Castelle reflects on her time at CenterLink and the importance of LGBTQ+ community centers.

Story written by Castelle, ActionLink's Policy and Advocacy Organizer

As we come to the end of Pride Month, I would like to focus on two people who helped me on my journey to come out, accept, and celebrate myself and…

Story written by Castelle, ActionLink's Policy and Advocacy Organizer

For Mental Health Awareness Month, I attempted to collect voices from different backgrounds within the LGBTQ+ community to reflect on how anti-LGBTQ+ policies have affected their mental health. 

I was successful…

Story written by Castelle, ActionLink's Policy and Advocacy Organizer

This past week, while searching on tik tok for LGBTQ+ advocacy inspiration, I came across a video documenting the life of activist Lani Ka’ahumanu. After learning about Ka’ahumanu, an AAPI identifying…

Dr. Jonathan Mathais Lassiter, PhD was interviewed by Castelle, ActionLink's Policy and Advocacy Organizer, in March of 2023. This is her account of Dr. Lassiter's views on holistic healthcare and the LGBTQ+ community.

The first time I learned about the…

Story written by Castelle, ActionLink's Policy and Advocacy Organizer

Waking up on November 20th to the tragic news emerging from Colorado was an eye opening experience for me. I felt a mixture of anger, sadness, and fear as I combed…

Kristin Flickinger, executive director of Pacific Pride Foundation, shares her thoughts on the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.  Published in the Santa Barbara Independent on December 9th, 2022.

Twenty years ago, I was a field organizer in the…

Prior to the war in their country, UkrainePride was working on bringing attention to the passing of Bill 5488, which would make Ukraine safe for everyone regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or ethnicity. Co-founder Yura Dvizhon states, “UkrainePride…

As the war rages on in Ukraine, the LGBTQ+ community has shown up to serve their country in various capacities.  A Russian occupation could make the Ukraine’s LGBTQ+ community a target for serious persecution.  Currently Ukraine does not legally recognize…

Dennis identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community and resides in New York.  His mother was living in Kyiv when the attack on Ukraine began, and within days her entire world crumbled. 

Dennis knew his mother had to leave Kyiv…

Before the war, Sophia worked for the biggest LGBTQ+ organization in Ukraine, with headquarters in Kyiv. Prior to leaving the country, she spent two solid days in a bunker, leaving only once to go outside for some fresh air. During…

Vasyl K. is a young LGBTQ+ person living in Western Ukraine, and because of safety reasons we won’t share exact details as to where he’s currently residing.  He was living in a bigger city working as a photographer but moved…

As told by Will’s mother Amy Hawpe

The Hawpe Family has received support from the  Shenandoah LGBTQ Center, a member of CenterLink's community of LGBT centers.

Will came into this world as Lillian, but as early as age three…

You've had a very successful career as an attorney, with your own family-law focused firm in Chappaqua, NY.  And in 2019 you became the first transgender president of the LGBT Bar of New York. While trans-friendly workplaces do exist, study…

In 2010, Donald (Don) Zarda was fired from his job at a skydiving company after he put a female student at ease about their physical contact for a tandem jump by informing her that he was gay.  While the jump…

As written by Maria Melo in her blog Woman Up.

Audre Lorde put into words the truth we all face today: without community there is no liberation. Funny how that belief plays out in our lives in times of…

Be mindful — LGBTQ youth may be more despondent, suicidal during COVID-19 crisis | Opinion

As written by Mark Ketcham and Ele Naranjo for the Miami Herald on April 20th, 2020

More than half a million LGBTQ youth will attempt…

By Glenn D. Magpantay, Executive Director 

National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) 

By now, everyone should have received a mailing from the U.S. Census Bureau to get counted. I have complicated feelings about the census. 

While the…

Janna Masia Barkin is the proud mother of a transgender son.  She is also a published author, a professional speaker, a coach and counselor for transgender families and individuals, and a passionate advocate for transgender youth rights.  Janna's book, "…

Dustin Parker, a 25-year-old transgender man, was fatally shot on the job while driving for Rover Taxi in McAlester, Oklahoma early on New Year’s Day. Parker is the first violent death of a transgender or gender non-conforming person in 2020…

A Message Of Hope

I will always remember the date. It was October 8th, 2008 and I remember my parents waking me up, telling me that they loved me, and that I was going to a boarding school. Being…

Intimate Partner Violence - From “Protector” to “Unprotected" 

It was 2010… a frigid day in mid-January. After a long shift, I finally reached my driveway. As I pull in I see “her” car, a purple Monte Carlo. When I say…

LGBTQ people are people whom God loves. They are people that Jesus the Christ died to save. I am a morally conservative Christian who recognizes that I live in a changing culture. It would be wrong to try to legislate…

I have coworkers, close friends, relatives, patients, and a child that identifies with the LGBTQ community. I am a mother of a transgender person and as a pediatric pharmacist I take care of this population as well. This is a…