TransOhio

TransOhio is a nonprofit organization that provides resources, support, education, and health services for trans and gender-nonconforming people in Ohio. 

TransAlive! support group meetings are facilitated by Jacob Nash and are held at the Fairlawn West United Church of Christ on the fourth Tuesday of every month. If you are interested in participating, you can learn more by visiting TransOhio's website.

Through support from the Gay Community Endowment Fund, TransOhio has provided free legal clinics to assist trans and gender non-conforming people in filing petitions to change their names and gender markers on legal documents.

CANAPI

CANAPI (Community AIDS Network/Akron Pride Initiative) is a nonprofit organization that helps LGBTQIA+ people in the Akron area gain access to health care, counseling, jobs, support networks, senior care, and safe and affordable housing. They also provide these resources to people who are at risk or affected by HIV/AIDS. If you or a loved one are in need of any of the services or resources that CANAPI offers, you can learn more by visiting CANAP's website.

CANAPI has received grants from the Gay Community Endowment Fund, which have supported the Akron Pride Festival, provided safe and affordable housing for homeless LGBTQ+ youth, and helped educate health care workers, teachers and social workers about the specific needs of the LGBTQ+ community through the annual Game Change Conference.

Equitas Health

Equitas Health provides a variety of resources, including HIV/AIDS prevention, support and health navigation services in Medina, Summit and Portage counties. The Gay Community Endowment Fund has supported Equitas Health with grants to fund HIV testing and prevention education for gay and bisexual men in Summit County.

This grant also allows Equitas Health to conduct targeted outreach programs in communities of color, which are disproportionately affected by the virus. If you or a loved one are in need of the services that Equitas Health offers, you can learn more by visiting Equitas Health's website.

OutSupport

OutSupport is a nonprofit organization founded by the mothers of LGBTQIA+ people. They strive to provide support and resources not only for LGBTQIA+ folks, but also for their families and support networks. OutSupport's website offers access to resources for LGBTQIA+ people struggling with addiction or self-harm, as well as direct links to local LGBTQ+ affirming religious organizations, LGBTQ+ resources on nearby college campuses, and safe and accessible medical care. 

Grants from the Gay Community Endowment Fund have helped increase the visibility of OutSupport through community outreach and promotional materials. To learn more about how to access any of these resources, or where to go for in-person care and support, visit OutSupport's website.

Equality Ohio

Equality Ohio was founded in 2005 in response to the passage of a constitutional amendment that banned civil unions and same-sex marriage in Ohio. Equality Ohio’s website provides interactive maps that can help you learn more about your rights in the workplace, and in public spaces. Equality Ohio also provides resources for housing discrimination.

Additionally, Equality Ohio supports local non-discrimination ordinances throughout Ohio and provides useful information on local policy and how to vote in ways that support, affirm, and protect LGBTQIA+ people. If you’d like to help support a fair and equitable community for all people, Equality Ohio hosts events all over Ohio that may be of interest to you. If you'd like to learn more, please visit Equality Ohio's website.

Recent grants from the Gay Community Endowment Fund have enabled Equality Ohio to advocate for nondiscrimination protections for Akron’s LGBTQIA+ community and create a citywide culture of inclusion through outreach and education.

Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood is a national organization committed to providing inclusive, comprehensive, accessible and affordable medical care to LGBTQ+ identified people. While Planned Parenthood is not a health care organization exclusively focused on providing care to LGBTQ+ people, their staff is trained to accommodate LGBTQIA+ people and affirm their identities.

Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio offers HIV/AIDS testing and education services, referrals for subsequent treatment, and other resources specific to the needs of LGBTQ+ people. To learn more, or to talk to someone about your health care, visit Planned Parenthood's website.

META Center: Motivate, Educate, Transform, Advocate

META is a nonprofit organization founded and managed by Giovonni Santiago, who is profiled in this project. META is designed to be a supportive community-based network for LGBTQIA+ youth in the Akron area. You can learn more about the services META offers by visiting their Facebook page.

LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland

The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland was founded in 1975 with a mission to enrich the lives of LGBTQ+ people in the Cleveland area. The Center offers training programs for businesses and educators, programs for LGBTQIA+ seniors, counseling, trauma-focused support groups, and free HIV/AIDS testing. Additionally, the Center offers internship, employment and volunteer opportunities for LGBTQIA+ people. You can learn more about the resources the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland offers by visiting their website.

The Pride Clinic at MetroHealth

The Pride Clinic offers safe and inclusive primary care for all LGBTQIA+ people, which includes services related to medical transitions (i.e. hormone replacement therapy, counseling, and referrals for other gender affirming procedures, etc.), as well as HIV prevention services and comprehensive, compassionate care for LGBTQ+ people who are HIV positive.

If you are having trouble accessing affordable and comprehensive care as an LGBTQ+ person, you can learn more about the services that the Pride Clinic offers by visiting their website. There, you'll be able to browse doctors’ profiles and determine if the Pride Clinic might fit your health care needs.

Find Your Faith

Equality Ohio provides a searchable collection of Open and Affirming churches in Ohio. This resource searches a database of open and affirming churches by zip code, denomination or distance, and lists the churches that might best fit your needs based on those categories. If you’re interested in attending Christian worship services, or utilizing any of the resources that Christian churches in your area might provide, this quick and simple search is a great place to start.

GLSEN Northeast Ohio

The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Northeast Ohio is the local chapter of a national organization. GLSEN advocates for local and national policies that protect and empower LGBTQIA+ youth, create inclusive communities in schools, and provide resources that help educators craft an inclusive, education-based curriculum in the classroom.

If you are a student or an educator who would like to learn more about the resources GLSEN Northeast Ohio can provide in your own school or classroom, you can learn more by visiting GLSEN's website.