Non-profit organizations are deeply important for the well-being, support, education, and visibility of many diverse groups of people. If you’re itching to be a do-gooder today, but don’t know where to start, here are a few LGBTQ+ supporting non-profits that you can donate to or volunteer with! All of the organizations listed do their work in DC, Maryland, and Virginia - so your donation directly benefits your community right at its heart.
AQUA D.C. (Asian & Pacific Islander Queers United for Action) is a volunteer-based organization. They promote “the positive identity and general welfare of the gay, bisexual, transgender, and other queer male-identified members of the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, through advocacy, coalition building, education, networking, outreach, and support. To achieve this overall vision, AQUA works closely with other API queer organizations in the DC metropolitan area.” If you’re interested in volunteering with AQUA D.C., you can find listings of their events on Facebook and their website.
Whitman-Walker Health offers a wide range of services, including medical/community care, transgender care, behavioral health services, legal help, youth/family support, insurance navigation services, and dental care! They also offer HIV/STI testing, hold events to support Pride, and hold walks to raise money to end HIV. Whitman-Walker Health also provides training courses to “health care professionals and entities, government agencies, attorneys and law firms, non-profit organizations, educators, and many others” on topics relating to “LGBTQ+ health and wellness, behavioral health, and legal needs of sexual and gender minority youth and adults”.
DCBP (DC Black Pride) was formed in 1991 by a group of men looking to confront the HIV/AIDS crisis in Washington D.C. DCBP’s mission is to support LGBTQ people of African descent, support and continue to build that community, stand against HIV/AIDS, and combat homophobia/race-based violence and bigotry.
In DCBP’s mission, they state that “DC Black Pride was the catalyst for what is now referred to as the Black Pride Movement. Since the birth of DC Black Pride, more than thirty other Black Pride celebrations now take place throughout the world, many using DC Black Pride as the model.”
Dignity/Washington is a community of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Catholics, as well as other Christian friends and families. Their mission is to “provide a healing outreach to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Catholics and other people by affirmation that they are beloved Children of God.” At Dignity/Washington, they gather together to “establish a nurturing community of worship, blessing, celebration, ministry, spiritual development, education, & fellowship.”
Officially recognized as a State Department and USAID employee association, “glifaa represents lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender personnel, their families and their allies (LGBT+) in the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Foreign Commercial Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, Peace Corps and other foreign affairs offices of the U.S. Government. glifaa advances diversity and workplace equity in U.S. foreign affairs agencies and human rights for LGBT people around the world.”
From staff contributor Halley Stubis.