Resources & Support
Find trusted resources for gender-affirming care, mental health, legal support, LGBTQ+ community services, crisis support, housing, recovery, and more.
These resources include local, statewide, and national organizations. Use the sections below to find the support that best fits what you need.
Gender Affirming Care
Finding gender-affirming care can come with a lot of questions, and you deserve information that feels clear, supportive, and affirming. We’ve gathered these resources to help you explore care options, prepare for conversations with medical providers, and find healthcare that respects who you are. There’s a lot here, so take your time, start where you need to, and use what feels most helpful to you.
For your medical providers
In 2024, we interviewed transgender Pennsylvanians about their experiences with medical providers. We used their stories to create a quick reference how-to guide to help medical professionals understand the basics of making their space affirming to transgender people.
We also created a pocket-sized form folks can fill out with their chosen name, pronouns, gender identity, and reasonable accommodations. This way, their medical providers can keep this document on file with the rest of their records to continually reference.
Feel free to download and share these documents with your medical providers or others who may find it useful. If you’d like a printed copy mailed to you, please fill out the form below and request copies of either or both documents.
Legal Support
Name Changes
Lancaster County Chooses Love offers name changes clinics about once a year. Spots are limited so please email Stephanie@LancasterChoosesLove.org to be added to the waiting list.
If you’d like to change your name sooner, please review the resources below to learn how to navigate the process on your own.
Information on name changes
- Changing Your Name In Pennsylvania
- Name Change Assistance
- Download Pennsylvania Legal Name Change Documents
- Name Change For a Child
- Updating Identification for Chosen Name and Gender Marker in Pennsylvania
- Information on Name Changes
Thank you to our friends at Eastern PA Trans Equity Project for these resources!
Need a lawyer?
If you are looking to consult with an attorney, the Lancaster Bar Association can match you with a lawyer who fits your specific needs. If the $50 consultation fee is a barrier please reach out to Laura@LancasterChoosesLove.org, as we may be able to help.
Crisis/Suicide Prevention
The Trevor Project
TrevorLifeline: 1-866-488-7386
TrevorText: text START to 678678
“TrevorLifeline is a crisis intervention and suicide prevention phone service available 24/7/365.” TrevorText: “Confidential text messaging with a Trevor counselor, available 24/7/365.”
Preventing suicide:
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/ preventing-suicide/
Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255
“The LGBTQ+ community is diverse and strong, but may be disproportionately at-risk for suicidal feelings and other mental health struggles because of the discrimination and prejudice they too often are up against. This section has information and resources for yourself and to help support loved ones who are LGBTQ+.”
TransLifeline
10:00am – 4:00am EST
Hotline: 877-565-8860
“Trans Lifeline is a national trans-led 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the quality of trans lives by responding to the critical needs of our community with direct service, material support, advocacy, and education. Our vision is to fight the epidemic of trans suicide and improve overall life-outcomes of trans people by facilitating justice-oriented, collective community aid.”
Sources of Strength
“A best practice youth suicide prevention project designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, bullying, and substance abuse. The mission of Sources of Strength is to prevent suicide by increasing help seeking behaviors and promoting connections between peers and caring adults. Sources of Strength moves beyond a singular focus on risk factors by utilizing an upstream approach for youth suicide prevention. This upstream model strengthens multiple sources of support (protective factors) around young individuals so that when times get hard they have strengths to rely on.”
Mental Health
National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network
info@nqttcn.com
“Advancing healing justice by transforming mental health for queer and trans poc.”
The Association of LGBTQ Psychiatrists
215-222-2800 | info@aglp.org
“We are a community of psychiatrists that educates and advocates on Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender mental health issues.”
LGBT National Help Center
Monday thru Friday from 4pm to midnight, eastern time
Saturday from noon to 5pm, eastern time
LGBT National Youth Talkine: 1-800-246-7743
“The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Youth Talkline provides telephone, online private one-to-one chat and email peer-support, as well as factual information and local resources for cities and towns across the United States.”
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564
“The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) National Hotline provides telephone, online private one-to-one chat and email peer-support, as well as factual information and local resources for cities and towns across the United States.”
LGBT National Online Peer Support Chat: lgbthotline.org/chat glbthotline
“Our volunteers offer free, confidential, one-on-one peer support for
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people.”
GLMA
202-600-8037 | info@glma.org
“Are you lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer and looking for a healthcare professional you can trust?
GLMA’s online Provider Directory can help. Search for primary care providers, specialists, therapists, dentists and other health professionals in your area.
The service is free and you do not need to register.”
Fenway Health
617-267-2535 (25 and under)
“Fenway Health advocates for and delivers innovative, equitable, accessible health care, supportive services, and transformative research and education. We center LGBTQIA+ people, BIPOC individuals, and other underserved communities to enable our local, national, and global neighbors to flourish.”
Other LGBTQ+ Organizations
South Central PA
Pennsylvania Youth Congress
Harrisburg, PA | 717-743-1035 | info@payouthcongress.org
“Founded in April 2011 by Pennsylvania students, the Pennsylvania Youth Congress is Pennsylvania’s first and only statewide LGBTQ youth advocacy organization. As young Pennsylvania leaders, we work to empower ourselves through meaningful community engagement and effective advocacy.”
TransCentral PA
Harrisburg, PA | 717-831-8142 | Youth@TransCentralPA.org
“TransCentralPA is committed to providing advocacy and caring support for transgender and non-binary individuals, their significant others, families, friends and allies. TransCentralPA also provides gender education and information to businesses, organizations, educational institutions and governmental agencies.”
Planned Parenthood Keystone – Youth Programs
The Curve – York, PA | @thecurveyork | brivenburgh@ppkeystone.org
“The Curve meets every Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 728 S. Beaver St. in York, PA. For more information, DM us on Instagram or email us.”
Acrasid – Lancaster, PA | 717-715-6917
“A trans & nonbinary community group with a different topic every week!”
Trans/Queer Yoga – Lancaster, PA | 717-715-6917
“Weekly yoga in a nonjudgemental, Queer-friendly environment”
Qreate – Discord | 717-715-6917
“An art and Making group facilitated by local artists.”
LGBT RPG – Lancaster, PA | 717-715-6917
“Tabletop gaming sponsored by our friends at Farbo Co.!”
Penn State Gender Health Program
Harrisburg, PA | 717-531-2073
The Gender Health Clinic at Penn State Children’s Hospital provides comprehensive, gender-affirming care for children, adolescents and young adults up to age 24 in a supportive and safe environment. Its multidisciplinary team works collaboratively to help patients with concerns about their gender, sexuality or sexual development feel comfortable in their bodies and affirm their gender.
Online Resources
Informed Consent Gender Clinic Map
“I track anti-trans legislation all over the country and run the largest trans healthcare map, an informed consent map listing every informed consent hormone therapy clinic for trans people.”
Seven Cups LGBTQ Chat Room
“Talk to someone in a 1-1 chat, or join our LGBT chat room to chat with others who understand what you’re going through. You can get support with exploring your sexuality, gender identity or coming out. We have many people across the LGBTQ spectrum. Do you identify with any of the following labels? Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, transgender, pansexual, gender neutral, queer, asexual, or any others. We can offer you free, 24/7 support today.”
TrevorSpace
“TrevorSpace is an affirming international community for LGBTQ young people ages 13-24. Sign up and start a conversation now.” “TrevorSpace is an affirming space where you can be you. Customize your profile to let your friends know how you identify.” “Join active discussions on TrevorSpace to ask tough questions and get advice and support from other members in similar situations.”
Q Chat Space“A Community for LGBTQ+ Teens
Find and give support, have fun, connect around shared interests and get good information. Chat with like-minded peers in live chats designed for you & by you, facilitated by folks who care.”
Online Speech Pathology Programs
“Sometimes, the way we speak doesn’t quite match who we truly are. It’s like our voice is on a different page from our identity. That’s where voice and communication training steps in. Think of it as your personal voice coach, helping you align the way you sound with the real you. It’s all about bringing your voice and identity into harmony.”
Substance Abuse
Addiction Center
“Suicide, addiction, and depression have a very close and interconnected relationship. More than 90% of people who fall victim to suicide suffer from depression, have a substance use disorder, or both. Depression and substance abuse combine to form a vicious cycle that all too often leads to suicide. Many who experience such severe depression (as a result of Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and other conditions) frequently turn to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other risky behaviors to numb their pain and/or alleviate their negative feelings.”
The Recovery Village Ridgefield
360-857-0007
“LGBTQ Addiction Resources No one is immune to substance use disorder. It can strike anyone at any time, regardless of age, gender, nationality, ethnicity, class or sexual orientation. However, some groups are more at risk to fall victim to drug and/or alcohol addiction than others. Unfortunately, this is true for the LGBTQ community. This is mainly because of the mental health disorders that develop in this community as a result of abuse, discrimination, rejection and ostracism that they undergo. The good news, however, is that many resources are available to help members of this community conquer substance abuse. If you or someone you love is a member of the LGBTQ community and is also suffering from alcohol and/or drug addiction, this page may address many of the questions that you have.”
DrugRehab.com
877-589-4784
“LGBTQ+ and Addiction: Causes, Resources and Treatment:
Substance use disorders have a greater effect on LGBTQ+ people than on the heterosexual population. The LGBTQ+ community must overcome several obstacles, including being denied substance abuse treatment because of their sexual identity. However, through the proper understanding and accommodation of LGBTQ+ care principles, substance abuse treatment can be successful.”
Alternatives to Meds Center
888-907-7075
“The statistics for substance abuse and substance use disorders among LGBTQ+-identified people are harrowing, but there are a plethora of resources that people within the community — and their families — can use to seek help and treatment.”
AlcoholHelp.com
855-451-7906
“Alcohol consumption is common but borders on abuse when it becomes a predictable and excessive pattern. Someone who has a history of prolonged alcohol abuse may reveal drastically different personality traits when they’re drunk, or when they try to stop drinking. An inability to control one’s drinking can signal alcoholism or feeling guilty about one’s drinking habits can signal an underlying problem. Knowing the warning signs of alcoholism can help victims get treatment sooner and save lives.”
Drug Rehab USA
24/7 Addiction Hotline: 888-479-0446
“Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual+ community have endured unconscionable bias since the United States was born. Despite some advancements over the past couple of decades—in areas such as same-sex marriage and military service—targeted emotional and physical violence continues to this day.
While we have made strides, we have a long way to go. Members of the LGBTQIA+ community continue to be victimized thus leading to high rates of Substance Use Disorder, as LGBTQIA+ individuals search for emotional ‘escape’ from the resulting trauma.”
Homelessness
National Runaway Safeline
1-800-RUNAWAY | Text: 66008
“The National Runaway Safeline (NRS) is here to listen whether you are thinking of running away or already have. Our services are confidential and nonjudgmental.”
Covenant House Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA | 215-951-5411 | info@covenanthouse.org
“At Covenant House Pennsylvania, we help teenagers and adolescents turn the tragedy of homelessness into an opportunity for growth and transformation.
We are part of the Covenant House federation, led by Covenant House International in New York, which serves runaway, homeless, and trafficked youth in 30 cities throughout the United States, Canada, and Latin America.”
Valley Youth House
Warminster, PA | 215-442-9760
Bethlehem, PA| 610-882-1068
“Valley Youth House is the catalyst for youth to achieve their desired future through genuine relationships that support families, ensure safe places, and build community connections.”
Violence & Abuse
NW Network
Monday – Friday | 9:00am – 5:00pm206-568-7777
“Our youth programming provides one-on-one advocacy-based counseling. Whether it’s over the phone or in person, we can help youth navigate complicated systems or offer support to youth going through a hard time. This support is free and confidential.”
Bullying
stopbullying.gov
“If you have done everything you can to resolve the situation and nothing has worked, or someone is in immediate danger, there are ways to get help.”
vpnMentor
“Most LGBTQ are Cyberbullied. Here’s How to Stay Safe Online”
Eating Disorders
FedUp
Facebook support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1472759929621399/
“FEDUP is a collective of trans+, intersex, and gender diverse people who believe eating disorders in marginalized communities are social justice issues. Our mission is to make visible, interrupt, and undermine the disproportionately high incidence of eating disorders in trans and gender diverse individuals through radical community healing, recovery institution reform, research, empowerment, and education. ”
Health and STIs
Drugwatch
888-645-1617
“Members of the LGBTQ+ community have unique and complex health needs that heterosexuals don’t face. Health disparities and barriers to care can make staying healthy challenging, but knowing LGBTQ+ health risks can ensure you stay on top of your health. Local and national resources can help you prevent or treat these health conditions with the right medical testing, care and support.“
Elevated Access
“Our volunteer pilots transport passengers at no cost to access the healthcare they need.“
