Every person deserves a supportive community and quality healthcare, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. As we continue celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, please find local resources below that may help provide these needs for you or a loved one! The Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth (BAGLY) is a youth-led organization designed that provides a supportive community and social justice for LGBTQ+ youth across Massachusetts! https://www.bagly.org/about-us GLASS (GBLTQ+ Adolescent Social Services) is a community organization that supports LGBTQ youth of color and their allies, specifically serving individuals ages 13-29. https://jri.org/services/health-and-housing/health/boston-glass Boston LesBiGay Urban Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to curating an inclusive community presence for LGBTQ+ people of color in Boston through social events, promoting medical and mental healthcare awareness, and uplifting the voices of LGBTQ+ leaders. https://www.lesbigayurbanfoundation.org/ Greater Boston Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is a community organization that provides education and advocacy toolkits, support groups, and other resources to LGBTQ+ youth and their friends and families. https://www.gbpflag.org/services Click the following link for a list of pediatric and adolescent gender-affirming medical providers in the Boston area: https://www.gladlaw.org/affirming-medical-providers-in-massachusetts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com (fb)

As we wrap up the week, let's highlight a few additional local mental health resources that emphasize supporting the Black community and Black clinicians. Trinity Boston Connects is a non-profit organization that conducts several youth programs and organizational trainings aimed at promoting racial equity, trauma-informed care, and restorative justice throughout Boston's communities of color. https://trinityconnects.org/vision-mission/ Young Man With a Plan is a nonprofit organization that offers mentoring for Black and Latino young men, particularly those in 7th-12th grade. https://youngmanwithaplan.org/ Boys II Men is a mentoring program for 6th-8th grade boys of color that promotes social and emotional wellness, and offers the opportunity for participants to become lifetime members. https://boysiimen.org/boys-ii-men-program Black Men Heal is a nonprofit organization based in Cambridge that specializes in providing mental health services to men of color. https://blackmenheal.org/ CORE Mental Health is a non-profit organization that provides racial equity workshops, hosts community forums around racism and mental health, and supports aspiring Black clinicians through the CORE fellowship program. https://core-mental-health.org/ #blackmentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters (fb)