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Resources for Queer and Trans Youth

In this resource list:

  • Mental Health
  • Healthcare
  • Substance Abuse and Recovery
  • Transition and Coming Out
  • Education
  • Family Support
  • Advocacy

You can contact us through our Services Request Form for referrals to therapists with openings.


Minnesota Trans Resource Directories

  • The Minnesota Trans & Intersex Resource Network has compiled this nearly 70-page directory of trans friendly resources, businesses, community organizations, and more across Minnesota.

  • This Linktree compiles several resources: "Housing+clinics+ community+support groups and more for trans ppl moving to MN"

Mental Health

  • Common Ground is a community meditation center based in Minneapolis dedicated to the practice of mindfulness. Common ground has both queer and POC specific community and meditation groups.

  • The Family Partnership provides culturally relevant mental health counseling to members of the transgender community and their families. Therapists can work with individuals to explore gender identity and to develop and pursue gender goals.

  • The MN LGBTQ+ Therapists’ Network provides information on accessing mental health services for LGBTQ+ individuals in Minnesota.

  • Two Spirit/Native LGBTQ program creates safe space for socializing and re-connection with cultural teachings that hold Two Spirits in high esteem. Through the development of therapeutic community based in cultural strengths, participants improve their individual mental, emotional, and spiritual well being while also challenging the broader American Indian and mainstream LGBT communities to address biases that serve to keep Two Spirit people in conditions of extreme health disparity.

  • For any trans person in crisis of any kind, the Trans Lifeline runs a national hotline staffed by trans people for trans people.
    Crisis line: (877) 565-8860

  • National crisis line and counseling for LGBTQ youth
    24-hour crisis line: (866) 488-7386
    Text START to 678-678 or chat online.


Healthcare

  • Based in Minneapolis, the Aliveness Project provides meals, a foodshelf, therapy, and care-advocacy for people with HIV/AIDS.

  • Children’s Minnesota Gender Health program is an exclusively pediatric, multidisciplinary gender health program, and includes pediatric gender health, endocrinology and gynecology physicians. The Gender Health program provides compassionate and comprehensive care for transgender and gender-diverse youth. They are dedicated to serving as an essential medical partner and resource for transgender youth and families along their journey.

  • Family Tree is committed to providing comfortable, competent, and accessible care to trans and gender non-conforming patients. Family Tree’s services include, but are not limited to, trans-affirming gynecological care, STI testing and treatment, birth control, including methods that are compatible with transition-related hormones, trans hormone care, and limited primary care services.

  • The Institute for Sexual and Gender Health (ISGH) is one of the largest clinical, teaching, and research institutions in the world specializing in human sexuality and gender. ISGH has a strong research agenda in sexual aggression and compulsive sexual behavior, transgender and gender diverse health, relationship and sex therapy, and sexual health that has been supported by millions of dollars in state and federal funding. They have developed innovative and effective treatment approaches to sexual and gender challenges. ISGH has led the way nationally and internationally in crucial, often controversial, sexual and gender issues and has worked with local, national, and international health agencies to advance public health policies promoting sexual and gender health and well-being.

  • OutCare Health is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the purpose of providing extensive information and education on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) healthcare to providers and the public. OutCare has a national directory of LGBTQ culturally-competent providers, a nationwide LGBTQ public resource database, a diverse Mentorship Program, and cultural competency trainings.

  • Point of Pride's mission is to help the most vulnerable members of our community feel seen and supported through access to life-saving health and wellness services. They provide:
    - Free chest binders and free femme shapewear, mailed discreetly and at no cost to recipients
    - Access to permanent hair removal services for trans femme folks
    - Access to gender-affirming surgery and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for trans folks who lack financial resources and/or inclusive health insurance coverage

  • Formerly JustUs Health (Rainbow Health Initiative and the Minnesota AIDS Project), Rainbow Health works for equitable health care access and outcomes for people who experience injustice at the intersection of health status and identity. Rainbow Health centers individuals and communities at risk of and living with HIV or facing barriers to equitable health care access and outcomes because of their identity as gender, sexual and/ or racial minorities.

  • The University of Minnesota Youth and AIDS Project (YAP) provides services to youth aged 13 – 24 to prevent and maintain their HIV status.


Substance Abuse and Recovery

  • Out & Sober Minnesota is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to connecting LGBTQ+ people in recovery with other sober folks in the community by hosting social and educational events.

  • Providing in- and out-patient treatment for LGBT individuals in the Twin Cities and beyond. Pride specializes in the treatment of Substance Abuse, Sexual Health and co-occurring Mental Health issues and their manifestations within LGBTQ+ clients.

    Pride Institute specializes in helping LGBTQ+ individuals aged 18 and older recover from substance use disorder, sexual health issues, and mental health conditions. Their staff is knowledgeable about the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ people face, and they'll provide tools to overcome addiction and achieve mental wellness.

  • NA Minnesota maintains a directory of NA meetings across the state. Search for upcoming meetings with an LGBTQ+ focus using search fields at the bottom of this page. Under "Formats" select "Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender": https://naminnesota.org/twin-cities/

  • Based in South Minneapolis, Southside Harm Reduction Services works within a harm reduction framework to promote the human rights to health, safety, autonomy, and agency among people who use substances. Provides delivery within Minneapolis of test strips, naloxone (aka Narcan), sterile syringes and other supplies directly to people who use drugs through their Deliveries Line.


Transition and Coming Out

  • Trans Lifeline’s Microgrants department has been leading a community-supported effort to create and maintain the widest readily accessible database of all the local and national information surrounding ID changes in one place – including Tribal IDs, immigration documents, military documents, and name changes for people with previous criminal records.

    This living library contains multiple tables ranging from federal to county information about name & gender marker changes and ID documents.


Housing

  • Avenues partners with youth experiencing homelessness to achieve their dreams. For more than 27 years, Avenues has supported youth ages 16-24 in Hennepin County. Whether a young person needs someplace to stay for just one night, or a year and a half, Avenues support youth to find their path out of homelessness. They do that by providing a stable home, building trusting relationships, and navigating the youth’s education, career, health and wellness and housing goals.

    Avenues operates two shelter and transitional living programs that overall support youth ages 16-24 of all gender identities. Both houses are staffed 24/7 with supportive adults who are dedicated and focused on supporting you. They also run the ConneQT Host Home Program. Hosts are screened and trained community members who have a spare bedroom and are able to share resources. The host home program supports marginalized youth. All host homes are LGBTQ or allies.

  • For over 50 years, The Bridge has pioneered innovative services and served as a model for effective programming for youth experiencing homelessness and their families. They work to empower youth experiencing homelessness through safe shelter, basic needs, and healthy relationships. The Bridge operates an emergency shelter for 10-17 year-olds, emergency housing for pregnant/parenting youth 15-17 and their young children; and affordable, supportive housing for 18-22 year-olds.

  • Face to Face provides counseling, healthcare, and numerous resources for youth in Ramsey County 14-24 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. They operate a Youth Drop-In Center (SafeZone) for visits and resources without appointments. Meals, basic needs, and showers—and a lot of assistance—is free.

  • YouthLink provides services to youth aged 16-24 who are facing homelessness gain access to basic services and support, including an LGBTQ+ specific support group. They operate a drop-in center in downtown Minneapolis and Youth Opportunity Center to centralize resources to meet basic and complex needs.

  • YSN provides a directory resources across the Twin Cities region to help youth find shelter and services.


Education

  • Out4Good, a program in the Minneapolis Public Schools system, aims to create safe and supportive schools for GLBT students, families, teachers and staff.

  • Out for Equity, a program of Saint Paul Public Schools, advocates for gender equitable practices, programs, and policies through direct programming, professional development, and strategic collaborations. Their goal is to ensure a safe and welcoming school environment that fosters positive self-esteem, respect for others, and academic success for all gender expansive folks, namely our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer questioning, two-spirit, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQ+) students, families, and staff members.

  • Queer Science is a University of Minnesota Twin Cities program aimed at LGBTQ+ high school students. The group holds events for youth to engage with graduate students and professors surrounding topics in STEM and the experience of being an LGBTQ+ scientist.


Family Support

  • Transforming Families is a community where transgender, gender non-conforming, and questioning youth and their families come together to support each other in a safe, welcoming space. At their monthly gatherings, separate breakout groups for parents, kids, siblings, and teens provide the opportunity to meet and learn from other people traveling the same path.

  • The TransParent Alliance exists to create a world where gender expansive and transgender children are safe, supported, and loved. They focus on providing resources, education, and connection for parents and caregivers to create supportive homes and communities.


Advocacy and Community

  • OutFront Minnesota’s Anti-Violence Program (AVP) is a broad-based effort to end violence and harassment against and within LGBTQA-identified communities in Minnesota. AVP works to build safety and power of survivors and community members as well as work to create opportunities for support and healing through the provision of crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, community education and outreach.

  • Gender justice is a nonprofit legal and policy advocacy organization devoted to addressing the causes and consequences of gender inequality, including trans and GNC legal issues.

  • OutFront Minnesota is a community-based LGBTQ rights organization. Their justice team provides peer support and mentoring to trans people. They also provide legal services for trans individuals, including legal guidance in cases of discrimination.

  • Transgender, Intersex, Gender-Expansive Revolutionary Resources & Services (TIGERRS) is dedicated to delivering quality, robust and consistent direct services to the transgender, intersex and gender-expansive communities in Minnesota. By fostering an effective and accountable intergenerational community, TIGERRS work to create safe spaces and resources for all to connect, empower, process and grow together on our journeys of liberation.

  • Formerly known as Trans Plus, Trans Northland is based in Duluth and offers peer-to-peer support groups; advocacy and resource navigation; educational & training opportunities for businesses, non-profits, and community groups; and community events & social gatherings.

  • Through mentorship, training and advocacy, QUEERSPACE collective creates space for LGBTQ+ youth to feel safe and empowered to be their true selves.