Community Care

Members of 26 Health attend Zebra Coalition's 5K Drag Race in Baldwin Park during Come Out With Pride.

PHOTO BY JEREMY WILLIAMS

Central Florida Organizations o er their support

JEREMY WILLIAMS

Central Florida is home to a large, eclectic group of LGBTQ nonprofi ts and organizations whose mission it is to make this area one of the most open, accepting and inclusive in the world. Central Florida's LGBTQ organizations range from large coalitions with wide-ranging missions to smaller groups with more focused goals. They provide health-related services, education assistance and youth programs. Some have been in the area for decades and some were formed in the wake of one of the worst gun violence tragedies in the country. But the one thing they all have in common is they were all formed because the care about Central Florida's LGBTQ community. Read on and learn more about some of Central Florida's most infl uential and important LGBTQ organizations.

26 HEALTH

801 N. Magnolia Ave., Suite 402, Orlando, Florida 32803 | 321-800-2922 | 26Health.org 26 Health provides comprehensive physical and mental health services, regardless of ability to pay, to the City of Orlando's LGBTQ community and allies. They provide medical care; mental health care; adoption counseling and home studies; rapid HIV, Hepatitis C and STI testing and care; and a medical spa.

THE BROS IN CONVO INITIATIVE

711 Seminole Ave., Orlando, Florida 32804 | 407532-0070 | BrosInConvo.org The Bros in Convo Initiative is a community-based and -led organization dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of Central Florida’s Black and Brown young gay, bisexual, queer and same gender loving (GBQ/SGL) community. The organization was founded in 2017, and through capacity building training, community education programs and local advocacy work, The Bros in Convo Initiative aims to build community, elevate Black and Brown voices and promote/protect the wellbeing of young men of color.

HOPE & HELP

4122 Metric Drive, #800, Winter Park, Florida 32792 | 407-645-2577 | HopeAndHelp.org Hope & Help began in 1988 as a small support group of a few friends who cared for a close friend who was experiencing of AIDS-related complications. Since then, Hope & Help has grown into one of the most comprehensive HIV/STI service organizations in Florida, with a full medical clinic, in addition to testing, education, prevention, case management, support group services and a syringe service program.

THE LGBT+ CENTER ORLANDO AND KISSIMMEE

Orlando: 946 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, Florida 32803 | 407-228-8272 | TheCenterOrlando.org For over 40 years, the LGBT+ Center has provided programs and services to Central Florida's LGBTQ community. The Center offers health-related services including HIV, Hepatitis C and STI testing, free online mental health counseling, HIV case

management and more. The Center also provides an array of programs and services such as career counseling, computer access, resource navigation, notary services, meetings for addiction and recovery, LGBTQ seniors and LGBTQ youth, groups for transgender and gender nonconforming individuals and more. In 2018, a second LGBT+ Center location was opened in Kissimmee offering select services.

MIRACLE OF LOVE

741 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, Florida 32804 | 407-843-1760 | MiracleOfLove.org Miracle of Love (MOL) is an organization founded by Lowell Stafford in 1991 for the distinct purpose of providing accessible HIV/AIDS prevention programming and supportive assistance to service the multicultural needs of communities in Central Florida. Today, MOL is the oldest communitybased minority HIV/AIDS organization in Central Florida. MOL continues to be a repository for education, support, care, community advocacy and referral services.

ONE ORLANDO ALLIANCE

OneOrlandoAlliance.org One Orlando Alliance (OOA) is a coalition of over 40 LGBTQ service-based organizations in Central Florida formed in the days following the Pulse tragedy. OOA members are committed to ensuring Central Florida serves as a model for nonprofits, businesses, foundations and institutions, all working together to create a welcoming and inclusive community for all. P.O. Box 2126, Orlando, Florida 32802 | 407-775-4611 | onePULSEFoundation.org The onePULSE Foundation is a nonprofit created by the owner of Pulse nightclub. The Foundation was established to create a sanctuary of hope following the Pulse tragedy. This fund is intended to support a memorial that opens hearts, a museum that opens minds, educational programs that open eyes and legacy scholarships that open doors. Contributions from individuals, foundations, corporations and government entities directly support all of the National Pulse Memorial & Museum design, construction, land acquisition costs, operations, community education programs and 49 Legacy Scholarships.

ORLANDO YOUTH ALLIANCE / SEMINOLE YOUTH ALLIANCE

P.O. Box 536944, Orlando, Florida 32853 | 407-244-1222 | OrlandoYouthAlliance.org The Orlando Youth Alliance (OYA) and the Seminole Youth Alliance (SYA) are non-profit organizations which provides a safe space for LGBTQ youth to gather, talk about issues and concerns that are important in their lives, as well as meet other LGBTQ youth. OYA and SYA are peerbased youth groups with members ranging from ages 13-23. It was first formed in 1990 as a support group to assist at-risk LGBTQ youth under the moniker “Delta Youth Alliance.” OYA meets Tuesday evenings at 6:15 p.m. SYA meets Thursday evening at 6:15 p.m. Multiple Chapters | PFLAG.org Founded in 1973, PFLAG is the first and largest organization for LGBTQ people, their parents and families, and allies. With over 400 chapters and 200,000 members and supporters crossing multiple generations of families in major urban centers, small cities and rural areas across America, PFLAG is committed to creating a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued and affirmed. Central Florida is home to three PFLAG chapters: PFLAG Orlando at 407-2369177, PFLAGOrlando.org; PFLAG New Smyrna Beach/ Volusia at 386-957-4479, PFLAG.org/New-SmyrnaBeachVolusia; and PFLAG Melbourne at 321-750-4141, PFLAGMelbourne.org.

THE PRIDE CHAMBER

5003 Old Cheny Highway, Orlando, Florida 32807 | 321-800-3946 | ThePrideChamber.org The Pride Chamber is the LGBTQ chamber of commerce dedicated to the business equality movement in the Greater Orlando area and beyond. Formerly called MBA Orlando, the organization changed its name to The Pride Chamber to "better reflect who we are." Founded on the values of integrity, inclusion, community and economic opportunity, The Pride Chamber serves as a resource for small businesses and large corporations, as well as LGBTQ-owned businesses, community members and allies to bridge the gap between them. The Pride Chamber is one of five LGBTQ chambers of commerce in Florida.

QLATINX

946 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, Florida 32803 | 407-476-5327 | QLatinx.org QLatinx is a grassroots racial, social and gender justice organization dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of Central Florida's LGBTQ Latinx community. QLatinx was found in response to the mass shooting that occurred at Pulse in 2016 during the LGBTQ establishment’s Latinx themed night. QLatinx seeks to center and empower the most marginalized members of our community, establish affirming and supportive healing spaces, build a strong and united community and work towards a society free of fear, violence and hate.

ZEBRA COALITION

911 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, Florida 32803 | 407-228-1446 | ZebraYouth.org Zebra Coalition is a network of organizations which provide services to LGBTQ youth ages 13–24. The Coalition assists young people facing homelessness, bullying, isolation from their families and physical, sexual and drug abuse with individualized programs to guide them to recovery and stability. Among its programs and services, Zebra Coalition offers mental health support, assistance in housing, education and leadership opportunities and more.