LGBTQ+ Resources and Self-Advocacy Links
Updated November 14, 2025
Below are resources the Youth Outlook staff and young people have found helpful. If you are in immediate danger or need assistance, please contact the Crisis Support resources below or call 911. Youth Outlook is not responsible for the content on the sites listed below.
Email carolyn.wahlskog@youth-outlook.org for additional resources or to be added to this list. Visit youth-outlook.org for the most current version of this list.
*Illinois introduced a new LGBTQ+ Legal Hotline*- IL Pride Connect, 855-805-9200 (Mon-Fri 9AM-4PM) Need Advocacy Help in School? Click here |
Crisis Support:
- The Trevor Project: Call 866-488-7386, Text “START” to 678678, Chat Online
- The Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
- Blackline for BIPOC folks: 1 (800) 604-5841
- Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” or “HOLA” to 741741, Chat Online
- Desi LGBTQ+ Helpline for South Asians: 908-367-3374 (Thursdays and Sundays 7 pm to 9 pm Central)
- DuPage County Crisis Line: 630-627-1700
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233), Text “START” to 88788, Chat Online
- RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673), Chat Online
- The National Runaway Safeline: 800-RUNAWAY (800-786-2929), Chat Online
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline): Dial 988, Chat Online
- YWCA Rape Crisis Hotline: 888-293-2080 (Chicago Region)
- Warmline: 866-359-7953 (Monday-Saturday 8 am to 8 pm Central)
- Imi: a series of free guides designed to help LGBTQ+ teens learn practical methods to cope with sexual and gender minority stress
- Illinois Teen Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 1-888-504-6622
Comprehensive Resource Lists and Useful Reports:
- Know Your Rights: Trans Legal Survival Guide from A4TE (Updated July 2025)
- Bi+ Youth Report (2019)
- 2024 Black LGBTQ+ Youth Report
- Bulletin of Applied Transgender Studies
- Creating Safer Spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth Toolkit
- Gender-Expansive Youth Report (2018)
- GLSEN Report on AAPI LGBTQ Youth (2020)
- GLSEN Report on Native Indigenous LGBTQ Students (2020)
- The Resource Basket - LGBTQ and Two-Spirit
- GLSEN Report on Black LGBTQ+ Students (2020)
- Illinois Youth Survey Results (2024)
- 2024 Latine LGBTQ+ Youth Report
- The List for Us: Chicagoland-based TGNC resources
- National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2024
- Resources for American Indian and Alaskan Native Youth (PNW centric)
- Advancing Health Equity for Intersex Individuals
- Improving Services and Outcomes for Intersex Children and Adolescents and their Families
Housing:
- 360 Youth Services: Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing
- DuPage PADS
- Illinois Department of Human Services Youth Housing List
- The Night Ministry (Chicago)
- Streetlight Chicago: Drop In and Emergency Shelter Resource
- Point Source Youth: National org creating LGBTQ+ inclusive housing
- Cook County Coordinated Entry Access Points: for youth experiencing homelessness in Chicago area
Terminology:
- What are Pronouns?
- Gender Unicorn
- LGBTQ 101
- LGBTQ Pride Flags
- Pronoun Practice App (Minus18)
- Pronoun Practice Website
Podcasts:
Education:
- A Roadmap to Truly Inclusive Schools Google Drive
- Campus Pride Index: LGBTQ Friendly Colleges and Universities
- CDC’s LGBTQ Inclusivity Checklist for Schools
- Email Templates to Tell Teachers About Pronouns
- Gender Inclusive Schools
- Gender Inclusive Schools Assessment
- GLSEN
- GSA Network
- Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
- Illinois Department of Human Rights Guidance Relating to Protection of Transgender, Nonbinary and Gender Nonconforming Students
- IHSA Policy on Trans Athletes in Illinois
- ISBE Guidance for Support Trans and Non-Binary Students
- Teaching Outside the Binary
- Toolkit: Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Students
- Welcoming Schools
- Working with Two-Spirit and Native LBGTQ Youth
Inclusive Curriculum and Comprehensive Sex Ed Resources:
- Amaze: Age appropriate info on puberty for tweens and their families
- Advocates for Youth 3 R’s K-12 Sexuality Education Curriculum
- Elementary Appropriate Lesson Plans from Welcoming Schools
- History Unerased
- Learning for Justice
- The Legacy Project
- The Safe Zone Project Curriculum
- National Sex Education Standards
- Scarleteen
Books:
- Early Elementary LGBTQ Family-Friendly Books
- Lee Wind: LGBTQIA2+ Book Guide
- Gender Inclusive Classrooms K-5 and Spanish Language Booklist
- HRC Foundation Middle and High School LGBTQ+ Booklist
- Queer Liberation Library
LGBTQ Scholarships:
- Beauty Schools Directory LGBTQ+ Scholarship List
- opalga+ (Oak Park) has a yearly scholarship
- Point Foundation
- Scholarship Database
Health, Wellness and HIV Resources:
Physical Health Care Options and HRT:
- Affirm: The Rush Center for Gender, Sexuality and Reproductive Health
- Dr. Huma Kahn, MD- Adolescent Medicine
- The Gender Affirming Letter Access Project: resource for letters of readiness for hormones and surgery
- Gender Pathways Program at Northwestern Medicine: 18+
- Howard Brown Health: all ages
- Jessica Lapinski, DO- Outpatient Family Medicine
- Lurie Children’s Gender Development Program: ages 0-25
- Open Door Health Center of Illinois
- Planned Parenthood of Illinois: offers HRT for ages 16+
Mental Health Resources:
- Please email carolyn.wahlskog@youth-outlook.org for a list of affirming therapists and psychiatrists
- Asian Mental Health Collective: Asian, Pacific Islander and South Asian therapist directory
- Finding an Affirming Therapist
- Psychology Today: helpful articles and directory of therapists
- NAMI LGBTQ Recovery Support Group
- National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network: directory of queer and trans therapists of color
- Latinx Therapists Action Network
- Latinx Therapy: national directory to find a Latinx therapist
- Open Path Collective: directory for affordable in-office and online psychotherapy sessions
- Going to Therapy as a QTPOC, Without Being Harmed, Erased or Baffled
- QTBIPOC Mental Health Directory
- *For Kane County, IL Residents Only - Free neuropsychological evaluations for those 3+ who are income eligible.
HIV Resources:
Voice Coaches/Vocal Training:
- Chicago Voice Center- Diane Robinson
- Vocal Congruence Project - resources and provider map
Other Health/Wellness Resources:
- ican4all: Free birth control in Illinois
- Colleges and Universities that cover hormones and gender-affirming surgeries
- Healthcare Equality Index
- A4TE’s guide to health insurance coverage
- Strands for Trans: map of trans-affirming hair salons in the U.S.
- Talking to Your Health Provider about Being LGBT
- Tips for Finding a Provider who is a LGBTQ+ Ally
- Top Surgery Resource Guide
- Trans Wellness Conference: excellent yearly conference in Philadelphia
- World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care
Substance Use and Recovery:
- Gateway Out in Recovery
- New Town Alano Club: LGBTQ+ Substance Use Recovery Meetings
- Pride Institute Recovery Programs
- Recovery and Treatment at Kenneth Young Center
Eating Disorder Recovery:
DV Support:
Disability Support:
Binders/Prosestics/Clothing:
Guides:
- Binding Safely Guide (Point of Pride)
- Binding Guide for All Genders and Gender Expressions (Trans Lifeline)
- Binding 101 (Trans Hub)
- Tucking 101 (Trans Hub)
Binder Donation Programs:
- Free Chest Binders (Point of Pride)
- FTM Essentials Youth Binder Program (for youth under 24)
Retail Shops:
Other Illinois Youth Groups:
- Q Chat Space: Directory
- Broadway Youth Center (Chicago)
- Center on Halsted Youth Program
- Kenneth Young Center (Schaumburg)
- The Liam Foundation (Rockford)
- Pinwheels: for trans and non-binary youth and families
- The Phoenix Center (Springfield)
- Rainbow Cafe (Carbondale)
- The Up Center (Champaign)
- Virtual: COLAGE: for people with LGBTQ+ parents
- YEPP: Youth Empowerment Performance Project (Chicago)
- Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook Pride Youth Program
Others Illinois LGBTQ+ Organizations:
- Affinity Community Services
- ALMA: Association of Latino/as Motivating Action
- Aurora Pride
- Belong: Fox Valley
- Bolingbrook Pride
- Buffalo Grove Pride/The Pinta Project
- Brave Space Alliance
- Center on Halsted
- Chicago Therapy Collective
- DeKalb Pride
- Equality Illinois
- IL Pride Connect
- Joliet Pride Network
- Naper Pride
- Opalga+ (Oak Park)
- Plainfield Pride
- Will County Pride Coalition
Support for Youth of Color:
- Affinity Services : Variety of peer-led groups
- Alkhat Arabic Language Support Hotline: based in Palestine
- All My Relations: Episode 6 Indigiqueer
- Alok Vaid-Menon: speaker and author
- Black LGBTQ+ Migrant Project
- Black Trans Advocacy
- Brave Space Alliance Chicago BIPOC-Centered Services
- 360 Healthx (formerly CAKE Society Co.)
- Chinese Rainbow Network: Mandarin
- Coming Out as LGBTQ Asian and Pacific Islander Americans
- Desi Rainbow Families
- DeQH - Desi LGBTQ Helpline
- Family Acceptance Project Brochures
- GALVA-108: info and support for LGBTI Vaishnavas and Hindus
- Hawai’i LGBT Legacy Foundation
- Helem: LGBTQIA+ Lebanese Support and Advocacy
- Inclusive Islamic Center in Chicago
- IraQueer: LGBT+ Iraqi Advocacy and Support
- Ke Ola Mamo
- Korean Queer and Transgender National Network
- Lighthouse Chicago: Arts and advocacy
- Paths (Re)Membered Project: based in PDX, online resources and opportunities
- National Black Justice Coalition
- National Resource List
- NQAPIA
- Okaeri: Nikkei online peer support
- Pacific Islander LSBTQ+ Services
- The Resource Basket 2SLBGTQ+ Guide
- Rest for Resistance
- Transat: narratives from SWANA region
- Trevor Project LBTQ+ SWANA Youth Report
- Trikone Chicago
- Utopia: LGBTQ+ news and safety in Asian countries
- WeRNative
Spanish Language Resources:
- Prosperar - Youth Outlook’s Virtual, Spanish Speaking Parent Support Group
- Email prosperar@youth-outlook.org for more information
- Latinx vs Latine
- Inclusive Spanish: A Simple Guide to Using and Understanding Lenguaje Inclusivo
- LGBTQ Center of Orange County offers a Spanish-speaking support group for parents of LGBTQ+ youth. Reach out to Luis Gomez, our Director of Immigration Services, for more information: luis.gomez@lgbtqcenteroc.org
- PFLAG Spanish Language Resources
- Recursos en Espanol
- TransFamily Support Services has a support group for Spanish-speaking parents of transgender and gender diverse children. The group meets every month on the second Saturday, at 6pm (Pacific Time).
- We are currently developing our Latine programming and are looking to introduce more Spanish speaking parent groups, so they can keep in touch or send their suggestions over at apoyo@transfamilysos.org.
- Trans Queer Pueblo - virtual programming
- Entre Nos Series is a Spanish-language animated novela about family acceptance created by Somos Familia Bay.
Resources for the Asexual/Aromantic Community:
- What It Means When Your Teen Says They're Asexual and How to Support Them
- Aspec/Aro Inclusive Therapists in Chicagoland
- Aro/Aspec Books for Pres+Teens
Parent/Caregiver Support:
- Desi Rainbow Families and Allies: for south asian families with LGBTQ+ children
- Family Acceptance Project: resources for families with LGBTQ+ children
- New Parent Group at Birth Center of Chicago: queer families welcome
- PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois: made up of 16 PFLAG chapters in the Chicago area, including PTI Chicago a group for Parents of Trans Individuals
- PFLAG Sauk Valley
- Pinwheels: for trans and non-binary youth and families
- The Neighborhood: A Virtual Hub for LGBTQ+ Families from Family Equality
- TransFamilies: many different groups for parents and trans youth
- Rainbows: Parenting Trans Children who are on Multiple Spectrums
- Postpartum Support International: the largest national non-profit working to support perinatal mental health, hosts a weekly peer support groups for pregnant and postpartum queer and trans parents. This resource is free and virtual. All of the peer facilitators for this group are queer and/or trans parents themselves as well. Please share with anyone who might benefit from the power of peer support. In our support groups, group members receive some education on perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, and then the majority of our 90-minute groups are all about parents connecting with each other and feeling less alone. I have attached the group flyer. Parents and register here for free. Email groups@postpartum.net if you have any questions!
Recreation, Sports and Camps:
- Action Camp: LGBTQ+ Leadership Camp
- Athlete Ally
- Camp Outright: Vermont
- Changing the Game: LGBTQ+ student athlete and educator guide
- OUT! Bowling Addison
- KIN·DOM Camp at Stronghold in Oregon, IL
Employment/Jobs:
Name Change and Identity Documents:
- Illinois Fee Waiver Forms: use these forms to apply for a waiver of court fees for name change
- Illinois Name Change Forms: can be used in any county
- National Center for Trans Equality ID Document Center: helpful for knowing how to update your identity documents in each state
- Odyssey E-file IL (Platform for filing name change): site for electronically filing your name change
- Transformative Justice Law Project
- Trans Lifeline Microgrants for Name Change and HRT: grants open 1st-14th of the month for money to use for name change and hormones
Legal:
- IL Pride Connect Legal Hotline: 855-805-9200 (Mon-Thurs, 9am-4pm)
- ACLU of Illinois
- Black and Pink
- Chase Strangio: ACLU Trans Program Attorney- a good follow to keep up to date with what is happening
- Lambda Legal
- Liberation Library
- Legislation Affecting LGBTQ+ People Across the Country
- Second Parent Adoption Resource
Know Your Rights and Advocacy Toolkits:
- Know Your Rights: Trans Legal Survival Guide from A4TE (Updated July 2025)
- Advocates for Youth: Youth Advocacy Toolkit
- Guide to the Juvenile Justice System in Illinois: Know Your Rights
- Illinois LGBTQ Students Rights
- Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act Fact Sheet: Illinois’ Comprehensive Sex Ed Law
- Know Your Rights: Selective Service when Trans
- Services for LGBTQI+ Youth in Care (DCFS)
- Appendix K (starts on page 115)
- DCFS Chief of LGBTQ+ Services is Marla Courts: marla.e.courts2@illinois.gov
- Best Practices for Serving TGNC youth in care
- The Talk: A Guide to Comprehensive Sexual Health Education in Illinois
- The Savvy Ally: Resources for being an Ally
- Queer Youth Assemble guides: Coming Out, Pronouns, Safe Relationships, Know Your History, etc.
Professional Resources:
- Chicago LGBTQ+ Clinical Therapists
- Constellation Collective: mental health counseling, training and consultation for youth workers
- Community Network: Professionals Serving LGBTQ+ Youth: email carolyn.wahlskog@youth-outlook.org to be added to listserv
- DuPage/Kane Network Meetings on 3rd Thursdays from 1-2p on Zoom
- Illinois LGBTQ Roundtable: supporting youth in care of DCFS
- Email Renee LeHocky at rlehocky@lawrencehall.org to join the listserv
- Denver Family Institute’s Queer Youth Program - Online courses designed for clinicians, mental health providers, counselors, and other professionals working with LGBTQIA+ youth (ages 10 - 24)
National Resources:
- All Children- All Families Program: Human Rights Campaign
- Asexuality Visibility and Education Network
- Centerlink: Community of LGBT Centers
- Gender Spectrum
- InterACT
- National Center for Lesbian Rights
- Advocates for Trans Equality (formerly, National Center for Trans Equality)
- National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center
- True Colors United
Affirming Local Faith Communities in the Western Suburbs:
- Beloved Arise: for youth of any faith background, centered in Christian traditions
- Database for LGBT affirming congregations and congregations that honor the leadership and ordination of women
- Database for LGBTQ affirming churches
- Dignity USA: serves LGBTQ Catholics
- GALVA-108: international organization for LGBTQ Hindus and Vaishnava
- Institute for Welcoming Resources: list of welcoming faith communities
- Keshet: programs and events for LGBTQ+ and ally Jewish teens
- Muslims for Progressive Values: resource for LGBTQ+ Muslims
- Q Christian Fellowship: for LGBTQ+ Christians and allies
- Sarbat: volunteer-led group addressing LGBTQ+ issues from a Sikh perspective
Local Faith Communities:
- Bolingbrook- Friendship United Methodist
- Chicago- Masjid al-Rabia
- DeKalb- Bethlehem Lutheran Church
- DeKalb- First Congregational DeKalb
- DeKalb- Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of DeKalb
- Downers Grove First United Methodist Church
- Downers Grove- First Congregational Church
- Elmhurst- Bethel United Church of Christ
- Elmhurst- Epiphany Lutheran Church
- Elmhurst- First United Methodist Church
- Elmhurst- Presbyterian Church
- Geneva- Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva
- Glen Ellyn- First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn
- Lombard- Congregation Etz Chaim
- Lombard- First Church of Lombard
- Naperville- Community United Methodist Church
- Naperville- DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church
- Naperville- First Congregational Church
- Naperville- Hope United Church of Christ
- Naperville- Wesley United Methodist Church
- Ottawa- Open Table United Church of Christ
- Palatine: Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist
- Palatine: St. Paul United Church of Christ
- Sterling- First Presbyterian
- Wheaton- St. Matthews United Church of Christ
- Wheaton- St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Updated 11.14.25