LGBTQIA+ Resources

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Arlington County is an inclusive, welcoming community where everyone is valued, respected, and has the opportunity to live out their dreams.

Arlington endeavors to embrace and equitably serve our diverse community. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, gender status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious observance, physical or mental ability and any other characteristic subject to marginalization. 

This list highlights helpful local and national resources for Arlington’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, ace/aro, and other residents. We welcome additions, corrections, questions and input on the resources listed below - please fill out our online request form here.

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Whether you need immediate help or just someone to talk to, there is support. You are not alone.

Behavioral Health and Medical Resources

Behavioral Health Resources

  • Adult Behavioral and Mental Health Services: Arlington County offers many types of assistance for adults seeking mental health and substance use services. Bilingual staff are available, and all services are strictly confidential.
  • Child and Youth Behavioral and Mental Health Services: The Children’s Behavioral Health Bureau assists Arlington children and adolescents in overcoming their mental health challenges. Our services are trauma informed and culturally responsive. Our strategies are individualized for youth and their families.
  • National Drug Helpline – LGBTQ Addiction Guide: Learn more about how substance abuse disorders affect the LGBTQIA community in this guide from the National Drug Helpline.
  • Mental Health Services in Arlington Public Schools: Counselors, psychologists, social workers, and nurses receive specialized training to better assist LGBTQ students.
  • LezBSober: Alcoholics Anonymous literature group for lesbians and those who are questioning.
  • Psychology Today: An online directory for finding local therapists.
  • Start Your Recovery: Learn about drug and alcohol challenges among LGBTQIA individuals and the treatment options available.

  • HIPS (Harm Reduction Organization): promotes the health, rights, and dignity of individuals and communities impacted by sexual exchange and/or drug use due to choice, coercion, or circumstance. HIPS provides compassionate harm reduction services, advocacy, and community engagement that is respectful, non-judgmental, and affirms and honors individual power and agency.

Medical Resources

  • Inova Pride: Inova Pride Clinic offers a safe and comfortable space committed to providing medical expertise with cultural humility, tailored to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ people. Inova Pride provides primary care services for patients 12 years and older.
  • HIV/STI Clinics and Services: Arlington County Public Health provides testing, treatment, education and referral for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Share our flyer: Amharic (አማርኛ) | Arabic (العربية) | Chinese (Traditional) (正體字) | English | Farsi (فارسی) | Mongolian (Монгол) | Spanish (Español) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)
  • The Public Health Division partners with the Inova Juniper Program. Inova Juniper is a referral source for Public Health Division clients who require medical care for HIV/AIDS.
  • Teen Health Clinic: Arlington County Public Health provides low-cost or no-cost services to teens of all gender and/or sexual orientation, including free condoms, testing for pregnancy and STIs, and pregnancy and STI prevention methods including birth control and Plan B.
  • Arlington Free Clinic: Arlington Free Clinic provides free, high-quality healthcare to low-income, uninsured Arlington County adults through the generosity of donors and volunteers.
  • NOVA Salud: Improves and strengthens the health and well-being of the community through culturally competent and language-appropriate HIV/AIDS services and prevention education. 
  • Whitman-Walker: Offers affirming community-based health and wellness services to all with a special expertise in LGBTQIA and HIV care. Whitman-Walker’s mission is to empower all persons to live healthy, love openly, and achieve equality and inclusion.
  • Chase Brexton (Trans* Healthcare): Helps to ensure quality informed care for trans women, trans men, non-binary people, and others who have health care needs that are often overlooked by conventional health care organizations.
  • GLMA- Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQIA Equality: search for primary care providers, specialists, therapists, dentists and other health professionals in your area. The service is free and you do not need to register.
  • VA League of Planned Parenthood: Reproductive healthcare, gender-affirming care, and additional info. Telehealth options available.
  • DMV Trans Guide: A resource guide to help the local transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse communities thrive.
  • 360HealthX: 360Healthx Corp. hosts 5+ community organizations by trans people for trans people serving the DC, MD, VA, NY area and beyond.

Legal Support and Protections

  • Just Neighbors: Provides services to immigrants and refugees who quality for humanitarian-based immigration relief. Most of their clients are survivors of domestic violence, violent crimes or persecution. Their goal is to help everyone who qualifies for their services access the immigration legal services they deserve.
  • Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV): LSNV is the largest legal aid organization in Northern Virginia, helping thousands of clients each year in civil legal matters. They partner closely with other legal aid organizations, state and local bar associations, and the courts to serve the region’s low-income and neediest populations.
  • Lambda Legal: Lambda Legal is a national nonprofit organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
  • Transgender Law Center: Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, we employ a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.
  • TransLaw DC: Nonprofit that provides free gender and name change clinics in collaboration with Whitman-Walker. Provides funding for anyone who cannot afford the fees associated with changing name and gender markers.
  • Restorative Justice: Dedicated to bringing restorative justice practices to Arlington County’s legal system, schools, and the community.

Have Safe Relationships

Dating/Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Resources:

  • Doorways Safehouse and Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline: Serves ALL survivors of violence, including LGBTQIA survivors. Intimate partner violence occurs across all populations. Every program Doorways operates (Hotline, Shelter, Next-Step Housing, Revive Counseling Center, and Court Advocacy) is staffed with persons trained in supporting survivors who identify as LGBTQIA , as well as staff who identify as LGBTQIA .  Doorways is here for every survivor in our community.

Safety Net Services

Food Assistance

  •  Food Assistance: Arlington County provides support in the form of food assistance, food banks, or benefit to all those who qualify.
  •  Food & Friends: Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that provides home-delivered, specialized meals and nutrition counseling to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses. Services are free-of-charge to recipients, who qualify solely based on their health status and nutritional need. 

Housing:

  • Shelter and Safe Housing in Arlington. every shelter in Arlington (those for single individuals or families of any composition) welcomes all members of our community, regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Shelter services are accessed through a centralized access system for all persons at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
  • HIV Resources Project of Northern Virginia: information for people living with HIV/AIDS to find housing.
  • Wanda Alston Foundation: provide housing, support services, and pathways to economic mobility for at-risk & homeless LGBTQ+ youth in the Nation’s Capital.

Safe and Supportive Businesses

  •  Virginia Fairness: Maintains Equality Means Business directory. Business owners must sign a pledge that protects their lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees, as well as affirming that they would never turn away customers or clients based upon their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Advocacy Groups and Community Connections

Advocacy and Community Groups:

  • Arlington County LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee: a space for community members and County staff to promote and collaborate on services, programs, policies, and resources that impact LGBTQ+ community members.
  • Equality Arlington: non-profit advocacy organization focused on improving the lives of LGBTQIA+ residents in Arlington. Equality Arlington works with state and local government, nonprofits, and private sector organizations to address unmet needs and create an affirming community for LGBTQ+ residents.
  • Equality Virginia: The leading advocacy organization in Virginia seeking equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
  • Equality NoVA: a non-profit open to LGBTQIA+ community and allies. Formerly known as AGLA, Equality NoVA hosts social events, fosters civic awareness, and engages in community service.
  • Arlington Human Rights Commission: receives, investigates and conciliates complaints - free of charge - from those who believe they have been victims of unlawful discrimination. If necessary, the Commission can, with County Board approval, seek enforcement of its decisions in court.
  • Impacto LGBT: A group of members of the Latinx LGBT+ community of Northern Virginia, committed to meeting the unique needs of the Latinx and Spanish-speaking communities, while taking charge, responsibility, and the necessary actions to create changes.
  • Advocates for Trans Equality (formerly National Center for Transgender Equality): advocacy group with many resources specific to the transgender community.
  • NOVA Pride: cultivate and grow a coalition to educate, advocate and celebrate the LGBTQIA community of Northern Virginia and their allies.
  • Transgender Education Association (TGEA): TGEA is dedicated to educating, helping and supporting transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, their significant others, families, friends, and allies.
  • Diversity Richmond: provide programming that is both affirming and promotes full human and civil rights for all Virginians.

Peer Support

  • Arlington Community Foundation - The Fund for Queer Causes: a 100% queer-advised fund that makes it simple to strengthen LGBTQ+ organizations across the DMV region through people-powered and nonprofit-empowering grants.
  • Rainbow Families: offers education, resources, and support services for LGBTQ+ parents, families, and parents-to-be in the DMV.
  • Metro Area Gender Identity Connection (MAGIC DC): Peer support group for trans, gender queer and other gender identity questioning people living in the greater Washington DC Metropolitan Area.
  • DC Area Transmasculine Society (DCATS): a trans-led nonprofit organization that serves to advance the lives of transmasculine folx by providing resources that help overcome the social, economic, and health-related barriers to living authentically.
  • LGBTQIA Cancer Support Group: A support group for LGBTQIA+ individuals living with cancer and survivors of cancer in the DMV area. Meetings take place over Zoom on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Email kaitlyn.odonnell@inova.org to register or to learn more.
  • Virginia Pride: Community program involvement and scholarship opportunities for post high school education expenses in the LGBTQ community.
  • Trans* Peer Led Support- Second Fridays (The TransFormation Ministry of MCC NoVA): Second Friday’s offers peer-led support group for members and friends of the transgender and gender expansive community. Information and locations of the meetings, please contact info@mccnova.com.

Social Groups and Recreation

  • Capital Sapphics: a community for WLW, lesbian, sapphics, trans, and nonbinary folks across the DMV region. Grassroots, community-led, and all about building real connections, both online and in person.
  • DC's Different Drummers: LGBTQIA+ music organization welcoming all musicians as it fosters pride, inclusivity, and engagement with the greater Washington DC region through music.
  • Gay Men's Chorus: sings to inspire equality and inclusion with musical performances and education promoting justice and dignity for all.
  • DC Front Runners: Running, walking, and social club for LGBTQIA people and their friends in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
  • Washington Blade: The oldest LGBT newspaper in the U.S. covering the latest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender news in Washington, D.C. and around the world.
  • MetroWeekly: Washington's LGBTQ Magazine.
  • LGBTQIA+ Events on Meetup
  • LGBTQIA+ Events on Eventbrite

Pride Near Me

  • Arlington Pride: Produce spaces that fosters a sense of community that encourages LGBTQIA+ citizens to live with pride and educate the public.
  • DC Black Pride: annual pride celebrations around the BIPOC community in the DMV.
  • Trans Pride DC: a community-driven organization led by trans individuals, dedicated to empowering and uplifting Trans, Non-binary, and gender-diverse communities in the Washington, DC area.
  • DC Latinx Pride: offers educational programming, fundraising for grassroots Latinx LGBTQ+ organizations, federal policy and advocacy, as well as a range of cultural pride programs during pride month, women’s history month, and Hispanic Heritage Month.

Employee Resource Groups (ERG) and Professional Networking Groups

  • Arlington County LGBT Employee Resource Group: A social and advocacy group for LGBTQIA+ Arlington County employees.
  • DoD Pride: LGBT employee resource group for Department of Defense (DoD) employees.
  • OutProfessionals DC Chapter: nonprofit networking organization for LGBTQ professionals in the United States. Events are open to both established and aspiring professionals as well as supportive community allies.
  • Equality Chamber: a nonprofit and nonpartisan network for hundreds of queer and allied businesses in the DC area.
  • Queer Qlinicians DC: A social networking group connecting LGBTQIA+ health care practitioners in DC.

Teens, Youth, Young Adults Specific

Health and Wellness:

  •  Arlington Teen Health Clinic: Arlington County's Teen Health Clinics offer the following services to all teens aged 13-19 regardless of where they live, their gender, or their sexual orientation: free condoms; pregnancy prevention education; testing for pregnancy, STIs, HIV; and pregnancy and STI prevention methods.

Social and Support Groups:

  • Y’ALLS – Youth Advocacy and Leadership Learning through Social Support – meet the first and third Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. It is for youth ages 13-18 and is focused on LGBTQ issues. If you are interested in being a part of Y’ALLS, contact Julie@SafeSpaceNOVA.org
  • ALY–Arlington LGBTQIA Youth & Allies: Component of PFLAG-Arlington. A gathering for area youth ages 12–19 who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, and allies of LGBTQIA youth. Hang out in a supportive atmosphere, meet other teens, and have fun!
  • Arlington LGBTQIA Teen Book Club: Meets monthly during the school year at the Central Library.
  • Camp Free2Be: a one-week day camp in Arlington for transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive youth. They serve campers ages 6-14, and also have a volunteer junior counselor program for ages 15-18. 
  • He She Ze and We (HSZ&W): a statewide organization that hosts a monthly in-person meeting in Arlington(PDF, 116KB). HSZ&W also offers a social program for K-12 grade youth and their families.
  • Gay Straight Alliance Clubs: GSA clubs seek to create a safe space for LGBTQIA youth and foster understanding in heterosexual peers. Contact your middle or high school counselor or club sponsor for details.
  • GenOUT: The GenOUT Youth Chorus is the Washington, DC area’s only vocal ensemble for LGBTQ+ and allied youth.
  • SAFE SPACE NOVA: Safe Space NOVA is dedicated to providing a safe, accepting, and supportive environment to combat social stigmas, bullying, and other challenges faced by LGBT youth.
  • GLAAD: millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth are made to feel like they don't fit in every day; some even feel unsafe. Check out GLAAD's Amplify Your Voice Resource Kit to find tips and information for educators, parents and youth.
  • QChatSpace: find and give support, have fun, connect around shared interests, and get good information. Chat with like-minded peers in live chats designed for you & by you, facilitated by folks who care.

Scholarship Opportunities:

Additional Web Resources:

  • Gender Spectrum helps families, organizations, and institutions increase their understanding of gender and consider the implications that evolving views have for each of us.
  • Queer Kid Stuff is an LGBTQ+ and social justice website for younger children and families. The site includes links to helpful resources, videos, and more. You can learn more about the site by watching Lindsey Amer's TED Talk.
  • GLSEN: GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.

Seniors and Older Adult Specific

Ally and Family Member Specific

  • He She Ze & We: an inclusive community comprised of parents, caregivers, and loved ones of transgender and non-binary children of all ages. He She Ze & We is a statewide organization based in Richmond that supports families throughout their journey with gender identity, including support meetings, education of caregivers, schools and communities and advocacy work. Meetings are held throughout Virginia on multiple days each month, both in person and virtually. To contact the NoVa facilitator, email liz@heshezewe.org.
  • PFLAG National: PFLAG is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQIA ) people, their parents and families, and allies. With over 400 chapters and 200,000 members and supporters crossing multiple generations of families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas across America, PFLAG is committed to creating a world where diversity is celebrated, and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed.
  • Trans* Peer Led Support- Second Fridays: Second Friday’s offers peer-led support group for members and friends of the transgender and gender expansive community. Information and locations of the meetings, please contact us at info@mccnova.com.

Faith Communities

Find a safe and supportive faith or spiritual community:

  • Dignity/Washington and Dignity/NoVa: Non-profit organizations that provides Catholic services for the LGBTQIA community.
  • Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia (MCC): has been at the vanguard of civil and human rights movements by addressing issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, economics, climate change, aging, and global human rights. MCC was the first to perform same gender marriages and has been on the forefront of the struggle towards marriage equality.
  • The Reformation Project: Bible-based, Christian grassroots organization that works to promote inclusion of LGBTQIA people by reforming church teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • Queerly Gathered: a community gathered at the intersection of faith and queerness to give space for those seeking God, community, and queer spirituality.
  • Queering Faith: a project of the National LGBTQIA Task Force that provides tools to help faith communities become affirming, as well as links to Christian denominational welcoming orgs.

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Get help now logo

If you need immediate assistance, here are a few crisis response resources available 24/7:

LGBTQIA+ Lifeline/The Trevor Project:

Crisis Text Line

  • Text HOME to 741741

SAMHSA Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 

  • Call or Text: 988
  • Chat

Doorways (Intimate Partner/Dating Violence and Sexual Assault):

Virginia’s 24/7 LGBTQ+ Helpline

 

 

Community Events

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