LGBTQ+ Community Resources
Activism
The Human Rights Campaign strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people plus community members who use different language to describe identity are ensured equality and embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community.
The Rainbow Political Action Coalition of Louisiana is a group of individuals that consists of LGBTQ+ community members and allies who come together to advocate for political and social change in the state. As a group, they work towards promoting LGBTQ+ rights, supporting queer candidates running for office, and addressing issues that impact the queer community. While they do not have a formal organizational structure, their collective efforts and advocacy work have a significant impact on promoting equality and acceptance for LGBTQ+ individuals in Louisiana.
Advocacy
Free Mom Hugs-Louisiana
Free Mom Hugs is a group of moms, friends, and allies who support the LGBTQ+ community. Their mission is to empower the world to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community through visibility, education, and conversation. They're building a better world, one hug at a time.
Forum for Equality
Forum for Equality is Louisiana’s LGBTQ+ human rights organization dedicated to the establishment of a society free from discrimination and to the support of good government. We believe that the fastest and most efficient way to achieve our goals is through community organization, education, and constructive participation in the political process. Since 1989, Forum has been active in Louisiana by helping to pass civil rights advancements for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.
It Gets Better Project
The It Gets Better Project is a nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe.
Louisiana Trans Advocates
Louisiana Trans Advocates is the first statewide transgender advocacy and social support organization in Louisiana dedicated to promoting and ensuring equal opportunities for all persons. LTA is advancing the core human rights of self-determination and expression for all trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people in Louisiana. LTA works across the state at the institutional and governmental levels to make policies and legislation trans-inclusive. LTA has social support meetings in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Shreveport, as well as at LSU.
PFLAG (Parents, Friends, and Family of Lesbians & Gays)
PFLAG is the nation's first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. PFLAG has chapters in East Texas, Alexandria, Little Rock, Lafayette, Dallas, Northwest Arkansas, and New Orleans.
Arts
QUEERPORT
QUEERPORT is a local grassroots organization designed to give queer creators a platform to write, blog, upload video content and document our history. In their words, "Our goal is to bring together queer creatives in the south, specifically in northwest Louisiana, to share our stories and create commentary on issues that matter to us. We aspire to empower queer youth and give them alternative resources and programming, offering events and workshops throughout the year."
Business
North Louisiana’s Lgbtq+ Chamber of Commerce
The NWLA Lgbtq+ Chamber of Commerce aims to provide an inclusive business community that promotes economic growth, connects LGBTQ+ businesses and the professional community, and advocates on their behalf.
Crisis Support
The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth, friends and family members)
The Trevor Project provides crisis services and peer support for LGBTQ+ youth. Their mission is to end suicide among LGBTQ+ and questioning young people.
Text Start at 678678
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
National Domestic Violence Hotline
CCRI’s Mission is to combat online abuses that threaten civil rights and civil liberties.
CCRI’s Vision is of a world in which law, policy and technology align to ensure the protection of civil rights and civil liberties for all.
Education
GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment. Together we can transform our nation's schools into the safe and affirming environment all youth deserve.
GLSEN PACE Panel Discussion
PACE provides education for establishing Gay/Straight Alliances in schools
"Studies have shown that when students feel safe and secure in their learning environment, improved learning takes place. We also know that, unfortunately, too many of our students do not feel safe within their schools, both from other students and sometimes from the administration. We know that having a Gay-Straight Alliance or similar voluntary organization on campus can foster understanding and acceptance of ALL student’s differences. We asked a group of local teachers, students, and administrators for their advice and, through a guided discussion, have created these videos providing information on how we can foster an inclusive environment where all students feel safe and welcomed, so they can spend their energy learning instead of trying to remain mentally and physically safe. We feel that since there was so much information to cover, it would be best to divide the discussion into two parts so you may learn from them at your convenience."
This program is made possible by funding from the Community Foundation of North Louisiana and the Carolyn W. and Charles T. Beaird Family Foundation.
Faith Spaces
All Souls Unitarian Church
All Souls is a home for Unitarian Universalism and liberal religion in Shreveport, Bossier City, and Northwest Louisiana since 1950. All Souls resolves to promote diversity through the free expression of ideas and beliefs, encourage intellectual and spiritual growth, and provide an environment for social activism and community service.
Church for the Highlands is "a different kind of Baptist church", rooted in historic Baptist principles of freedom. They are a diverse missional community, seeking to continue the work of Jesus in our local urban setting. Their vision is to offer the radical inclusivity of Jesus to everyone, reflecting the diversity of heaven. Church for the Highlands exists to bless the Highland neighborhood with the love of Jesus through Volunteers of America and community partnerships.
Grace Community Church
Grace is an all-inclusive, LGBTQ+ friendly, United Methodist church committed to sharing the love of Christ with all people, pursuing justice, and standing in solidarity with all who are marginalized and oppressed. Grace has made the Reconciling Ministries' commitment to intersectional LGBTQ+ justice. In their words, "We believe the search for truth is a journey, not a destination. In this spirit, all are welcome.
Healthcare and Counseling Services
Access Health Louisiana
Access Health Louisiana is dedicated to providing the best health care and a safe environment to all of our patients regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We recognize that the LGBTQ+ community has historically been underserved, and we strive to provide competent, compassionate, and individualized care to all of our patients in the LGBTQ+ community.
Butterfly Medical Care
400 Texas St. Ste 901
Shreveport LA, 71101
Butterfly Medical Care is run by Dr. Tiffany Najberg. Butterfly Medical Care is focused on tailoring solutions that are cost-effective and within the reach of the medically uninsured or medically underinsured. They have traditional EMS services, mobile health screenings and clinics, and virtual urgent care. In addition to these services, Butterfly Medical Care provides LGBTQ+ services and gender-affirming care. They are open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To schedule an appointment, email butterflymedicalcare@gmail.com. Put the type of appointment desired in the subject line (refills, new patient, established patient, etc).
Heather Goodman D'Anna, MA, LPC
Heather is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She hosts a free parent and caregiver support group for parents of LGBTQ+ youth, ages 12-14, on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 5:30-7:00 PM at The Highland Center.
Interactional Services
Interactional Services is a private practice group of therapists who offer a variety of therapy services and modalities (group, individual, couples, adults, adolescents, children, and families).
The Kennedy Center of Louisiana
The Kennedy Center of Louisiana is a community-based non-profit organization founded in 2004 by Ms. Tonya Williams, LPC & LMFT. The mission of The Kennedy Center of Louisiana is to empower all individuals to reach their full potential by supporting, teaching, and linking them to resources in the community. "It is our belief that all individuals are capable of success and deserve the same quality of life regardless of socioeconomic background and life circumstances. The Kennedy Center offers many programs including Street Outreach of Shreveport, providing youth up to 18 with emergency shelter, food, clothing, counseling, and referrals to health care, and Safe Haven, providing safe, stable housing and appropriate services to victims of human trafficking
LGBTQ+ Veteran Care
VA Shreveport healthcare employees receive training in clinical care that is responsive to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ Veterans. Our trained LGBTQ+ Veteran care coordinators are fully equipped to support the health, welfare, and dignity of you and your family.
The Philadelphia Center
The Philadelphia Center was developed in the spring of 1990 as concerned citizens were responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Shreveport/Bossier area. Over the past 30 years, The Philadelphia Center has become the HIV/AIDS resource center for Region 7 which serves the parishes of Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Bienville, Red River, DeSoto, Sabine, and Natchitoches.
Reef Wellness Counseling
Reef Wellness is a local company comprised of multiple Licensed Professional Counselors that serve the LGBTQIA+ community. Reef Wellness clinicians understand that each client, like the coral reef, can have a delicate situation that they have learned to survive in. Our clinicians utilize a variety of therapeutic techniques to encourage and cultivate growth for each client to thrive in the midst of life's currents. Like the coral reef, you are resilient. Reef Wellness accepts major insurance companies and self-pay options. Telehealth and in-person sessions are available options.
History
Small Town Rage: Fighting Back in the Deep South
Small Town Rage examines the work and influence of ACT UP Shreveport in the conservative Deep South during the early years of the AIDS pandemic. David Hylan and Raydra Hall produced and directed this independent documentary, and it is narrated by Lance Bass.
ACT UP Shreveport sought to bring attention to the plight of those living with the disease and also to bring about change in the way the government and the medical community reacted (or failed to react) to the crisis. In order to push back against the deeply ingrained conservative mindset of northwest Louisiana, the men and women of ACT UP Shreveport staged protests, crashed meetings, raised their voices, and fought to be heard. As their individual stories will attest, their actions may not have made them popular, but their courage did lead to changes in the way local hospitals, government agencies, and even the public at large responded to the AIDS epidemic.
"Our Queer History" Timeline by QUEERPORT
This northwest Louisiana queer history timeline includes a variety of information spanning from the 1940s to today. QUEERPORT invites others to share their photos and stories by emailing them at queerport@gmail.com.
Legal
ACLU of Louisiana
The ACLU of Louisiana has worked to advance and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Louisiana since 1956. The ACLU also works to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including people of color; women; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender people; prisoners; and people with disabilities. They are part of a nationwide network of affiliates that fights tirelessly in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.
Lambda Legal represents LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV in the court of law and in the court of public opinion. Lambda Legal works to defend and expand protections for transgender and non-binary people of all ages.
TLDEF (Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund)
The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund's Trans Health Project aims to ensure that all transgender and non-binary people can access the trans-related health care that they need.
Night Life
The Korner Lounge
"Korner" opened in the 1950s and is one of the oldest continuously operating gay bars in the USA. The veteran gay bar features drag shows on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month and hosts a monthly leather night. Open Monday-Saturday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Central Station
"Central" is Shreveport's largest LGBTQ+ bar and nightclub, welcoming people from all walks of life. The bar features several themed areas including a country bar, disco bar, video lounge, and the 1025 Show Bar. They host drag shows every Saturday night and are open seven days a week with happy hour from 5-8 p.m.
Bear’s
Bear's on Fairfield is a popular queer-friendly bar that hosts live music. Live music offerings at Bear's typically include indie rock, hip-hop, songwriters, and more. Open 4 p.m. until 2 a.m., Monday through Saturday.
Strange Brew is a vibrant queer-friendly hangout boasting a massive beer selection, frequent live music performances, and billiards. Open 7 p.m. until 4 a.m., 7 days a week.
Philanthropy
Out of the Closet NWLA
Out of the Closet exists to clothe members of the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized individuals in need. In their words, "We aim to bridge geographical gaps in the south and provide support for other organizations with the same gender affirmation goals by means of comfortable, accessible, and free clothing."
Shreveport Mutual Aid
Shreveport Mutual Aid is a network of volunteers in Shreveport, Louisiana, facilitating mutual aid in the city. Solidarity, not charity!
Social
ShrevePride
ShrevePride is a local grassroots LGBTQ+ organization that creates authentic, inclusive spaces for everyone. Their flagship event is Q-Prom which takes place in June during Pride Month. They've since added Field Gay, a fun, outdoor, intramural all-ages sports event designed to foster community and teamwork, and QUEST, a music and arts festival.