If you need help or support
Crisis Intervention
The Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255 (online chat available)
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741
Crisis Text Line is free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text from anywhere in the USA to text with a trained Crisis Counselor.
Above information provided by PFLAG.org
Support and Care
Hotlines from the LGBT National Help Center
Hotline Hours:
Mon-Fri:
1 PM – 9 PM/pacific time
4 PM – Midnight/eastern time
Sat:
9 AM – 2 PM/pacific time
Noon – 5 PM/eastern time
LGBT National Hotline: 888-843-4564
The LGBT National Hotline provides a safe space for callers of all ages to talk about sexual orientation, coming out, gender identity, bullying, self harm, and much more.
LGBT National Coming Out Support Hotline
888-688-5428 (888-OUT-LGBT)
The LGBT National Coming Out Support Hotline provides a space for callers to discuss resources in their area, talk about the challenges and anxieties of coming out, and peer support. All calls are anonymous and private.
Local Groups and Community
Find community at local LGBT organizations in the Piscataway area here.
Mental Health
How to find an LGBT friendly therapist resource page from Mental Health America
Explore what Coming Out Means to You from the Trevor Project
Visit our Mental Health Resources page for more information.
ABC's of LGBT+
LGBT+ Glossary
Lesbian: a woman or non-binary person who is emotionally, romantically, and/or physically attracted to other women and non-binary people.
Gay: An umbrella term to describe people who are emotionally, physically, and/or romantically attracted to people of the same gender. Also the term to describe men/non-binary people who are attracted to other men/non-binary people.
Bisexual: An orientation that describes the potential for a person to be attracted to people of their same gender or people of genders different to their own.
Transgender: Often shortened to “Trans” this is a term describing a person’s gender identity that does not match their assigned sex at birth. This is also an umbrella word to describe people who transcend conventional gender identity/gender roles/gender expectations. Some examples of trans identity include: non-binary, genderfluid, transmasc, and transfem.
Non-binary: A term to describe people who do not subscribe to the gender binary of man or woman. These individuals can exist on a spectrum of manhood to womanhood or no identify with that spectrum of gender at all. Non-binary people fall under the Trans umbrella. There is no one way to describe a non-binary identity as it is unique and individual to each person who identifies as such.
Asexual: Sometimes, abbreviated to Ace. Asexuality refers to a person who does not experience sexual attraction. They may experience emotional and romantic attraction to varying degrees. Asexuality does exist on a spectrum and terms like gray ace or demisexual are used to describe people who fall somewhere on that spectrum.
Queer: Once a slur against the LGBT+ community, it has since been reclaimed to be an inclusive term used to describe the entire community and the nuances within it. Because of this terms history it is best to only use it to describe people whom you know identify with it.
The LGBT+ community is full of unique identities and vocabulary. The above definitions where informed by the PLAG Glossary. Visit it to explore more queer terminology.
Other resources for LGBT+ terminology include Homosoaurus.org
Transstudent.org definitions page
Information on Identities
Sexual Orientations
- More about Asexuality
- Asexuality.org
- Understanding Asexuality from the Trevor Project
- More about Gay and Lesbian Identity
- Understanding Gay and Lesbian Identity from the Trevor Project
- More about Bisexuality
- Understanding Bisexuality from the Trevor Project
Gender
- More about different Gender Identities
- Understanding Gender Identities from the Trevor Project
- Gender Identity from TeenTalk
- What it means to be Non-binary from the LGBT foundation
- About Non-binary people from transequality.org
- More on the Transgender identity and resources
- Trans 101
- The Power and Beauty of being Transgender and Visible from Lambdalegal.org
Questioning
- Who can I talk to about my sexuality? from Planned Parenthood
- What you need to know about compulsive heterosexuality from LGBTnation.com
- Questioning your sexuality from choosingtherapy.com
Resources for Queer Intersectional Identities
Navigating your intersectional identity
- Queer/Trans BIPOC Mental health and Well Being resources from the Human Rights Campaign
Resources for the black LGBT+ community
- Organizations Serving the Black LGBT+ community provided by the It Gets Better campaign a list of organizations that seek to uplift and support various identities within the black LGBT+ community
- Coming Out: Living Authentically as Black LGBTQ+ People part of the coming out series from the Human Rights Campaign this guide gives, advice, resources, and stories on how to live authentically as a black queer person
Resources for the Latine LGBT+ community/ Recurso para la comunidad latine LGBT+
- Mental health resources/ Recursos de Salud Mental provided by CaliforniaLGBThealth.org
- Salir del Clóset: Vivir Auténticamente como Latinoamericanes LGBTQ+ Parte de la serie de presentación de la Campaña de Derechos Humanos, esta guía brinda consejos, recursos e historias sobre cómo vivir auténticamente como latine LGBT.
- Coming Out: Living Authentically as LGBTQ+ Latine Americans part of the coming out series from the Human Rights Campaign this guide gives, advice, resources, and stories on how to live authentically as a LGBT latino
Resources for the LGBT+ Asian American Pacific Islander American community
- Coming Out as LGBTQ Asian and Pacific Islander Americans part of the coming out series from the Human Rights Campaign this guide gives, advice, resources, and stories on how to live authentically as a LGBT latino
- Translations of the above resource is available in several languages spoken by the AAPIA community made possible by The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance
Resources for the Indigenous/Two Spirit community
- Two Spirit resources made available by WeRNative.org
- 2SLGBTQ resources from tribalyouth.org
Resources for the LGBT+ Muslim community
- Sexuality and Gender Resources from muslimalliance.org
- Resources for LGBT+ Muslim Americans PDF provided by the Human Rights Campaign
- Coming Home to Islam and to Self PDF provided by Human Rights Campaign as part of their religion and faith program
Relationships and Dating when LGBT+
LGBTQIA+ relationships and dating violence an article from LoveisRespect.org
Resources for a Healthy Relationship from the Trevor Project
Understanding Crushes and Early Relationships from the Trevor Project
Dating in the Closet from LoveisRespect.org
Supporting your Partner through Transition from LoveisRespect.org
Resources for Sexual Health Support from the Trevor Project
If you need help call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1.800.799.7233
Resources for LGBT Students
Campus Pride An organization that seeks to help LGBT students feel safe and empowered at school. Check out their site for resources, scholarships, and other aides.
College Experience Guide for LGBT Students An article that gives advice to LGBT students on how to navigate college.
LGBTQ Scholarships for College Students Scholarships established for LGBTQ college students are available from several public and private organizations, as well as individual donors.
Transgender College Students: A Guide to Finding a Supportive School
This guide is designed to support trans students in learning about their rights, help them find colleges that affirm their value, and empower them to fully embrace their gender identity.
For more student resources visit our Student Resources Page
For Allies
Supporting Someone in Coming Out from PFLAG.org
How to be a Trans Ally from PFLAG.org
Being a Life Long Ally from PFLAG.org
Supporting the transgender people in your life from transequality.org