Where to find support
Organizations in the Metro Detroit area that provide support for LGBTQ+ community members.
Ruth Ellis Center
Named in honor of a resilient Detroit icon, Ruth Ellis Center works to create a supportive environment and community with LGBTQ+ young people.
Affirmations provides a welcoming space where people of all sexual orientations, gender identities & expressions, and cultures can learn, grow, socialize and access the vital support they need.
Affirmations
Click here to learn more.
Working to support and advocate for Detroit’s LGBT community in transforming lives and increasing their possibilities affords LGBT Detroit to stand as a symbol of hope.
LGBT Detroit
TGDetroit is a non-profit transgender support group founded in Detroit for the express purposes of offering support to transgender individuals both within the local Detroit community and beyond.
TG Detroit
Macomb County Pride has a mission to create a supportive environment for the LGBTQ+ community and to be a resource in Macomb County.
Macomb County Pride
The Spectrum Center is a collaborative space in which all members of the university and local community are welcome. Through collaboration and partnership efforts, the Center supports students to thrive in a diverse society and globally.
U-M Spectrum Center
Transgender Michigan’s primary mission is to provide advocacy, support and education while serving to create coalitions in the state of Michigan to unify and empower transgender and gender non-conformist communities.
Transgender Michigan
The Jim Toy Community Center is a resource center that exists to provide information, education, social events, and advocacy by and for the Queer and Ally community in the Washtenaw County area.
Jim Toy Community Center
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Parents/Children
Legal resources
Health
Find support
LGBTQ+ health and wellness resources
Organizations in the Metro Detroit area that provide health and wellness support for the LGBTQ+ community.
UNIFIED
As the only comprehensive AIDS service organization in its Michigan ten-county area, UNIFIED’s mission is to provide HIV-related services to the community through compassionate direct care, prevention and outreach activities.
Affirmations has a list of LGBTQ+ friendly resources for people experiencing homelessness.
Homelessness LGBTQ+ friendly resources
Located in Washtenaw County, Ozone House has a continuum of services for homeless teens, runaways, and at-risk youth. They have a crisis line, an emergency shelter, a drop-in center, and PrideZone.
Ozone House
Local health departments offer tests for HIV infection and other STIs. In some cases, a primary care clinic may be able to help you find free or low-cost testing and treatment.
Your local health department
Corktown Health is Michigan’s first clinic dedicated to not only affirming LGBT patient experience and providing high-level care, but to training a new generation of Southeastern Michigan providers who can do the same.
Corktown Health
Planned Parenthood believes you deserve high-quality, compassionate health care that’s appropriate for your needs — no matter your gender identity.
Planned Parenthood of Michigan
A free, searchable database of all kinds of doctors, medical professionals and healthcare providers who are knowledgeable and sensitive to the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ people.
LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory
Find free, fast and confidential testing near you by entering your ZIP code.
GetTested CDC
The OutList is an international directory that recognizes LGBTQ+ affirming providers who identify as affirming in the provision of care, treatment, and services of LGBTQ+ communities.
The OutList
The Human Rights Campaign has a list of tips for finding and being open with healthcare providers.
Tips for coming out to your doctor
A short document for LGBTQ patients that summarizes LGBTQ+ rights in healthcare.
Healthcare Bill of Rights
This document explains ways LGBTQ+ people can protect their visitation and decision-making rights in case of a health emergency.
Protecting your visitation, and decision-making rights
Name/Gender marker change clinics
Affirmations in Ferndale provides monthly live presentations for understanding how to change one’s legal name and/or gender marker on identification documents in Michigan. The events are held virtually on Zoom.
Find out how to update your name and gender on state and federal IDs and records.
Name change resources
EQMI partners with pro-LGBTQ+ individuals and organizations to ensure lawmakers and the public are educated on the laws, policies, and regulations needed to achieve and protect LGBTQ+ equality in Michigan.
Equality Michigan
How minors can legally update their name and gender.
Name changes for minors
Resources for LGBTQ+ parents, children
Resources that provide support or information for LGBTQ+ parents or parents with LGBTQ+ children.
How to talk to your children about gender
Some resources, and advice for how parents can speak to their children about gender and gender identity.
Family Equality’s mission is to ensure that everyone has the freedom to find, form, and sustain their families by advancing equality for the LGBTQ+ community.
Family Equality
A national organization for folks who have one or more LGBTQIA+ parent or caregiver.
COLAGE
Stand with Trans helps trans youth build resilience, gain confidence and find hope for a future filled with joy. It was founded in 2015 by a passionate mom.
Stand With Trans
This government website has tips for creating a safe environment for LGBTQ+ youth.
Stop Bullying
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network was founded by a group of teachers in 1990. They advise on and advocate for policies designed to protect LBTQ+ students.
GLSEN
They provide information and resources to help professionals who serve youth create a safe place for all young people.
Advocates for Youth (AFY)
National resources
Genders and Sexualities Alliance Network
GSA clubs are student-run organizations that unite LGBTQ+ and allied youth. Metro Detroit’s GSA Network is Affirmations in Ferndale.
The NCTE advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people.
National Center for Transgender Equality
This national organization provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth 24 years old and younger.
The Trevor Project
CenterLink is an international nonprofit organization and member-based association of LGBTQ centers and other LGBTQ organizations serving their local and regional communities.
Centerlink
An organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.
PFLAG
For families and youth who are transitioning, it is critical to have access to a wealth of resources that will educate, inform and support.
The hotline offers support to people experiencing domestic violence and abuse.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
NCLR is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, legislation, policy, and public education.
National Center for Lesbian Rights
Campus Pride ranks campuses for colleges and universities.
Campus Pride
Resources for LGBTQ+ allies
Being an LGBTQ Ally
The Human Rights Campaign has some information for people who want to support the LGBTQ+ community.
PFLAG has information to help people learn about and understand their LGBTQ+ loved ones.
How to support a LGBTQ+ loved one
The Trevor Project has an article to educate allies on how to support transgender and nonbinary people.
How to be an ally to transgender, nonbinary people
Places to volunteer
University of Michigan Spectrum Center
