Resources
Discover Community and National Resources and Organizations
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Crisis Support
Crisis Intervention/Suicide Prevention
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.
If you are thinking about harming yourself — get immediate crisis support. Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S via text, chat, or phone. The Trevor Project is 100% confidential and 100% free.
- Call 866-488-7386
- Text “START” to 678678
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call. Text. Chat. (988lifeline.org)
- Dial 988
What Happens When You Call, Text, or Chat 988?When you call 988 in Kane County, you will be connected to a trained crisis counselor from Suicide Prevention Services of America in Batavia who will:
- Listen and provide support
- Assess the situation and your needs
- Offer coping strategies and crisis intervention
- Connect you to local mental health services and resources if needed
In certain situations, when additional in-person support is needed, a mobile crisis response team may be dispatched to provide assistance. In Kane County, these services are offered by the Association for Individual Development, Ecker Center for Behavioral Health, and Family Services Associates of Greater Elgin.
Blackline for BIPOC folks: 1 (800) 604-5841
Desi LGBTQ+ Helpline for South Asians: 908-367-3374 (Thursdays and Sundays 7 pm to 9 pm Central)
Mental Health Resources through PFLAG National
Trans Lifeline
Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive.
- Call 877-565-8860
Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org)
They also have an online chat feature available. Operating around the clock, seven days a week, confidential and free of cost, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides lifesaving tools and immediate support to enable victims to find safety and live lives free of abuse. Highly trained, experienced advocates offer compassionate support, crisis intervention information and referral services in over 170 languages.
Pride Institute | LGBTQ+ Addiction Treatment | Minneapolis, MN (pride-institute.com)
Chemical dependency/mental health referral and information hotline for the LGBTQ community.
- 24/7 Call 800-547-7433
RAINN | The nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization
The nation’s largest organization fighting sexual violence, RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.
- 800- 656-HOPE / 800 810-7440 (TTY)
Kane County Mental Health Crisis Support
What Happens When You Call, Text, or Chat 988?
When you call 988 in Kane County, you will be connected to a trained crisis counselor from Suicide Prevention Services of America in Batavia who will:
- Listen and provide support
- Assess the situation and your needs
- Offer coping strategies and crisis intervention
- Connect you to local mental health services and resources if needed
In certain situations, when additional in-person support is needed, a mobile crisis response team may be dispatched to provide assistance. In Kane County, these services are offered by the Association for Individual Development, Ecker Center for Behavioral Health, and Family Services Associates of Greater Elgin.
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Community Resources & Organizations
On behalf of 500,000 LGBTQ+ Illinoisans, Equality Illinois is the state’s oldest, largest and most effective advocacy organization dedicated to defending rights for LGBTQ+ Illinoisans
Everywhere Is Queer is a public resource (and ever-growing searchable map!) created for the LGBTQIA2S+ and ally community to find welcoming, queer-owned spaces to shop, connect, eat, learn, and grow all over the world… even in your own neighborhood!
Illinois Department of Human Rights
The Department of Human Rights administers the Illinois Human Rights Act. The Illinois Human Rights Act (“Act”) prohibits discrimination in Illinois with respect to employment, financial credit, public accommodations and real estate transactions on the bases of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual harassment), national origin, ancestry, military status, age (40 and over), order of protection status, marital status, sexual orientation (which includes gender-related identity), unfavorable military discharge and physical and mental disability. The Act also prohibits sexual harassment in education, discrimination because of citizenship status and arrest record in employment, and discrimination based on familial status in real estate transactions.
We are a resource hub for our vibrant LGBTQIA+ community here in Illinois. We welcome you to connect to the resources you need to feel supported and at home here.
We have materials to empower you to know your rights and access resources in the areas of healthcare, vital records, family issues, schools, discrimination, immigration, and more. We have vetted these resources in the hope of bringing reliable, and culturally competent guidance to our LGBTQIA+ community.
Need Legal Help? Call the IL Pride Connect Legal Hotline
Call: 855-805-9200
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9 AM to 4 PM
Languages: English and Spanish Free and confidential
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
The Alliance promotes safety, support, and healthy development for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth in Illinois through advocacy, education, youth organizing, and professional development. The Alliance, which made PHIMC its home in 2019, envisions a world in which youth develop to their fullest potential, learning in safe and nurturing schools, living in communities that accept and honor differences, where everyone has the freedom to express their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Illinois State Board of Elections
- LGBTQ+ Community Organizations listed on Kane County Health Department
- Kane County Resources
- Kane County Community Health Event Calendar
The List is a Chicagoland-based collection of resources for Trans and Gender Nonconforming folx.
NAMI LGBTQ Recovery Support Group
Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois
TJLP provides Legal Assistance, including help with name changes and legal assistance that prioritizes Community Care.
- Name Change Mobilization
- We want to help as many people as possible legally change their names as a part of our long-term goal of gender self-determination for all, free of government limitation.
- Name Change Resources
- Updating your Gender Marker
Organizations in the Chicago Suburbs and surrounding areas
The City of Aurora’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Advisory Board
- Email: [email protected]
Belong: Fox Valley – Where Everyone has a Place
Belong: Fox Valley is a grassroots organization working to make the Fox Valley, Illinois and the surrounding communities inclusive and affirming spaces that celebrate the diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions of our community members. They provide a weekly Youth Drop-In, monthly Social Gatherings, and so much more!
IL West Suburbs LGBT Community
The Liam Foundation – Rockford, IL
NIU Gender and Sexuality Resource Center
All. Welcome. That’s not a typo. That has been our league’s motto since its founding in 2014. Since that time, Out! Bowling has seen more than a dozen seasons of friends, family, and love for the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. We are the preeminent queer bowling league in the Chicago suburbs with a community of over 500 people. If you’re looking for a pressure-free night out with your friends where you can be, well, YOU! – then Out! Bowling is for you!
Stardust Bowling Alley 37 E. Lorraine Ave, Addison, IL 60101We shine our LGBTQ+ pride at various social events throughout Chicago’s N/W suburbs. Our mission is to have fun and strengthen our community, connect, network, and to be seen and represented.
Strands For Trans is a global network of hair, beauty, and wellness industries and organizations that seek to create and inspire safe and positive experiences for all guests, especially guests from the trans community.
Trans Up Front was founded with a powerful commitment to educate, advocate, and support the LGBTQIA+ community, with a particular emphasis on fostering inclusion for transgender and gender-nonconforming youth, teens and young adults ages 4-25 and their support systems without financial barriers. With a mission to promote understanding, safety, and equality, we aim to break down barriers and challenge societal norms that have historically marginalized trans and gender-nonconforming people. Our focus is not just on awareness, but on creating tangible, lasting change across all areas of society.
Established in 1998, Youth Outlook is the first and longest-running social service agency in Illinois solely dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth. We work in seven counties in northern Illinois, offering drop-in centers for youth, caregiver, and parent support, plus community education and professional development.
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National Organizations and Resources
Advocates for Trans Equality(A4TE
Advocates for Trans Equality fights for the legal and political rights of transgender people in America. Leveraging decades of experience on the frontlines of power, we shift government and society towards a future where we are no less than equal.
- The Bisexual Resource Center works to connect the bi+ community and help its members thrive through resources, support, and celebration. We envision an empowered, visible, and inclusive global community for bi+ people.
- National Listing of LGBTQ+ friendly Colleges and Universities
Desi LGBTQ+ Helpline for South Asians
Free Peer support for South Asian lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, Trans, Non-Binary, questioning individuals in the United States
- Everywhere Is Queer is a public resource (and ever-growing searchable map!) created for the LGBTQIA2S+ and ally community to find welcoming, queer-owned spaces to shop, connect, eat, learn, and grow all over the world… even in your own neighborhood!
By Sam Killermann
- The Gender Dysphoria Bible is a platform for quantifying and describing the experience of gender incongruence and of transgender individuals.
- Gender Spectrum’s mission is to create a gender-inclusive world for all children and youth. To accomplish this, we help families, organizations, and institutions increase their understanding of gender and consider the implications that evolving views have for each of us.
- Founded in 1985, GLAAD is a non-profit organization focused on LGBTQ advocacy and cultural change. GLAAD works to ensure fair, accurate, and inclusive representation and creates national and local programs that advance LGBTQ acceptance. Serving as a storyteller, media force, resource, and advocate, GLAAD tackles tough issues and provokes dialogue so that authentic LGBTQ stories are seen, heard, and actualized. GLAAD strives to protect all that has been accomplished and helps create a world where everyone can live the life they love.
Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality
- GLMA is a national organization committed to ensuring health equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities and equality for LGBTQ+ health professionals in their work and learning environments. To achieve this mission, GLMA utilizes the scientific expertise of its diverse multidisciplinary membership to inform and drive advocacy, education, and research.
- As GLSEN was founded by a group of teachers in 1990, we knew that educators play key roles in creating affirming learning environments for LGBTQ youth. But as well as activating supportive educators, we believe in centering and uplifting student-led movements, which have powered initiatives like the Day of Silence, Ally Week, and more.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
- By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, the Human Rights Campaign strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
It Gets Better is a nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe.
- Lambda Legal Help Desk
- Lambda Legal’s Help desk is a resource for the community we serve in providing general legal information and resources relating to discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and HIV status.
Movement Advancement Project (MAP)
- We work to create a thriving, inclusive, and equitable America where all people have a fair chance to pursue health and happiness, earn a living, take care of the ones they love, be safe in their communities, and participate in civic life.
National Center for Transgender Equality
- Today, NCTE is a team of hard-working staff members supported by a nationwide community of transgender people, allies, and advocates with an extensive record of winning life-saving change for transgender people.
- The National LGBTQ Task Force builds power, takes action, and creates change to achieve freedom, justice, and equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.
The National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging
National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) is a healing justice organization actively working to transform mental health for queer and trans Black, Indigenous and People of Color (QTBIPOC).
- PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world.
- Banned in the USA: Beyond the Shelves
This directory is brand new and currently features just a handful of affirming listings (mostly in our founder’s home state of Ohio 🫶). But our vision is national: a growing community of queer-owned and affirming businesses, organizations, and resources that LGBTQ+ folks and allies can trust—wherever they are.
- Title IX Ensures Every Student Is Safe and Supported at School
Sage Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders
- SAGE stands proudly with the LGBTQ+ pioneers across the country who’ve been fighting for decades for their right to live with dignity and respect.
- LGBTQ affirming hair salons/stylists nationwide
Trans Student Educational Resources
Trans Student Educational Resources is a youth-led organization dedicated to transforming the educational environment for trans and gender non-conforming students through advocacy and empowerment. Founded in 2011, it is the only national organization led by trans youth.
Trans Youth Equality Foundation
- The Trans Youth Equality Foundation provides education, advocacy and support for transgender, nonbinary and gender non-conforming children and youth and their families. Our mission is to share information about the unique needs of this community, partnering with families, educators and service providers to help foster a healthy, caring, and safe environment for all children we serve.
- The Transgender Law Center is the largest American transgender-led civil rights organization in the United States.
At this time TYEP services are available to:
- A parent or legal guardian of a transgender person under the age of 18 whose access to healthcare has been impacted by a restriction on gender-affirming care.
Uniting Queer-Affirming Camps & Families
At the heart of our mission is a commitment to simplifying your journey as a parent, connecting you with the very best and most affirming summer camps for your LGBTQ+ children and their allies.
HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools is the nation’s premier professional development program providing training and resources to elementary school educators to:
- Embrace All Families
- Create LGBTQ+ and Gender Inclusive Schools
- Prevent Bias-Based Bullying
- Support Transgender and Non-Binary Students
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PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois
PFLAG Geneva/Tri-Cities is part of the PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois
PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois is a coalition of 17 PFLAG chapters in the state. We work together to accomplish more than we could acting individually. You may attend meetings of any PFLAG chapter, and you never have to be a member to attend. Please find our Council chapters here to explore more meeting possibilities. We encourage you to participate in any chapter that suits your schedule and needs. Each chapter provides a unique opportunity to connect, support, and advocate within your community.
- Subscribe to Open Doors PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois free monthly newsletter!
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PFLAG Virtual Resources
PFLAG Academy Online brings free, monthly learning sessions right to your computer screen. Benefit from PFLAG National’s diverse learning options, informed staff, great guests, and input from other participants…all without leaving home. All you need is a computer (or mobile device) and the drive to lead with love and move equality forward.
PFLAG National ReadWithLove Bookshelf
There’s a lot you can do to help empower LGBTQ+ youth in your community to learn and to thrive. Let’s embrace our Read With Love movement and include MORE books about all kinds of topics and people in our schools and libraries. Together we’ll create a world where all people–including LGBTQ+ people–are safe, celebrated, empowered, and loved.
PFLAG National Chapter Hybrid and Virtual Meetings
PFLAG National has over 35o Chapters, many of which offer hybrid and virtual meetings. You don’t have to be a member to participate in any PFLAG chapter meeting. If you’re interested in attending more than one meeting a month, be sure to explore the options available through the Virtual PFLAG meetings.
PFLAG Connects: Communities (PCC) provide a safe, virtual, moderated space where people with shared experiences can connect each month. PFLAG National’s current communities gather people of Latino, Black/African American, Asian American and Pacific Islander backgrounds—as well as military families (in partnership with our friends at the Modern Military Association of America [MMAA]), families with gender-diverse loved ones, grandparents and a dad group—to gain support, ask questions, and learn from others who have been through similar experiences. These meetings cater primarily to family members of LGBTQ+ people, and also welcome members of the LGBTQ+ community.
PFLAG National Online Community
As the first and largest organization for parents, families, and allies of the LGBTQ+ community, we’re here to provide loving support and critical resources.
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Resources for your Allyship Journey
The Guide to Being a Straight Ally
The Guide to Being An Ally to Trans and Nonbinary People
Leading with Love for People Who Are LGBTQ+
Leading with Love for People Who are Trans or Nonbinary
Leading with Love for LGBTQ+ People in Faith Communities
Bi+ 101 Allyship: How to Not Let Things Fall Bi the Wayside: Recording & Training Toolkit
How to “Ally” for the Holidays
The Trevor Project – Supporting LGBTQ+ Young People with Disabilities
Join the Fight, Advocacy Tools
PFLAG National Recommended Reading: Coming Out
Savvy Ally Action
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Resources for LGBTQ+ Healthcare
Mental Health Resources from PFLAG National
The LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory is a project of the Tegan and Sara Foundation and GLMA – Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality. It is 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 in the USA and Canada. LGBTQ+ patients deserve healthcare providers who they can be open and honest with —free from fear of stigma or bias. The simple act of connecting patients with care is a solution to this problem.
National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) is a healing justice organization actively working to transform mental health for queer and trans Black, Indigenous and People of Color (QTBIPOC).
Established in 1998, Youth Outlook is the first and longest-running social service agency in Illinois solely dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth. We work across northern and central Illinois, offering drop-in centers for youth, caregiver, and parent support, plus community education and professional development.
*DISCLAIMER: These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by PFLAG Geneva/Tri-Cities of any of the products, services or opinions expressed on external sites. PFLAG Geneva/Tri-Cities bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of external sites or for that of subsequent links. *
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Resources for LGBTQIA+ Books, Television Shows, Films and More
Explore a world of resources through books, TV shows, films, and more. These options are merely the starting point, encouraging you to explore further.
Books
The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project
The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project is an organization that is, in part, devoted to providing and promoting resources for and about asexual and aromantic people. For more, you can check out our website at taaap.org.
PFLAG National
- Recommended Reading: Coming Out
- Bisexual+ Resource Recommendations from PFLAG National
- Nonbinary Resource Recommendations from PFLAG National
- Transgender Book Recommendations from PFLAG National
- Transgender Reading List for Adults
- Questions about transgender issues, gender identity, and transitioning aren’t just for kids and young adults. Adults have plenty of questions about those issues, and several more besides: how best to help a child who’s questioning their gender, how to help a friend or family member in transition, how to be a good friend or ally, or how to navigate the many complex legal issues that surround being transgender. The answers to those, and many other, questions can be found in the books below.
- Transgender Reading List for Young Adults
- While there’s no road map to the young adult years (much to some people’s dismay), that doesn’t mean that it’s completely uncharted territory. If you are, or think you might be, transgender, gender expansive, or genderqueer, you’re an ally trying to understand what a friend or family member is going through, or you’d just like to learn more, the reading list below offers a selection of fiction, nonfiction, and memoirs to help give you the lay of the land.
- Transgender Reading List for Children
- Parents looking for age-appropriate reading material for younger children who are transgender, gender expansive, or simply have a lot of questions, might think that their options are limited. Happily, that’s not the case. The books below each offer a different way to affirm, to learn, and to start important conversations.
- Transgender Reading List for Adults
Queer Allyship Book Shop (scroll to the bottom of their resource page)
Welcoming Schools Booklists
Films
PFLAG National Recommendations
- Films on Gender
- These diverse films, documentaries, and TV shows thoughtfully explore many facets of the transgender experience.
- PFLAG National Recommended LGBTQ Stories in TV and Film
- From mainstream movies to independent films, major networks to cable outlets to other platforms in the TV arena like Netflix and Amazon, there are more opportunities than ever for LGBTQ stories to be told.
Television Shows
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PFLAG National Recommended LGBTQ Stories in TV and Film
- From mainstream movies to independent films, major networks to cable outlets to other platforms in the TV arena like Netflix and Amazon, there are more opportunities than ever for LGBTQ stories to be told.
**Disclaimer: These recommendations are intended for informational purposes only; they do not imply endorsement or approval by PFLAG Geneva/Tri-Cities of any products, services, or opinions expressed. PFLAG Geneva/Tri-Cities is not responsible for the accuracy, legality, or content within or of external sites or any subsequent links.**
However, we hope these resources will inspire you to delve deeper into topics of interest, foster understanding, and promote inclusivity and continued learning. Whether you’re seeking knowledge or entertainment, each selection is chosen to broaden perspectives and spark meaningful conversations. Remember to approach each resource with an open mind and a critical eye, as part of your journey towards greater awareness and empathy.
*This section is currently under construction and will continue to be updated.*
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Where Do I Start?
If you’re new to this journey, we’re so glad you found us!
Please discover Where do I start?
Parents: Quick Tips for Supporting Your LGBTQ Kids–and YOURSELF–During the Coming-Out Process
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(Local) Youth Organizations
Belong: Fox Valley – Where Everyone has a Place
Belong: Fox Valley is a grassroots organization working to make the Fox Valley, Illinois and the surrounding communities inclusive and affirming spaces that celebrate the diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions of our community members. They provide a weekly Youth Drop-In, monthly Social Gatherings, and so much more!
Pinwheels is a network of families embracing their children’s and teens gender creativity in a kind and loving manner. Our support group focuses on providing a monthly meeting place for parents to connect with other families by sharing information and experiences.
There are two Pinwheels groups. In the greater Chicago area we meet in a Northwest suburb. There is also a group in the St. Louis area. Each meeting divides attendees into two groups; a parents’ discussion group and a children and teens playgroup.
Monthly meetings are private to protect privacy. Meetings are only open to families that have already decided to accept and support their gender expansive children and teens, and only immediate family members are allowed to attend.
Established in 1998, Youth Outlook is the first and longest-running social service agency in Illinois solely dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth. We work in seven counties in northern Illinois, offering drop-in centers for youth, caregiver, and parent support, plus community education and professional development.
*DISCLAIMER: These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by PFLAG Geneva/Tri-Cities of any of the products, services or opinions expressed on external sites. PFLAG Geneva/Tri-Cities bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of external sites or for that of subsequent links. *