LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY CENTER RESOURCES
Check out our informational one pagers that are important guides to navigating queer language and identities.
BEING AN ALLY
IDENTITY TERMS
COMING OUT
PRONOUNS
READING LIST
RESOURCE GUIDE
EXTERNAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES
In keeping with our mission to enrich our vibrant Cleveland LGBTQ+ community, we have created this page in the hopes of providing ample resources that allow us to grow in positive and affirming spaces!
Click a category below to jump to a section:
GENERAL SUPPORT
INTEREST-BASED SUPPORT
IDENTITY-BASED SUPPORT
STUDENT & YOUTH SUPPORT
CAUSE AFFILIATED SUPPORT
LEGAL SUPPORT & ADVOCACY
UNIQUE RESORUCES & SUPPORT
Does Your Group Support The LGBTQ+ Community?
If your organization or community group serves and supports the LGBTQ+ community, tell us all about it and we'll add you to our resource lists!
GENERAL LGBTQ+ SUPPORT
BCC Full Spectrum Community Outreach Center
- The mission of BCC Full Spectrum Community Outreach Center is to promote awareness, education, mental and emotional support, as well as advocacy for the LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual, and our Allies) community within Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana counties.
Community AIDS Network / Akron Pride Initiative (CANAPI)
- The mission of the Community AIDS Network is to prevent the further transmission of HIV through education and risk reduction efforts and to provide housing assistance and other services to people already affected by HIV/AIDS. It is the mission of the Akron Pride Initiative to advocate for the well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning people in Akron and the surrounding communities through programs and events that draw strength from the collaborative talents and skills of individuals in the community.
CenterLink
- CenterLink develops strong, sustainable LGBT community centers and builds a thriving center network that creates healthy, vibrant communities.
InterACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth
- InterACT uses innovative legal and other strategies, to advocate for the human rights of children born with intersex traits.
Lorain County LGBTQ Task Force
- The mission of the "Lorain County LGBTQ+ and Allies Community Task Force" is to address the needs of Lorain County’s LGBTQ+ community through education, advocacy, and allied community resources. As a progressive grassroots movement, the Task Force builds power, takes action and creates change to achieve freedom and justice for LGBTQ+ people and their families and works toward a society that values and respects the diversity of human expression and identity. It is a volunteer-led coalition of community leaders and representatives of churches, social service agencies, and LGBT-serving organizations in the county and Northeast Ohio region.
Out Support Medina
- Our group was founded by mothers looking for ways to support their children going through the challenges of being a part of the LGBTQ community. We provide support services for both the person and the family because those support systems are critical in understanding options, coping with your own feelings and knowing you aren’t alone.
Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Cleveland
- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is a volunteer, non-profit self-help organization founded nationally in 1981. The Cleveland Chapter was established in July 1985 by Jane Daroff, LISW & Dr. Jes Sellers. Contact. PFLAG Cleveland also offers an additional Southwest meeting in North Royalton on the First Thursday of the month.
INTEREST-BASED SUPPORT
Blazing River Freedom Band
- The Blazing River Freedom Band is a musical arts organization comprised of individuals dedicated to the promotion of the arts through the unique art form of community band music. BRFB aims to foster a musical culture within its local and national community while improving the quality of artistry and musicianship of its members, one note at a time
Cleveland Aquatic Team
- Cleveland Aquatic Team is a U.S. Masters Swimming team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The team is a member of the United States Masters Swimming (USMS) and the Lake Erie Local Masters Swimming Committee, and also has an affiliation with International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA.)
Cleveland Couples Together
- Social group for LGBT couples in Cleveland. Monthly social gatherings in the community.
Cleveland Out & About
- Cleveland Out and About is an all-volunteer outdoor recreational group serving Northeast Ohio. Although primarily a gay and lesbian organization, the group welcomes all to participate in its activities. Activities include nature and urban hikes, bicycle rides, camping, and winter sports.
- Cleveland Transgender Choir is a non-auditioned choral group for singers identifying as transgender or non-binary.
- Oven Productions sponsors lesbian and cultural activities in northeast Ohio, including art exhibits, films, concerts, and dramatic presentations.
- The mission of Plexus is to provide proactive business development for the LGBT business community and allies. Plexus is an affiliate of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
- The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is a charity, protest, and street performance organization that uses drag and religious imagery to call attention to sexual intolerance by satirizing issues of gender and morality.
- Stonewall Sports- Cleveland is a sports league for LGBTQ individuals and Allies and Stonewall Sports' 9th city expansion. We operate as a non-profit and aim to create a low-cost, high fun atmosphere in Cleveland where individuals are comfortable being themselves while taking part in a fun sport.
- Windsong Chorus is an organization of women and their supporters who empower women through their participation in music performance that is diverse, women-supportive, and environmentally responsible.
IDENTITY-BASED SUPPORT
Asians & Friends Cleveland
- Asians & Friends Cleveland promotes Asian culture in a positive, supportive, informative, and fun environment while bridging the gap between various cultures.
- Black Space Productions seeks to create safe spaces for queer and trans people of color.
- Welcoming lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Cleveland area Jews and their families and friends
- G2H2 (Gay Guys/Girls Happy Hour) is a monthly social event in Cleveland, held the third Friday of every month at various venues. The events provide gay professionals with the chance to meet, network, or just hang out.
- All churches in our Affirming Church Directory™ have confirmed that their congregation, in some form or fashion, is an affirming Christian church.
- Margie's Hope assists transgender individuals in need.
- WOFFs is an active and supportive social community of lesbians over 40 and their women friends living in Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland, Akron, Medina, Canton and surrounding areas. WOFFs welcomes all lesbian women and their friends and truly wishes to develop a diverse community of women.
- A Place for Us Development is an LGBT and inclusive senior housing community with cutting-edge amenities, meticulously-groomed grounds, and a dedicated staff.
- 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.
STUDENT & YOUTH SUPPORT
- 216teens.org is a website resource for all teens, including LGBTQ teens, in Cuyahoga County and the surrounding areas for information about sexual health, healthy relationships, puberty concerns, and more.
- The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center exemplifies Case Western Reserve University’s commitment to serving its diverse student, staff and faculty populations. The space provides an inviting home to members of the LGBT and allied community interested in exploring and celebrating LGBTQIA identities. Beyond the student base, the LGBT Center also welcomes alumni, prospective students, staff and faculty. The LGBT Center is located at the heart of campus on the first floor of the Tinkham Veale University Center, situated as the first office greeting visitors entering through the Linsalata Entrance off Bellflower Road.
- Dare2Care provides sponsored teens and teachers with a variety of transformative and leadership development opportunities creating fair minded leaders willing to educate others about identity and to bring awareness of bullying.
- The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
CAUSE AFFILIATED SUPPORT
- Northeast Ohio Adoption Services (NOAS) is a private, not for profit 501(c)(3) agency incorporated in 1978 for the purpose of developing and supporting foster and adoptive families for children with special needs. The foster children NOAS services are school-age children, teenagers and sibling groups. NOAS is a member of the All Children - All Families project, a function of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, to provide a framework for agencies to achieve safety, permanency and well-being by improving their practice with LGBTQ youth and families.
- The Cleveland Stonewall Democrats are devoted to securing equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity by engaging voters to elect Democratic candidates who support important LGBT issues.
LEGAL SUPPORT & ADVOCACY
- BRAVO works to eliminate violence perpetrated on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identification, domestic violence, and sexual assault through prevention, education, advocacy, violence documentation, and survivor services, both within and on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities. (Toll Free: 1-866-862-7286).
- 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.
- By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
UNIQUE RESOURCES & SUPPORT
College Guide for LGBTQ Students
- Online support group and resources for people with Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) and Differences of Sex Development (DSD)
