Best LGBTQ+ Charities to Support this Pride Month
Updated: Jun 26
LGBTQ+ Rights at Home and Around the World
In recent years we have seen incredible strides in LGBTQ+ rights. Unfortunately, the community still faces a wide range of challenges across the world.
There are still a number of countries where it is not only dangerous but illegal to be an open member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Fighting hard for the rights and freedoms of the community across the world are a number of great organisations and charities.
Why LGBTQ+ Charities are Important
Stepping into support where needed, charities are an invaluable resource advocating for rights and the overall well-being of the LGBTQ+ community. They focus on support for the multiple pillars of injustice:
Discrimination: The community faces discrimination in many aspects of life from employment and education to housing and healthcare. 40% of LGBTQ+ people have experienced unfair treatment at work, including being fired, not hired, or harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity at some point in their lives
Mental Health: When compared to the general population, the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to experience mental health issues. According to the Trevor Project, LGBTQ+ youth are more than four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers.
Hate Crimes: The LGBTQ+ community is also at higher risk of hate crimes. According to Stonewall, 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ people have experienced a hate crime or incident in the last 12 months because of their sexual orientation and/or gender/identity.
Homelessness: LGBTQ+ people are also more likely to experience homelessness with up to 24% of homeless young people (in the UK) identifying as LGBTQ+.
How to Support LGBTQ+ Charities
There are many ways to support a LGBTQ+ charity including:
Donating/Fundraising for the cause
Volunteering time and services
Promoting the organisation and raising awareness
Businesses Supporting
There are a number of businesses that will support LGBTQ+ charities throughout the year - for multiple years Skittles has been fundraising for charities. Including Switchboard in 2019 and gladd in 2020. Skittles donates $1 from every pack of pride Skittles sold.
Here are some of the Best LGBTQ+ Charities
Stonewall
Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT)
Switchboard
LGBT Foundation
MindOut
Gendered Intelligence
Rainbow Railroad
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Stonewall
Stonewall was founded back in 1989 by activists protesting a law called section 28, which banned the promotion of homosexuality in UK schools. Today they are working to empower the community and lobby to create a world where LGBTQ+ people can live openly without fear of discrimination.
Stonewall has helped to train over 6000 workplaces on LGBTQ+ inclusion, as well as supporting legal protections for LGBTQ+ people in areas such as marriage and adoption.
Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT)
The Albert Kennedy Trust supports homeless LGBTQ+ youth who are homeless or are facing homelessness. The charity was also founded in 1989 and offer a number of services including housing, advocacy, and mentoring.
The charity was named after Albert Kennedy who was a 16 year old homeless youth who was rejected by his family because of his sexuality. To date they have helped over 6000 LGBTQ+ individuals in need with their services.
Switchboard
Switchboard is a helpline supporting LGBTQ+ individuals founded back in 1974. Today they offer a number of confidential services including their helpline (0800 0119 100) and online chat services located directly on their website.
Each year Switchboard receives over 20,000 contacts per year from people looking for support.
LGBT Foundation
The LGBT Foundation was founded in 1975 and provides a range of services including advocacy, health and wellbeing support, and community events. They also offer support for people experiencing domestic abuse, hate crime, and discrimination.
The LGBT Foundation has provided over 35,000 free sexual health kits in the past year.
MindOut
MindOut is a mental health focused organisation founded in 1999. The charity offers a range of services including counselling and support groups. In the last year, they have provided over 5,000 hours of counselling and peer support.
Gendered Intelligence
Gendered Intelligence is a charity focused on supporting the trans community. Working through a number of services including entering training and advocacy, their goal is to to increase understanding of gender diversity and to support trans and non-binary young people.
In the past year they have supported over 1,000 young people through their services.
Rainbow Railroad
Rainbow Railroad was founded in 2006 and focuses on helping people to escape persecution and violence in their home countries by assisting with travel, legal support, and resettlement.
Rainbow Railroad has helped facilitate the relocation of over 1,000 LGBTQ+ individuals relocate to safer countries including Canada, United Kingdom, and the US.
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Support Causes from sales with store and checkout donations. Virtue is an easy to set up fundraising app for eCommerce brands built on Shopify, WooCommerce and Magento. Choose from over 20,000 Causes!
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