Five LGBT Organizations You Should Know About That Tirelessly Fight For Our Rights

Trevor, GLAAD and HRC get a whole lot of press — and for good reason. But they are by no means the only organizations out there tirelessly fighting on our behalf.

Here are five that you may not know as much about who deserve all the accolades we can offer. Click the links to learn more about the work each one is doing every day behind the scenes to build a better, more inclusive world.

1. Pride Law Fund

Pride Law Fund promotes the legal rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, and people living with HIV and AIDS, by funding legal services and projects and by sponsoring education and outreach.

Each year, PLF awards the Tom Steel Legal Fellowship, a $30,000 grant, to a new lawyer to build an innovative civil rights project on behalf of the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities.

Most recently the award went to Daniel Faessler of Brooklyn Law School, who will head up the creation of a new bilingual legal clinic for transgender people in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In past years they’ve spearheaded projects dealing with LGBT domestic violence, LGBT elder advocacy and youth outreach.

But it’s not all business — they also throw great fundraising events throughout the year like trips to the Russian River and an annual boat cruise around the Bay.

2. GLBT National Help Center

Their’s is a simple mission — you call, they help.

Utilizing a diverse group of GLBT volunteers, they operate two national hotlines, the GLBT National Hotline and the GLBT National Youth Talkline, as well as private, volunteer one-to-one online chat, that helps both youth and adults with coming-out issues, safer-sex information, school bullying, family concerns, relationship problems and a lot more.

The people who call the help center often live in rural and conservative parts of the country and are frequently feeling severely isolated, closeted and despairing, with literally no one else else safe to talk to.

3. Soulforce

Soulforce believes in you and your soul, and works tirelessly against the religious right’s venomous anti-gay message.

They believe the actions and rhetoric of Christian fundamentalism lead to the loss of jobs, healthcare, educational access, financial security, and social inclusion for LGBTQ people.

They seek to challenge this oppression and help create a more inclusive society through programs like the Equality Ride, where a bus full of passionate activists visit distinctly Christian colleges and universities with onerous anti-LGBTQ policies. They’ve visited 101 schools and contributed to 14 school policy changes and the growth of over 30 student and alumni groups.

4. National Center for Lesbian Rights

NCLR is a non-profit, public interest law firm that litigates precedent-setting cases at the trial and appellate court levels; advocates for equitable public policies affecting the LGBT community; provides free legal assistance to LGBT people and their legal advocates; and conducts community education on LGBT issues.

Some of their recent work has been to lift Medicare’s ban on necessary procedures for transgender patients, and fighting to protect the health and safety of LGBT prisoners.

Glamorous? Perhaps not, but all the more reason to support this great organization.

5. AIDS Legal Referral Panel

ALRP is the only institution in the San Francisco Bay Area solely dedicated to providing free and low-cost legal assistance and education on virtually any civil matter to persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Assistance is offered on a diverse set of issues, including housing, bankruptcy/credit, immigration, employment, insurance, confidentiality matters, family law, government benefits, and public accommodations.

It’s handled over 65,000 cases since it was founded in 1983, and their commitment to bettering the lives of its clients hasn’t faltered a bit.