LibGuides: Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Populations: Advocacy Resources

Advocacy Resources

When advocating for trans rights and seeking more information on trans issues and initiatives, it's important to know organizations that are available. The following organizations provide a lot of in-depth information that is useful not only in research efforts, but in advocacy efforts as well. Organizations are categorized by location (international, national, state, and county).

National Resources

ACLU - Know Your LGBTQ+ Rights (Opens New Window) ACLU provides a list of frequently asked questions related to rights violations and explains the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals should they face discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Audre Lorde Project (Opens New Window) The Audre Lorde Project is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Non Conforming People of Color center for community organizing, focusing on the New York City area. Through mobilization, education and capacity-building, we work for community wellness and progressive social and economic justice. Committed to struggling across differences, we seek to responsibly reflect, represent and serve our various communities.
Center of Excellence for Transgender Health (Opens New Window) UCSF’s Center of Excellence for Transgender Health (Trans CoE) formed in 2009 and has a mission to increase access to comprehensive, effective, and affirming health care services for trans and gender diverse communities.
Gender Spectrum (Opens New Window) Gender Spectrum is a national organization committed to the health and well-being of gender- diverse children and teens through education and support for families, and training and guidance for educators, medical and mental health providers, and other professionals.
GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality (Opens New Window) GLMA is the world's oldest and largest association of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) and allied health professionals.
Human Rights Campaign (Opens New Window) The Human Rights Campaign envisions a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear, and with equality under the law. We empower our 3 million members and supporters to mobilize against attacks on the most marginalized people in our community.
National Center for Trans Equality (NCTE) (Opens New Window) The National Center for Transgender Equality advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice.
PFLAG (Opens New Window) Founded in 1973, PFLAG is the first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their families. PFLAG is the nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.
Point of Pride (Opens New Window) This scholarship-like program provides direct financial assistance to trans folks who cannot afford their gender-affirming surgery.
TransFamilies (Opens New Window) "Trans Families is a nonprofit organization that has been supporting transgender people and their families since 2008. Formerly called Gender Diversity, we are also the force behind the annual conference Gender Odyssey. Today, we run parent support groups, a trans youth leadership program, special topics groups, and youth support groups, with more programs in development. Before COVID-19, our groups were all in person. Now they are all online, here, available for families everywhere."
Transgender Law Center (Opens New Window) Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to define themselves and their futures. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.
Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (Opens New Window) Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is committed to ending discrimination based upon gender identity and expression and to achieving equality for transgender people through public education, test-case litigation, direct legal services, and public policy efforts.
Trans Lifeline (Opens New Window) Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive.
Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC) (Opens New Window) Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC) was created to cultivate economic opportunities and affirming spaces for trans people of color and our families, to foster kinship, build community engage in healing and restorative justice through arts, culture, media, advocacy and activism.
Trans Youth Equality Foundation (Opens New Window) The Trans Youth Equality Foundation provides education, advocacy and support for transgender and gender non-conforming children and youth and their families. Our mission is to share information about the unique needs of this community, partnering with families, educators and service providers to help foster a healthy, caring, and safe environment for all transgender children.
The Trevor Project (Opens New Window) The Trevor Project’s mission is to end suicide among LGBTQ young people.

International Resources

Global Action for Trans Equality (Opens New Window) GATE is an international advocacy organization working towards justice and equality for trans, gender diverse, and intersex (TGDI) communities.
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Intersex Association (ILGA) (Opens New Window) ILGA World – the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association - is a worldwide federation of more than 1,700 organisations from over 160 countries and territories campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex human rights.
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Intersex Youth & Student Organisation (IGLYO) (Opens New Window) Founded in 1984 and based in Brussels, IGLYO is the largest member-based network in the world dedicated to LGBTQI youth and their rights. Today, we gather over 100 Member Organisations in more than 40 Council of Europe countries, as well as countless friends and partners worldwide. Our work focuses on the protection, empowerment, and freedom of LGBTQI young people between 18-30 years old.
Outright International (Opens New Window) Outright is dedicated to working with partners around the globe to strengthen the capacity of the LGBTIQ human rights movement, document and amplify human rights violations against LGBTIQ people, and advocate for inclusion and equality.
Transgender Europe (TGEU) (Opens New Window) TGEU is a member-based organisation created in 2005. Since then, TGEU has kept growing and established itself as a legitimate voice for the trans community in Europe and Central Asia with 200 member organisations in 48 different countries.
World Professional Association for Transgender Health (Opens New Window) The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), formerly known as the (Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association (HBIGDA), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, interdisciplinary professional and educational organization devoted to transgender health. Our professional, supporting, and student members engage in clinical and academic research to develop evidence-based medicine and strive to promote a high quality of care for transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming individuals internationally. We are funded primarily through the support of our membership, and through donations and grants sponsored by non-commercial sources.

Pennsylvania Resources

CenterLink LGBT Community Member Centers - PA (Opens New Window) CenterLink was founded in 1994 as a member-based coalition to support the development of strong, sustainable, LGBTQ community centers. A fundamental goal of CenterLink’s work is to strengthen, support, and connect LGBTQ community centers, and to help build the capacity of these centers to address the social, cultural, health, and political advocacy needs of LGBTQ community members across the country.
Eastern PA Trans Equity Project (Opens New Window) Our transgender service programs are available to residents of twenty-five Pennsylvania counties. These include Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Montgomery, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wayne, Pike, Carbon, Columbia, Schuylkill, Bradford, Wyoming, Montour, Northumberland, Lebanon, Sullivan, Tioga, Susquehanna, Lycoming, and York County in Pennsylvania. Some counties have limited services available so please verify for the program you are interested in.
PA Equality Project (Opens New Window) "PEP seeks to end legal discrimination based on real or perceived sexual and gender identity. Furthermore, PEP also seeks to end maltreatment against people within the LGBTQ+ community. PEP is working with other organizations to ban conversion therapy on minors in Pennsylvania. PEP’s goal is to secure equal and equitable treatment under the law for all Pennsylvanians regardless of ethnic heritage, sexual and/or gender identity, age, or race, disability, and take any appropriate actions toward that goal."
Pennsylvania Youth Congress (Opens New Window) PYC is Pennsylvania's leading statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth organization.
TransCentral PA (Opens New Window) TransCentralPA is committed to providing advocacy and caring support for transgender individuals, their significant others, families, friends and allies. TransCentralPA also provides gender education and information to businesses, organizations, educational institutions and governmental agencies.
The Welcome Project PA (Opens New Window) The Welcome Project PA strives to be a diverse, safe place for marginalized and vulnerable populations and seeks to bring about positive social change to improve the quality of life for these individuals and families in Greater Philadelphia.

Gender Marker Changes (Opens New Window) A list of necessary procedures for transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals to change their gender on legal documentation.

Allegheny County Resources

Allies for Health + Wellbeing (Opens New Window) Allies for Health + Wellbeing has progressed from an agency that helped people with AIDS to die with dignity into an agency that helps people living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS as well as viral hepatitis and STIs live healthier, more fulfilling lives.
Central Outreach Wellness Center (Opens New Window) Central Outreach and Wellness offers PrEP and STD testing in Pittsburgh, Aliquippa, Erie, and Washington, Pennsylvania. Central Outreach Wellness Center is a holistic, multicultural, LGBTQIA, HIV & Hep C health organization. We are the leader in providing culturally competent medical care in Allegheny County.
Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation (Opens New Window) Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation was founded in 2017 to improve the health of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities. We offer a variety of services and resources to our communities, as well as expert training for organizations to improve their capacity to serve LGBTQ+ clients and staff.
Persad Center (Opens New Window) Persad Center is a human service organization whose mission is to improve the well-being of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning) communities and the HIV/AIDS communities. We serve our target populations and their loved ones, cradle to grave, across western Pennsylvania, with service centers in Pittsburgh and Washington, PA.
PGH Equality Center (Opens New Window) The PGH Equality Center is a long standing LGBTQIA+ Community Center within Pittsburgh. We are a CenterLink member center.
Pittsburgh Black Pride (Opens New Window) The mission of Pittsburgh Black Pride is to provide educational, social, political, and cultural resources to Black lesbian, gay, bi-attractional, and transgender men and women and their families in Southwest Pennsylvania.
QBurgh (Opens New Window) QBurgh is your source for LGBTQ news and community resources in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. Always by the LGBTQ Community and always for the LGBTQ Community. We strive to bring diverse voices to the table and celebrate the community that we love.
SisTers PGH (Opens New Window) SisTers PGH is a BLACK and TRANS-led non-profit organization that serves POC, trans, and nonbinary people within Southwestern PA. SisTers PGH provides opportunities for our trans communities of Pittsburgh/Allegheny County, including those aging out of the foster care cistem to thrive through our affirming programming that includes transitional housing, leadership roles, and initiatives that trans people create for trans people.
Statement of Nondiscrimination Against Transgender Students - School District of Pittsburgh (Opens New Window) Statement defining the rights and protections of trans students in the Pittsburgh School District.
Trans YOUniting (Opens New Window) TransYOUniting is a mutual aid non-profit, providing resources to Pittsburgh's Trans Community.