Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) and Disability Resources
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation (a disability organization) is committed to nondiscrimination for all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, marital status, national origin, or disability. They provided the following resources.
The LGBT community faces many challenges due to lack of social, legal, and community support. These challenges may be compounded when disabilities and aging issues are introduced. Life care planning becomes very important to this community as same-sex partners may not have any rights to financial, medical, or end-of-life decision making for their loved one without wills, advance directives, etc. The LGBT community may face a hard time finding health care practitioners who are open to working with them. Recent studies have found that LGBT older adults experience higher rates of disability as compared to their heterosexual peers. The entries below offer some resources to help.
Source: SAGE http://www.sageusa.org/issues/disability.cfm
General Resources
http://www.lgbtcenters.org/Centers/find-a-center.aspx
CenterLink
P.O. Box 24490,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307
Phone: 954-765-6024
Email: CenterLink@lgbtcenters.org
CenterLink is an umbrella organization of all LGBT centers across the country. The website has a directory of LGBT centers that you can use to find the center closest to you.
http://www.glma.org/
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA)
1629 K St., NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-600-8037
Email: info@glma.org
GLMA works to ensure equality in healthcare for LGBT individuals and health care providers. They offer a searchable healthcare provider directory so that LGBT individuals can find health care professionals who are open to their needs. Originally open only to physicians, residents and medical students, in 2002, GLMA expanded its mission and now represents the interests of tens of thousands of LGBT health professionals of all kinds, as well as millions of LGBT patients and families. GLMA’s membership includes approximately 1,000 member physicians, nurses, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, researchers and academics, behavioral health specialists, health profession students and other health professionals.
Lambda Legal
120 Wall Street, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10005-3919
Phone: 212-809-8585
Lambda Legal provides legal assistance for LGBT people who have experience discrimination. They provide resources by state, a legal help desk, publication, and advocacy.
Modern Military Association of America
1133 19th St. NW Washington DC 20036
Phone: 202-328-3244
Email: info@modernmilitary.org
Formed through the merger of the American Military Partner Association and OutServe-SLDN, the Modern Military Association of America is the nation’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to advancing fairness and equality for the LGBTQ military and veteran community.
www.lgbtagingcenter.org
National Resource Center on LGBT Aging
c/o SAGE 305 Seventh Avenue 6th Floor New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-741-2247
Email: info@lgbtagingcenter.org
The National Resource Center on LGBT Aging is the country’s first and only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender older adults.
www.pflag.org
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
1625 K Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20006
Phone 202-467-8180
Email: info@pflag.org
PFLAG National’s largest program is supporting its network of more than 400 chapters, which crosses nearly all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. From publications to online learning programs, to advocacy support and media training, these are just a small sample of the many ways in which PFLAG National reinforces the efforts of this massive grassroots movement of passionate volunteers in communities across the United States.
https://www.bouldercounty.org/families/seniors/services/project-visibility/
Project Visibility
Boulder County Area Agency on Aging
Sundquist Building 3482 Broadway Street Boulder, CO 80304
Phone: 303-441-3570
The goal of Project Visibility is to co-create an aging services community that is informed, sensitive to, and supportive of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender elders in Boulder County (Colorado). The training is designed for administrators and staff of nursing homes, assisted living residences, home care agencies, and other senior service providers, as well as the friends and families of LGBT elders.
www.respectability.org/resources/lgbtq
Respectability: LGBTQ People with Disabilities
http://www.sageusa.org/programs/nrc.cfm
http://www.sageusa.org/issues/disability.cfm
Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian Bisexual & Transgender Elders (SAGE): The Issues–Disability
305 Seventh Ave., 15th Floor
New York, NY 1001
Phone: 212-741-2247
Email: info@sageusa.org
Led by SAGE, the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging is the country’s first and only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender older adults. Established in 2010 through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging provides training, technical assistance and educational resources to aging providers, LGBT organizations and LGBT older adults. The center is led in collaboration with 18 leading organizations from around the country.
Transgender Law Center
P.O. Box 70976
Oakland, CA 90074
Phone: 510-587-9696
Transgender Law Center is the largest national trans-led organization which promotes self-determination for all people.
www.translifeline.org
TransLife Line
Phone: 877-565-8860 (U.S.)
Phone: 877-330-6366 (Canada)
Trans Lifeline is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to the well-being of transgender people. They run a hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people in crisis.
www.thetrevorproject.org
The Trevor Project
Phone: 866-488-7386
The Trevor Project offers a suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth between the ages of 13 to 24.
Health Care
Affordable Care Act
Human Rights Campaign: What the Affordable Care Act Means for LGBT People and Their Families
http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/get-insured-affordable-care-act-resources-for-the-lgbt-community
Human Rights Campaign: Affordable Care Act Resources for the LBGT Community
Benefits
Human Rights Campaign: Domestic Partner Benefits: Hardship Withdrawal Option for Retirement Plans
Human Rights Campaign: Family and Medical Leave Act: FMLA–Equivalent Benefit for LGBT Workers
(See also Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act)
https://glmaimpak.networkats.com/members_online_new/members/dir_provider.asp
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA): Provider Directory
An online directory of LGBT-friendly/specific/competent medical providers, including dentists, mental health specialists, general practitioners, and OB-GYNs. Other searchable areas include specialties (orthopedics, oncology) and alternative medicine (aromatherapy, yoga, herbal medicine, acupuncture, etc.).
http://glma.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=947&grandparentID=534&parentID=938&nodeID=1
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA): Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality Lists the 10 things lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons should discuss with their health care provider, respectively.
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA): Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality Lists the 10 things lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons should discuss with their health care provider, respectively. http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/health-care-proxy
Human Rights Campaign: Assigning a Health Care Proxy
http://www.hrc.org/campaigns/healthcare-equality-index
Human Rights Campaign: The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI)
The HEI is the national LGBT benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities’ policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBT patients, visitors and employees. The HEI 2014 evaluates a total of 1504 healthcare facilities nationwide.
http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/transgender-inclusive-benefits-for-employees-and-dependents Human Rights Campaign: Transgender-Inclusive Health Coverage
Out2Enroll
Answers health insurance questions related to the LGBTQ community especially ones related to the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”).
Trans Lifeline
Phone: 877-565-8860
Trans Lifeline is a non-profit dedicated to the well-being of transgender people. They run a hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people. Trans Lifeline volunteers are ready to respond to whatever support needs members of the trans community might have. This is a FREE helpline run by volunteers and supported by the community.
Online Communities
http://www.myhandicap.com/5927.html
My Handicap My Chance Forum: The Second Closet
An online forum on LGBTs with disabilities.
The information contained in this message is presented for the purpose of educating and informing you about paralysis and its effects. Nothing contained in this message should be construed nor is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider. Should you have any health care related questions, please call or see your physician or other qualified health care provider promptly. Always consult with your physician or other qualified health care provider before embarking on a new treatment, diet or fitness program. You should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this message.
This publication is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $8,700,000 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.