Below you’ll find a general listing of LGBTQ+ life affirming resources. Additional resources may be found on the primary resource(s) landing page.
LGBTQ+ Organizations
Counseling and Suicide Prevention
Drug/Alcohol Recovery and Support
Legal Resources
Trans Resource Directory
Workplace Discrimination
Columbus/Central Ohio LGBTQ+ Organizations
Ace and Aro Alliance of Central Ohio – Serving the asexual and aromantic community by providing services, sharing resources, fostering programming, and advocating for ace and aro equity throughout the Central Ohio region.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation Pharmacy – Medicare, Medicaid, ADAP* & most private insurance plans accepted. Hassle-free filling of any prescription in-store, by phone & e-prescribing. Speedy, confidential and personalized service. Offers free HIV testing.
Equitas Health – Equitas Health (formerly AIDS Resource Center Ohio) is a not-for-profit community-based healthcare system founded in 1984. Its expanded mission made it one of the nation’s largest HIV/lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) healthcare organizations providing primary and specialized medical care, pharmacy, dentistry, mental health and recovery, HIV/STI treatment and prevention, PrEP/PEP, Ryan White/HIV case management, care navigation, advocacy, and other community health initiatives.
Black Queer & Intersectional Collective (BQIC) – BQIC is a grassroots community organization in Central Ohio that works towards the liberation of Black LGBTQIA+ people from all walks of life through direct action, community organizing, education on our issues, and creating spaces to uplift our voices.
Black, Out, & Proud – Works to provide a safe space for and by Black LGBTQ+ individuals that advocates, educates, and inspires.
BRAVO (Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization) – BRAVO works to eliminate violence perpetuated on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identification through prevention, advocacy, violence documentation and survivor services.
Equality Ohio – Statewide organization that advocates and educates to achieve fair treatment and equal opportunity for all Ohioans regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
Kaleidoscope Youth Center – The mission of Kaleidoscope Youth Center is to provide advocacy, education, support and a safe environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in Central Ohio. KYC serves youth between the ages of 12-20 years old.
LOVEBoldly – LOVEBoldly exists to create and develop spaces where LGBTQIA+ people can flourish in Christianity. This is an affirming organization, they do not require those they work with to hold a specific theology, sexual ethic, or denominational affiliation. They are an interdenominational organization.
PFLAG Columbus – PFLAG Columbus is the local chapter of PFLAG, which provides support, education, and advocacy for parents, families, and friends of LGBTQ+ people. PFLAG Columbus holds an in-person support meeting here at Stonewall on the 4th Monday of every month and an online education meeting on the 3rd Sunday of odd-numbered months.
Rainbow Clinic – The Columbus Free Clinic offers primary care services to anyone who has difficulty accessing and affording the cost of healthcare, and we also offer specialty services including neurological and gynecological care, physical and occupational therapy, as well as a monthly Rainbow Clinic that seeks to address the health concerns of LGBTQ community members.
Rainbow Sisters – a social and community-oriented group for lesbian womyn age 40 and over.
TransOhio – TransOhio serves the Ohio transgender and ally communities by providing services, education, support and advocacy which promotes and improves the health, safety and life experience of the Ohio transgender individual and community.
National LGBTQ Organizations
Center Link – an organization to support the development of strong, sustainable LGBT community centers and to build a unified center movement.
GLAAD – Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation “GLAAD is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity.”
GLSEN – The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN, is working to ensure safe and effective schools for all students.
Human Rights Campaign – The HRC is the nation’s largest gay and lesbian political organization. Be sure to check out the HRC Links page – very comprehensive!
LAMBDA Legal Defense – “The nation’s oldest and largest legal organization working for the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, and people with HIV/AIDS.”
National LGBTQ Task Force – The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people.
The NAMES Project/AIDS Memorial Quilt – “Our mission: To use the AIDS Memorial Quilt to help bring an end to AIDS.”
P-FLAG – Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Advocacy and Political Organizations
Equality Ohio – Equality Ohio advocates and educates to achieve fair treatment and equal opportunity for all Ohioans regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network – Every day GLSEN works to ensure that LGBT students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Join us as we transform our nation’s K-12 schools.
HRC – As the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, the Human Rights Campaign represents a force of more than 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide — all committed to making HRC’s vision a reality.
LAMBDA Legal Defense – Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
National LGBTQ Task Force – The Task Force creates change by building LGBT political power from the ground up.
OutServe – Servicemembers Legal Defense Network – OutServe-SLDN represents the U.S. LGBT military community worldwide. Our mission is to: educate the community, provide legal services, advocate for authentic transgender service, provide developmental opportunities, support members and local chapters, communicate effectively, and work towards equality for all.
Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund – Founded in 2003, Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to end discrimination and achieve equality for transgender people, particularly those in our most vulnerable communities.
Counseling Services
Equitas Health – Equitas Health (formerly AIDS Resource Center Ohio) is a not-for-profit community-based healthcare system founded in 1984. Its expanded mission made it one of the nation’s largest HIV/lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) healthcare organizations providing primary and specialized medical care, pharmacy, dentistry, mental health and recovery, HIV/STI treatment and prevention, PrEP/PEP, Ryan White/HIV case management, care navigation, advocacy, and other community health initiatives.
Lavender Listings – Lavender Listings’ Counseling section listing. Lavender Listings is an LGBTQ+ business directory.
Website: https://www.lavenderlistings.com/listing/counseling
Stonewall Columbus Counseling – Stonewall Columbus provides therapy to individuals, couples, families, and youth. Stonewall Columbus in-house counseling does not accept private insurance or medicare. Priority goes to the uninsured or those on Medicaid. For individuals with private insurance seeking help, please see the link below.
Contact: (614) 299-7764
Website: https://stonewallcolumbus.org/counseling
Suicide Prevention/Crisis Intervention
National Suicide Prevention Hotline – The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
Phone: 1 (800) 273-8255
Website: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Trans Lifeline – This line is primarily for transgender people experiencing a crisis. This includes people who may be struggling with their gender identity and are not sure that they are transgender. While our goal is to prevent self harm, we welcome the call of any transgender person in need. We will do our very best to connect them with services that can help them meet that need. If you are not sure whether you should call or not, then please call us. Hotline is staffed by the true experts on transgender experience, transgender people themselves. All volunteers are trans identified and educated in the range of difficulties transgender people experience.
Phone: (877) 565-8860
Website: https://www.translifeline.org
The Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ Youth – Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24. The Trevor Project operates a phone lifeline, online chat, and text service.
Trevor Lifeline: (866) 488-7386
TrevorText: Text “Trevor” to 1-202-304-1200
Website: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/pages/get-help-now
National LGBTQ Hotline – The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) National Hotline provides telephone, online private one-to-one chat and email peer-support, as well as factual information and local resources for cities and towns across the United States. All services are free and confidential.
Phone: 1 (888) 843-4564
Website: http://www.glbthotline.org
Crisis Text Line – Crisis Text Line is free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text 741741 from anywhere in the US to text with a trained Crisis Counselor.
Text 4HOPE to 741741
Website: https://www.crisistextline.org
Drug/Alcohol Recovery Support Groups
Gay, Joyous, and Free Narcotics Anonymous Every Saturday 7:30 p.m.
A weekly support group of LGBTQ individuals who are struggling with and/or recovering from drug addiction. This group is currently meeting virtually until the host facility reopens. Please visit the website below for more information.
Website: https://centralohionarcoticsanonymous.org/
Out in Recovery, NA Every Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
A weekly support group of LGBTQ individuals who are struggling with and/or recovering from drug addiction. Visit the website below for meeting times and locations.
Website: https://centralohionarcoticsanonymous.org/
Drummers Alcoholics Anonymous Daily Meetings
Meets at New Life UMC, 25 W 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201
LGBT-Friendly AA Meetings
Website: http://www.aacentralohio.org
Brothers and Sisters Every Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
Currently meeting virtually until the host facility reopens.
Website: http://www.aacentralohio.org/
Drug/Alcohol Recovery Services
Syntero, Inc. – Outpatient mental health and substance abuse counseling.
Contact: (614) 889-5722
Website: http://www.syntero.org
Columbus Springs – Inpatient and outpatient services.
Contact: (614) 421-7196
Website: https://columbussprings.com/
B.Riley Sober House – The B.Riley Sober home is an LGBTQ+ sober living facility in Cleveland Ohio. They provide all members of the LGBTQ+ community and our allies a temporary, safe, affirming, recovery orientated living space. They offer Alcohol & Drug Treatment Services, Mental Health Assessment & Treatment, as well as Psychotherapy through our outside partnerships to help each individual along his or her journey into long term recovery from substance abuse issues.
Contact: (216) 280-8265
Website: http://www.brileysoberhome.org
PRIDE Institute – PRIDE Institute is committed to providing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people a road to recovery through evidence-based substance abuse, sexual health, and mental health treatment. This intensive outpatient program is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Contact: (800) 547-7433
Website: http://pride-institute.com
Groups – Groups is a community of physicians and counselors that offer affordable and convenient help. Groups provides medication (Suboxone) and weekly therapy sessions with other people recovering from opiates.
Contact: (800) 683 8313
Website: http://joingroups.com
Addiction Center – AddictionCenter.com is a professional web guide that connects individuals struggling with addiction to treatment options.
Contact: 855.706.9275
Website: http://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/lgbtq/
The Recovery Village – The Recovery Village is a comprehensive substance abuse and eating disorder treatment facility in Florida, offering a full continuum of care from a patients’ arrival. In addition to medical detox and acute medical stabilization, we offer nutrition monitoring and medical intervention, inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, sober housing accommodations, and aftercare. The Recovery Village prides itself on being an LGBTQ friendly and competent facility, ensuring that clients receive the unique care they deserve.
Contact: 877.239.5421
Website: https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/news/finding-support-lgbt-community/
Workplace Discrimination
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Resources
