As we find ourselves a few days into Pride and with #BeKind21 on our minds, we want to share a few ways you can support LGBTQ+ community-serving organizations. Learn more about a few partners we’re proud to highlight and how you can amplify and contribute to their work below. ✨
And pledge to #BeKind21 at bornthisway.foundation/bekind21!
Ali Forney Center – (New York, NY)
The Ali Forney Center‘s mission is to protect LGBTQ+ youths from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently. In 2002, Carl Siciliano founded the Ali Forney Center (AFC) in memory of, and after, a gender-nonconforming youth who was tragically murdered in 1997.
The organization has grown to become the largest agency dedicated to LGBTQ+ homeless youths in the country—assisting more than 2,000 youths per year through a 24-hour Drop-In Center, which provides over 70,000 meals annually, medical and mental health services through an on-site clinic, and a scattered-site housing program.
You can click here to donate and/or click here to buy items off their Amazon Wishlist. And if you can’t donate, follow their work (and share with friends) on Instagram @aliforneycenter!
Birmingham Mutual Aid – (Birmingham, AL)
Birmingham Mutual Aid is a scrappy group of folks with bad haircuts on a mission to mutual aid as hard as they can wherever they can. We operate the Little Free Corner Store (providing and delivering groceries free of charge every week), The Little Free Closet (with neighborhood and park pops ups for our neighbors and folks experiencing homelessness, plus appointment hours for LGBTQ+ youth), Harm Reduction pop-ups, a Little Free Pantry, a Little Free Nursery and darn near anything else we can do out of Big Feelings Queer Collective, our house in the Historic Smithfield neighborhood of Birmingham, AL.
You can click here to donate and/or click here to buy items off of their Amazon Wishlist. And if you can’t donate, follow their work (and share with friends) on Instagram @birminghammutualaid!
Firehouse Ministries – (Birmingham, AL)
The mission of the Cooperative Downtown Ministries, Inc. (the corporation) is to provide to homeless men, ages 18 and older, in the Birmingham Area a nurturing and caring environment offering supportive services that break the cycle of homelessness and empower individuals to achieve their highest potential.
You can click here to donate and/or click here to buy items off of their Amazon Wishlist. And if you can’t donate, follow their work (and share with friends) on Instagram @firehouseministries!
HMI [Hetrick Martin Institute] (New York, NY)
The Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI) is the nation’s oldest and largest organization providing a safe and supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth between the ages of 13 and 24 to reach their full potential. HMI serves a diverse community, the vast majority of whom identify as Black or people of color. The youth organization is dedicated to building its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at all levels, throughout its operations and functions.
You can click here to donate. And if you can’t donate, follow their work (and share with friends) on Instagram @hetrickmartin!
Los Angeles LGBT Center – (Los Angeles, CA)
The Los Angeles LGBT Center provides services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services, and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership and Advocacy.
You can click here to donate. And if you can’t donate, follow their work (and share with friends) on Instagram @lalgbtcenter!
Magic City Acceptance Center – (Birmingham, AL)
The Magic City Acceptance Center (MCAC) is a brave and affirming space for the LGBTQ youth and young adults in Birmingham, Alabama. Opened in the Spring of 2014, MCAC has served over 1,200 LGBTQ youth, and is now providing state-wide programs to youth in over 28 counties across Alabama.
You can click here to donate and/or click here to buy items off of their Amazon Wishlist. And if you can’t donate, follow their work (and share with friends) on Instagram @mcacbham!
Trinity Place Shelter – (New York, NY)
Trinity Place Shelter is a non-sectarian, independent shelter that is laser-focused on breaking the cycle of homelessness for LGBTQ youth ages 18 to 24. We fill a critical niche by operating an affirming, supportive residence where youth can stay up to 18 months. Through this model of consistent stability and support, youth are provided with the individualized care and resources needed to heal from trauma and gain a meaningful foothold out of homelessness.
You can click here to donate and/or click here to buy items off of their Amazon Wishlist. And if you can’t donate, follow their work (and share with friends) on Instagram @trinitys_place!
Wanda Alston Foundation – (Washington, D.C)
The mission of the Wanda Alston Foundation is to eradicate homelessness and poverty for LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 16 and 24 by advocating for resources for LGBTQ+ youth and providing programming including housing, life skills training, case management services, linkages to medical care and mental health care and other social services, support in staying or returning to school, and employment support. We currently have three locations throughout Washington, DC. Our inaugural facility in Ward 7 hosts 9 youth for 18 months. Our 2nd location is the first LGBTQ+-focused housing facility to open an Extended Transitional Housing facility for 12 youth for six years. Our 3rd location is a maximum 24-month facility to serve adult transmen of color experiencing homelessness. This program is the first of its kind in DC.
You can click here to donate. And if you can’t donate, follow their work (and share with friends) on Instagram @wandaalstonfoundation!
Youth Oasis – (Baton Rouge, LA)
Youth Oasis’s mission is to support youth and young adults recovering from the trauma of homelessness and family separation through housing, healthcare, and advocacy.
You can click here to donate. And if you can’t donate, follow their work (and share with friends) on Instagram @youthoasis!
