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Employee Assistance Program
Arlyn Gonzalez, Employee Assistance Program Director

Gender & Sexuality Diversity

Gender & Sexuality Diversity
When it comes to gender and sexuality we have to emphasize the importance of elevating the voices of folks who identify within the LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ+ acronym stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning. The + sign is a way of denoting that perhaps not all identities within this umbrella are highlighted within this acronym. However, all identities within this diaspora are important and deserve to be recognized and honored. The + sign attempts to accomplish this. Within this page you will have the opportunity to browse through resources, articles and tools relevant to this category. We welcome feedback regarding the information below whether a link no longer feels relevant to whether there’s information missing that you would like to see included, please email us at eap@cityofmadison.com.

Local Resources:

  • Wisconsin Department of Health Services offers information about LGBT Health, Service Providers, Data, and Resources for the LGBTQ+ community.
  • The OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center's mission is a commitment to equity and quality of life for all LGBTQ+ people through community building, health and human services, and economic, social, and racial justice advocacy.
  • The Madison chapter of PFLAG upholds their mission to create a caring, just, and affirming world for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.
  • Fair Wisconsin works to advance, achieve, and protect equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) Wisconsinites.
  • Diverse & Resilient sees a future in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in Wisconsin thrive and live healthy, satisfying lives in safe, supportive communities.
  • The LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin advocates for the rights of individuals who have experienced discrimination and for policies and ordinances that make our cities more inclusive. They offer support groups and safe zone training for the community.
  • FORGE strives to create a world where ALL voices, people and bodies are valued, respected, honored, and celebrated; where every individual feels safe, supported, respected, and empowered.
  • The Wisconsin LGBTQ Summit is focused on building a more skilled and connected network of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ), and allied individuals who are empowered to achieve and protect LGBTQ equality in their local communities across the state of Wisconsin.
  • The mission of Our Lives (ol) is to clearly, candidly, and openly reflect the diversity and optimism in our community. Our Lives is dedicated to improving readers’ quality of life by celebrating the people, establishments, and events that encourage us to embrace our identities as individuals and as an LGBTQ+ community.
  • The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce works to create a fully inclusive state by promoting economic growth and opportunities among LGBT owned and allied businesses, corporations, and professionals in Wisconsin.

  • American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin (ACLU) of Wisconsin is the state affiliate of the national ACLU and is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, private organization with more than 15,000 members, dedicated to defending the civil rights and liberties of all Wisconsinites.

  • Equaldex is a collaborative knowledge base crowdsourcing LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) rights by country and region. See LGBT Rights in Wisconsin web page for data on our state.
  • The Movement Advancement Project's (MAP) mission is to provide independent and rigorous research, insight and communications that help speed equality and opportunity for all. MAP works to ensure that all people have a fair chance to pursue health and happiness, earn a living, take care of the ones they love, be safe in their communities, and participate in civic life. See Wisconsin's Equality Profile compared to other states.

National Resources:

  • The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and mental health organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) young people.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers information about LGBT health and supports the need for culturally competent medical care and prevention services for this community.
  • The Human Rights Campaign envisions a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear, and with equality under the law. We empower our 3 million members and supporters to mobilize against attacks on the most marginalized people in our community.
  • The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people. They are working to build a future where everyone can be free to be their entire selves in every aspect of their lives.
  • GLAAD works through entertainment, news, and digital media to share stories from the LGBTQ community that accelerate acceptance.
  • PFLAG's mission is to create a caring, just, and affirming world for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.
  • The Safe Zone Project (SZP) is a free online resource providing curricula, activities, and other resources for educators facilitating Safe Zone trainings (sexuality, gender, and LGBTQ+ education sessions), and learners who are hoping to explore these concepts on their own.

  • The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center aims to advance health equity, eliminate health disparities, optimize access to cost-effective health care, and improve the quality of care for LGBTQIA+ people and the populations which may intersect with the LGBTQIA+ community.

  • Learning for Justice seeks to uphold the mission of the Southern Poverty Law Center: to be a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people. Read more about the topic of gender and sexual identity and how it intersects with other identities.

Articles:

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Cultural Considerations