 or 1-860-225-6357

Location: New Britain, CT

RAD Remedy: Our mission is to connect trans, gender non-conforming, intersex, and queer folks to accurate, safe, respectful, and comprehensive care in order to improve individual and community health.

RAD Remedy is collectively operated via two units (each in alphabetical order by first name). We operate virtually via Google Hangouts and our team and board members are from various locations across the country. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Location: State Wide Access

Rainbow Alliance (Toivo) is a peer-led support group for LGBTQ+ adults or allies seeking a safe and reliable network of individuals who together can create and use tools to help navigate the everyday experiences of the community.

Toivo is a peer-run, non-profit initiative through Advocacy Unlimited, Inc. that includes statewide classes, workshops and a center for holistic healing and stress management. Donation-based offerings include yoga, meditation, qigong, sound healing, laughter yoga, drumming, creative expression, healing arts, support groups and more. Most importantly, Toivo is a community, a safe space to find support and understanding. We believe human connection is essential to healing and is at the heart of everything we do.

Location: Hartford, CT

Root Center for Advanced Recovery: provides a continuum of behavioral healthcare services to help individuals struggling with substance use disorders. Counselors work with each patient to develop an individualized recovery plan which is based on the unique strengths, needs, abilities and preferences of each person served. Recovery services include:

Adolescent IOP – Infectious Disease Services – Intensive Outpatient Program – Individual, Group and Family Counseling – Pregnancy Program – Recovery Planning

Locations: Bristol, Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, CT

Safe Place is a national youth outreach and prevention program for young people under the age of 18 (up to 21 years of age in some communities) in need of immediate help and safety. As a collaborative community prevention initiative, Safe Place designates businesses and organizations as Safe Place locations, making help readily available to youth in communities across the country. Safe Place locations include: libraries, YMCAs, fire stations, public buses, various businesses, and social service facilities.

For Connecticut locations click HERE

To use TXT 4 HELP, text the word “safe” and your current location (city/state/zip) to 4HELP (44357).

If you believe your are danger, get to a safe location and call or text 911 immediately!

Help and resources for: Abuse, Anxiety & Stress, Body Awareness, Bullying, Drugs & Alcohol, Eating Disorders, Homeless Youth, Human Trafficking, LGBTQ, Life Changes, Loss & Greif, Pregnancy, Rape, Running Away, Sex, Sexual Assault, STD’s, Suicide Prevention, and Teen Dating Violence.

STOMP Out Bullying: is the leading national nonprofit dedicated to changing the culture for all students. It works to reduce and prevent bullying, cyberbullying and other digital abuse, educates against homophobia, LGBTQ discrimination, racism and hatred, and deters violence in schools, online and in communities across the country.

In this diverse world, STOMP Out Bullying promotes civility, inclusion and equality. It teaches effective solutions on how to respond to all forms of bullying, as well as educating kids and teens in school and online. It provides help for those in need and at risk of suicide, and raises awareness through peer mentoring programs in schools, public service announcements by noted celebrities, and social media campaigns.

Location: Online Resource

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning youth. The Trevor Support Center is a place where LGBTQ youth and their allies can find answers to frequently asked questions, and explore resources related to sexual orientation, gender identity and more!

The Trevor Project / Self-Injury Support Center: Self-injury, also known as self-harm, is the act of trying to get rid of an unbearable mood by causing physical harm that damages the body.

Trans Lifeline is a national trans-led 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the quality of trans lives by responding to the critical needs of our community with direct service, material support, advocacy, and education.

Our vision is to fight the epidemic of trans suicide and improve overall life-outcomes of trans people by facilitating justice-oriented, collective community aid.

The Hotline: 877-565-8860

Listed hours:  10am to 4am  with off hour availability based on volunteer staffing

Transgender Support Circle – Facebook Group: This is a safe space for people who identify along the transgender spectrum and allies. Whether you already started HRT, or have yet to/ don’t plan on starting, this is the place for you. We are all in this together and we have many experiences that we can offer aside from love and support.

Location: Online

True Colors works to create a world where LGBTQ+ youth thrive. Our mission is to ensure LGBTQ+ youth — of all backgrounds — are safe, valued, and able to be their authentic selves. We do this by providing education, advocacy, and support to LGBTQ+ youth, their families, communities, and those who work with them.

Location: Hartford, CT