New York City Parents Of Lesbians And Gay Men Inc

Programs: The support program provides information and community-based counseling assistance to preserve relationships within families when someone comes out as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (lgbt) and helps lgbt people whose families are not accepting. The primary means of delivering assistance is through peer-support groups attended by 5-40 individuals per session. Direct assistance is provided via telephone and online helpline services that provide one-on-one support. We provide information resources through all relevant channels to reach families and individuals needing help, including printed materials, audiovisual materials, a lending library, and social media websites.

the safe schools program helps schools fight bias and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity and fosters respect for diversity. The program empowers lgbt people, their parents, families, and other allies to directly work to reduce bullying, harassment, and name-calling. Free of charge to schools, the program brings trained community speakers into classrooms to share their personal experience of having an lgbt loved ones in their lives. Speakers come from diverse backgrounds and include parents of lgbt children, other relatives of lgbt people, as well as lgbt people themselves. By sharing personal stories of the lgbt people in their lives they open a free and respectful dialogue with students that dispels misinformation and helps move the school climate towards one of respect and fairness for lgbt people. For the 2016/2017 school year the events held reached an audience of approximately 7,000 students.

community outreach and education programs focus on educating the general public about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (lgbt) people and issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. Having a child or close family member come out is a difficult experience for many people, and many lgbt people experience rejection, disapproval, mental anguish, and even physical violence when they come out. Our education programs aim to get people to think about lgbt people in the context of families and communities and help people know how to respond and how to seek resources and assistance when someone comes out. Efforts include the "stay close" campaign involving celebrity role models, and various educational programs at corporations and businesses, community groups, religous institutions, and other organiztions.