We dream about a South where LGBTQ+ folks can lead healthy, thriving lives in their hometowns. When we talk about community health, we mean every part of your physical, emotional and spiritual health. We believe that every LGBTQ+ person in the South should be able to access LGBTQ-friendly health care and legal services, and support services locally.
Right now, the hostile climate that persists in many parts of the South means people must take extra steps or travel hours to protect their rights and access basic health care and services. We’re working to change that through our Community Health Program. The program includes four main areas:
➡️ Trans Youth Emergency Project
➡️ Trans in the South Resource Guide
➡️ Southern LGBTQ Health Initiative
➡️ Trainings and Continuing Education
Trans Youth Emergency Project
Cruel laws banning best-practice gender-affirming care have passed in 25 states across the country – and as a result, thousands of transgender youth and their families are being forced to travel extreme distances and take on significant expenses just to get the care they need. The Trans Youth Emergency Project is here to help families navigate this complex and exhausting maze, offering logistical and financial support. Our team provides 1-on-1 custom patient navigation services and supports families of transgender youth with emergency grants to help them travel out of state for care.
Trans in the South Guide
Our Trans in the South Guide lists trans-friendly medical providers, counselors, HIV/AIDS services, attorneys and other services across the South. This guide reaches thousands of trans folks across the region.
Southern LGBTQ Health Initiative
Our Southern LGBTQ+ Health Initiative is a new a partnership with Western NC Community Health Services to expand access to LGBTQ-friendly primary and HIV care at Southern community health centers.
Additional Resources
Pop-Up Resource Clinics
CSE’s free Pop Up Clinics provide legal education and services, health and wellness services, and resources to help LGBTQ+ people lead healthy, thriving lives. Since launching in 2011, the Campaign for Southern Equality has hosted more than 120 clinics on topics ranging from name changes to health care power of attorney to immigrant law.
Legal Resource Pages
CSE’s legal resource pages are designed to help LGBTQ+ Southerners – especially those in the rural South – access clear information about their rights and how to access support and services. The toolkit consists of Health Care Power of Attorney forms and Name and Gender Change Guides for every Southern state as well as links to legal, medical, emergency and mental health resources.
Trainings and Continuing Education
We provide trainings and continuing education focused on LGBTQ+ issues and transgender issues to help service providers and schools be safer and more welcoming for LGBTQ+ people.
DISCLAIMER: The resources offered through this website only contain legal information and should not be interpreted as legal advice, nor should it be used in place of legal assistance. CSE recommends that any person with a question about the law or how it applies to them should contact an attorney. CSE is currently growing its referral list of LGBTQ-Friendly Attorney Referral List across the South. If you are an LGBTQ-friendly attorney based in the South and would like to be added to our referral list, please contact Ivy Hill at ivy@southernequality.org.
