Part of what the LGBTQ+ liaison does is to provide education and awareness about the community. Hopefully, these links and information will help.

There is a lot of legislation and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community these days. That’s why it’s important to connect with them as allies in your local area. Each month I’ll be featuring some groups and organizations that you can get to know and perhaps connect with and hear their stories.

Free Mom Hugs

Founded by a fierce advocate and mother, Free Mom Hugs provides visibility, conversation, and education with the hope of reconciling relationships. They sincerely believe that broken family relationships can be restored, and work to equip family members, friends, and allies with valuable resources so they can love well.

Their goal is not to replace family relationships, but to display individual’s celebration and love for the LGBTQIA+ community so that family members feel encouraged to do the same. Though  they’re known as Free Mom Hugs, dads, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and friends are encouraged to be part of this movement of inclusion fueled by love.

The organization’s desire is that this work can restore relationships, and that families are reconciled through the hope and power of Sara and Parker’s story. https://freemomhugs.org/

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In honor of this month’s theme:

Heart of a Woman

• Queer Love Poems: Love is love, poetry by and for LGBTQ+ folks. https://tinyurl.com/yeyddvsw
• Unsung heroes: Six queer moms who revolutionized LGBTQ+ family building. https://tinyurl.com/3z7vudhk

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Black Trans Advocacy Coalition

Through a national advocacy center, a network of affiliate state chapters, and communities across the globe they work daily, advocating to end poverty, discrimination in all forms, and the inequities in health, employment, housing, and education that are rooted in systemic racism, to improve the lived experience of transgender people.

Their work is based on peace building, community education, public policy initiatives, empowerment programs, and direct services. Additionally, they work to increase diversity, inclusion, and equality for all people. The Black Trans Advocacy Coalition is led by the Black Transmen, Inc., Black Transwomen, Inc., and Black Trans MX nonprofit organizations. https://blacktrans.org/

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Good LGBTQ+ News

Gender-affirming care helped detect this woman’s cancer & save her life https:// tinyurl.com/5fyryh88

Democrats successfully strip all anti-trans riders from final appropriations bills https://tinyurl.com/w95bedy3

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IMPORTANT LGBTQ+ HOTLINES & RESOURCES FOR ALLIES TOO

• 100 Organizations Supporting Trans People in All 50 States—donations welcome: https://tinyurl.com/3vdz89e5
• Ali Forney Day Center: 212.206.0574
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 800.342.AIDS (2437), Spanish 800.344432
• TDD service for the deaf: 800.243.7889. All lines available 10:00am to 10:00pm EST, Monday through Friday.
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender National Hotline: 888.843.4564
• GLBT National Youth Talkline (youth serving youth through age 25): 800.246.7743
• Guide to Being an Ally to LGBTQ+ People: https://tinyurl.com/ycy8eezz
• Journalist Resource Series: Guide for Reporting on Anti-Trans Violence: https://tinyurl.com/53cbmkj8 
• National Runaway Switchboard: 800.RUNAWAY (786.2929)
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800.273.8255
• Transgender Michigan: 855-345-TGMI (8464)
• Trevor Project: 866.488.7386

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This month’s LGBTQ+ celebrations

• February 7: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
• February 12: National Freedom to Marry Day
• February 13: Self-Love Day
• February 14: National Condom Day
• Week after Valentine’s Day (February 16-22): Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week
• February 22: Chosen Family Day
• February 25: Anti-Bullying Day
• February 28: HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day

February is Black History Month, National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and the International Month of Black Women in The Arts
(https://www.history.com/articles/black-women-in-art-and-literature)

Susan Oser
Advocacy LGBTQ