LGBTQ+ GUIDE 2018 SERVICES AND RESOURCES 1 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007 Office• Phone: of the (212)New York 669- City3500 Comptroller • www.comptroller.nyc.gov Scott M. Stringer 1 2 2018 LGBTQ+ Guide of Services and Resources Dedicated to the memory of Edith “Edie” Windsor (June 20, 1929 – September 12, 2017) Office of the New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer 3 Dear Friend, I am pleased to present the 2018 edition of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Guide to Services and Resources—the most comprehensive directory of LGBTQ+ organizations and programs in New York City. This year’s Guide includes information for well over 100 community groups offering LGBTQ-led and -centered services, from health care and counseling to arts and social networks. But the Guide is much more than a resource. It is a reflection of the vast contributions of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers to civic life and culture and of the spirit of activism that pervades our city. Throughout my career, I have been a strong and vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. As an Assembly member, I was one of the first co-sponsors of a 1995 bill to enact marriage equality in the State of New York. When my wife and I married in 2010, we did so in Connecticut to protest New York’s then-ongoing discrimination against same-sex couples. As Comptroller, I am proud to have the opportunity to advance equality for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers by mobilizing investors to speak out against discrimination and to ensure corporate diversity efforts explicitly include the LGBTQ+ community. And I remain committed to centering LGBTQ+ New Yorkers across the many functions of this office. I want to acknowledge that the release of this year’s Guide comes at a particularly challenging moment in the LGBTQ+ movement. So many of the steps we have made toward greater equality are being threatened at the federal level. But let me be clear: Here in New York City, we reject any and all attempts to roll back the rights of our LGBTQ+ neighbors. Here in New York City, we are only moving forward. In the past year alone, we have made new progress. A policy report my office released revealed that New York City’s students are not getting their mandated semester of health education, critical for young people to develop healthy relationships and positive outlooks on their sexual health and identity. I subsequently called for the expansion of comprehensive sexual health and wellness education for all New York City students. In addition, legislation I spearheaded to prohibit discrimination of LGBTQ+ business owners who bid on city contracts became law, closing a glaring loophole in the City’s existing anti-discrimination protections. In the years to come, I will continue working to make sure the City better serves the needs of all LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, especially those living at the intersection of multiple identities. I am proud to join a growing movement to include black and brown stripes on the Pride flag. These colors are also displayed on the cover of this year’s Guide. If you have any questions about the Guide or would like to request copies, please send us an email at [email protected]. You may also browse the directory online at www.comptroller.nyc.gov/LGBTQ. I hope that you will find the LGBTQ+ Resource Guide a useful resource and that together we can continue to push for equality and dignity for all New Yorkers. In solidarity, Scott M. Stringer New York City Comptroller 4 2018 LGBTQ+ Guide of Services and Resources CONTENTS Help Obtaining Benefits .................................................................................................................. 6 Advocacy.......................................................................................................................................... 9 Community Groups ....................................................................................................................... 16 Cultural ........................................................................................................................................... 25 Health/Wellness ............................................................................................................................. 29 Religious/Spiritual .......................................................................................................................... 41 Social Services ............................................................................................................................... 46 Other .............................................................................................................................................. 53 Index .............................................................................................................................................. 63 Office of the New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer 5 HELP OBTAINING BENEFITS A number of programs provide support to New York City residents who may need assistance. Information about some of these programs is below and can also be obtained by calling 311. In addition, ACCESS NYC is an online screening tool that can help you determine the City, State, and Federal health and human service benefit programs for which you are potentially eligible. Please visit access.nyc.gov. Reporting Discrimination New York City’s Human Rights Law is among the most expansive civil rights laws in the country, prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based on gender (including sexual harassment), gender identity, and sexual orientation. If you experience discrimination in New York City, you have the option of either filing a claim in court or filing a claim with the Law Enforcement Bureau of the New York City Commission on Human Rights (Commission). To report discrimination to the Commission, call 311 or (718) 722-3131. You can also learn more about options available to you and the process of filing a claim at http://www1.nyc.gov/site/cchr/help/i-need-help.page. Cash Assistance Cash Assistance provides monetary assistance to eligible low-income families and individuals. To find a New York City Job Center where you can apply for Cash Assistance and other public benefits, call 311 or visit http://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/locations/job-locations.page. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Working families that earn below a certain income level may be able to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The amount of the refund depends on the family’s income and individuals’ marital and parental status. To learn more about the EITC and how you can claim it, call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/eitc. Emergency Housing To obtain assistance if you are homeless, call 311 or visit the following Department of Homeless Services intake centers: • Families with children: Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH) Center,151 East 151st Street, Bronx, NY. • Adult families: Adult Family Intake Center (AFIC), 400-430 East 30th Street, New York, NY. • Single adult men: 30th Street Intake Center, 400-430 East 30th Street, New York, NY. • Single adult women: HELP Women’s Shelter, 116 Williams Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217 or Franklin Shelter, 1122 Franklin Avenue, Bronx, NY. 6 2018 LGBTQ+ Guide of Services and Resources Financial Empowerment Centers Financial Empowerment Centers provide free services including money management and budgeting, financial planning, credit and debt counseling, and affordable banking services. For more information about financial empowerment assistance, contact the Department of Consumer Affairs Office of Financial Empowerment at 311 or visit http://www1.nyc.gov/site/dca/partners/financial-empowerment.page. Housing Assistance There are a number of affordable housing programs in New York City: • Public housing is government-owned housing that is available to certain low-income individuals and families through the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). To obtain more information, call 311, visit http://www1.nyc.gov/site/nycha/eligibility/apply.page, or go to a NYCHA Walk-In Center located at either 478 East Fordham Road (1 Fordham Plaza), 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY or 787 Atlantic Avenue, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY. • Section 8 Housing Vouchers can be used by a family or individual to help pay the cost of renting a private home or apartment. Two government agencies administer Section 8 Programs: New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Information can be obtained through NYCHA or through HPD at http://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/section-8/about-section-8.page. • City-subsidized affordable housing programs offer apartments at below-market rent to individuals and families that meet certain income qualifications. These programs are administered by HPD. For more information, visit http://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/renters/find-housing.page. Job Training NYC Workforce1 Career Centers help people find and prepare for a job. The centers provide information about new jobs and refer people to educational and occupational skills training classes. For more information, contact the Centers by calling 311 or visiting http://www1.nyc.gov/site/sbs/careers/contact.page. Medicaid Medicaid is a program that helps with medical costs for people with limited income and resources. For additional information, please contact the Medicaid Helpline at (888) 692-6116. Municipal ID: IDNYC In 2014, the City of New York passed a law creating a municipal identification card called “IDNYC” for residents of New York City 14 years