This year in particular is incredibly special. My wife and I will be able to take our newborn twins to PRIDE. Attending PRIDE, feels like we are introducing the twins to our extended family. A family of resiliency and love that expresses themselves wholly and does not hide their true selves. My wife and I are so thankful for those who fought tirelessly for our right to exist, those who fought for our love to be recognized and those who fought for our ability to be a family without persecution, OUT and in the open.
The most common questions we receive from individuals outside of the LGBTQ community tend to ask us about the differences between gender identity, gender expression, biological sex, and sexual orientation. Allow me to shed some light on the matter, here, in this blog post, for our readers.
LGBTQ Resources
National Programs
PFLAG, (Parents and friends of Lesbians and Gays) works toward providing support, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ communities and their allies – https://www.pflag.org
Human Rights Campaign – http://www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-proclaims-june-2017-as-uniteresistenlist-month
TSER – Trans Student Educational Resources- http://www.transstudent.org
Local Programs
Outfront MN, an organization that provides resources for greater MN, legislation for LGBTQ Rights, Statewide GSA network, and anti-violence program – https://www.outfront.org/home
MN School Outreach Coalition, a coalition of non-profit organizations (myHealth is part of this) that plan several events for LGBTQIA Youth around the twin cities – http://www.mnschooloutreach.org
Q-Quest, a queer statewide youth conference that occurs happens every October.
Queer Prom, April social event.
Youth Day at the Capital, a statewide youth conference that occurs in the spring.
Youth Pride – An event that occurs at the end of May or early June.
Transforming Families – https://transformingfamiliesminnesota.org
MN Trans Health Coalition, provides support groups, shot clinic, HIV testing, and professional development trainings – http://www.mntranshealth.org
GLBT Host Home, several host home and support programs for GLBTQ youth – http://www.avenuesforyouth.org/programs-glbthosthome.html
Rainbow Health Initiative, provides education and training for medical professionals of how to better serve LGBTQ community. Facilitates research on health disparities in LGBTQ communities and the ways in which to provide support – http://www.rainbowhealth.org/
CLINICS that support LGBTQ youth and young adults
myHealth for Teens & Young Adults
Family Tree Clinic
Annex Teen Clinic
UofM Boynton Health Clinic