LGBTQ+ RESOURCES
Do you know of a resource for LGBTQ+ communities in Montgomery County that should be included on this page? Let us know by completing this form.
Social and Cultural
LIVE IN YOUR TRUTH PROGRAMS
Live In Your Truth (LIYT) creates programs, affirming spaces, events, and employment opportunities for intersectional Black, LGBTQIA+, and IPOC underserved communities throughout Montgomery County, MD, and the DMV, where everyone is welcome.
IG: @liytprograms
MOCO PRIDE CENTER
The MoCo Pride Center is a 501(c)3 organization designed to serve the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) community and its allies in Montgomery County, Maryland. Their mission is to organize, support, educate, and provide outreach to the LGBTQ community and its allies.
Contact: Hello@mocopridecenter.org
QUEER MOCO COMMUNITY
Moderated Facebook group for queer people living in Montgomery County.
Trans Resources
TRANS MARYLAND
Statewide advocacy and support group for trans people. Weekly virtual peer support group, assistance with name and gender marker changes, as well as legislative advocacy. Active Facebook group. Runs the annual Maryland Trans Resilience Conference.
MARYLAND TRANS UNITY
Maryland Trans*Unity is a peer-facilitated support group for the trans* community in Montgomery County, Maryland. The group meets two times per month, on the first and third Sundays, even on holidays.
TRANS LIFELINE
Peer support hotline run by trans people. Anonymous, confidential, and divested from police (will not call 911 without consent). All operators are trans people.
Anonimato y confidencialidad. Cuando llames, hablarás con una persona trans y/o no binaria. Oprime el #2 para conectarte con operadorxs que hablan español.
887.565.8860
DC AREA TRANSMASCULINE SOCIETY
DCATS (DC Area Transmasculine Society) is a trans-led nonprofit organization that serves to advance the lives of transmasculine folks by providing resources that help overcome the social, economic, and health-related barriers to living authentically.
Health Care
Dennis Ave Health Center
2000 Dennis Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20902 | 240.777.1760 | HIV Care: 240.777.1869
HIV and STI testing. PrEP for HIV prevention. Services for people living with HIV include anti-retroviral therapy, dental care, support groups, and case management. All services are free or on a sliding scale.
Planned Parenthood Gaithersburg Center
This health center is operated by Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington D.C. and provides sexual and reproductive health services in addition to gender affirming care. The Gaithersburg health center provides education, hormone therapy, and surgery referrals.
19650 Clubhouse Road #101, Gaithersburg, MD 20886 | 301-208-1300
CCI Health Services
CCI Health Services is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with five locations in Montgomery County (Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Wheaton, and Rockville). CCI provides Primary Care, Dental Care; Family Planning; HIV/AIDS Infectious Disease Care; and Refugee Health. CCI staff have had extensive LGBTQ+ training and is working toward providing Gender Affirming Care services for trans patients.
Faith-Based Organizations
Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church
We are people of all ages, many backgrounds, and many beliefs. We create spirituality and community by working for more justice and more love in our own lives and in the world. Our congregation embraces people who have experienced a variety of religious journeys, and we do so without judgement or condemnation.
Rockville United Church
Rockville United Church is a place of worship for everyone: people of all races, creeds, sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, economic circumstances: adults, teens, and little ones.
Silver Spring United Methodist Church
Silver Spring UMC is a community where believers, seekers and doubters of every race, ethnicity, age, ability, socioeconomic status, gender identity and sexual orientation are valued as beloved children of God.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
The people of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church invite all people—believers, doubters, and seekers—of all races, genders, socioeconomic statuses, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions, to join us in creating space to explore the intersection of faith, life, and society.
Takoma Metaphysical Chapel
The Takoma Metaphysical Chapel is a non-judgmental place of love where all people can feel safe exploring their spirituality.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring
We are a progressive, warm, and energetic faith community, committed to upholding the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and safeguarding the fragile balance of our environment. We come from many religious backgrounds, and unite to seek meaning and spiritual deepening, and share faith’s essential works of justice and compassion.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville
UUCR is a strong, vibrant, and loving religious community actively engaged in nurturing spiritual freedom and working for social justice.
United Church of Christ
Search for congregations of the United Church of Christ in our area who have chosen to become Open and Affirming.
United Church of Christ of Seneca Valley (UCCSV)
UCCSV is an open and affirming, progressive and inclusive spiritual community centered in the belief that we are all beloved children of God.
Westmoreland Congregational Church of Christ
Westmoreland ICC is an open church, affirming the dignity and worth of every person as created in the image of God.
Youth Resources
MOCO PRIDE YOUTH
MoCo Pride Youth is a county-wide, MCPS affinity group for LGBTQ+ students. They have monthly meetings, an active Discord server, as well as resources for students. Be sure to check out your school's Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) as well!
IG: @MoCoPride
MOCO RECONNECT
MoCo Reconnect is an LGBTQ+ safe drop-in center that provides resources for youth ages 16-24. Youth are invited to drop into the center Monday-Friday from 10am-6pm at 11319 Elkin Street, Silver Spring, MD 20902. No appointment is necessary.
Contact: (301) 966-7587 or DropIn@mocoreconnect.org
DRAG STORY HOUR DMV
Drag Story Hour runs free storytelling events that give kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models.
RAINBOW YOUTH ALLIANCE
Rainbow Youth Alliance is a safe place for rainbow teens to ask questions, find mutual support, and learn information pertinent to their lives. Provides twice monthly, adult-facilitated, peer-to-peer support group meetings for high school youth ages 13-18.
TREVOR PROJECT
24/7 crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ and questioning youth and young adults.
1.800.488.7386 | text "START" to 678.678
Families and Allies
PFLAG DC
PFLAG runs several support groups in Montgomery County for family members, friends, partners, and loved ones of LGBTQ+ people, including a group specifically for the loved ones of trans folks.
Intersecting Identities
EMPODÉRATE
Empodérate es un espacio seguro y acogedor para la comunidad LGBTQ. Navegación a través de los servicios de atención de salud, educación, temas legales, salud mental, preparación para el empleo y otros servicios de apoyo. Pruebas rápidas de VIH einfecciones sexuales transmisibles. Eventos recreativos y deportivos, noches de cine, retiros y mucho más!
202.507.4800
LATINX HISTORY PROJECT
Latinx History Projects es una organización que ha servido como una fuerza que construye comunidad, difunde compasión y lucha por la equidad dentro y para la comunidad Latinx LGBTQ de Washington D.C. Organizan eventos/campañas comunitarias, talleres educativos sobre latinx y creación de coaliciones y trabajo de AID.
TRANS LATINX DMV
Trans-Latinx DMV es una organización liderada por Mujeres Trans Dos-Espíritus, que centra las nececidades de las personas Trans-Latinx Negras e Indigenas, viviendo en Washington, D.C., Maryland, y Virginia.
AQUA DC
Asian and Pacific Islander Queers United for Action (AQUA) is a volunteer-based social and advocacy organization for the queer and transgender members of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities in the Washington, D.C. AQUA DC hosts community building and advocacy events to bring together gay, bisexual, queer, and transgender Asian and Pacific Islander (API) folks to meet new friends and build community through visibility, support, social justice, and action.
IG: @aqua_dc
KQT DC
KQT DC is composed of LGBTQ individuals and parents of Korean descent and allies in the Washington, DC area committed to promoting a welcoming space for fellowship and support and advocating for LGBTQ rights in our communities. They hold monthly meetings for Korean Queer and Transgender (KQT) individuals and Korean American Rainbow Parents (KARP)
IG: @kqtindc
APQIS DC
Asian Pacific Islander Queer Society (APIQS) is a supportive community focusing on educational, social, and cultural activities created for and by queer female-identified, gender-nonconforming, and transgender people of Asian and/or Pacific Islander descent in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
House of Guramayle
An advocacy organization built by LGBTQ+ members of the Ethiopian diaspora residing in the DMV and other areas around the world.
KHUSHDC
KhushDC is non-profit organization serving the DC, MD and VA area south Asian LGBT population. From hosting social events to participating in political rallies and educational forums, KhushDC is paving the way for future south Asian Queer and Trans leaders.
IG: @KhushDC
LGBTQ+ Owned Businesses
Calm Fox Coaching
Calm Fox Coaching offers mental health education, advocacy, and coaching for adolescents, adults, and relationships. Fox has a background in clinical mental health working inpatient, outpatient, and intensive in-home, and works to fill the gaps within the mental health system while making mental health resources and supports more accessible.
CommunicateHealth, Inc.
Rockville-based CommunicateHealth offers a variety of strategic health communication services to government agencies and nonprofits.
Cupcakes with a Purpose
This Olney-based bakery’s mission is to empower all types of people by supporting nonprofits with gourmet cupcakes. Whenever you place an order, you get to choose a charity to support with 15% of the proceeds.
Ellen Olmstead, Massage Therapist
Mobile massage, all modalities. I come to your home, office, hospital room. I set up my table or chair, as appropriate. In my work as a massage therapist, I am a strong advocate of people who have survived trauma and violence, who contend with chronic or life-threatening illness, and who struggle with oppression re/claiming their lives and their bodies through massage as complementary care.
ellen.olmstead@gmail.com | (401) 419-0361
From A to Zwi
Arts, Accessibility, and Education is a small business co-owned by two nonbinary and neurodivergent Montgomery County educators. A to Zwi provides tutoring, group workshops, music programming, and Special Education Advocacy to students and families of all ages and identities throughout the DMV.
Lashof Violins
Lashof Violins is located in Old Towne Gaithersburg. It offers rentals, sales, and on-site repair and restoration for violins, violas, cellos and their bows. Lashof also offers a full line of violin family accessories and the most requested sheet music.
Loyalty Bookstore
Community bookstore and event venue located inside Bump & Grind's Analog Market in Downtown Silver Spring.
NU TAINMENT, LLC
Rockville-based NUTAINMENT, LLC is a consulting and talent management company who assists clients in attaining success by giving them a Nu way to realize their value, mission, vision and goals.
Rustic Route Coffee
Rustic Route is a Barnesville-based coffee seller whose mission is to provide high-quality, fairly sourced coffee at a price you can afford.
Speaking of Science, LLC
Speaking of Science, LLC is a Takoma Park-based firm specializing in marketing and medical communications for biopharma, health tech and the life sciences.
Toler Financial Group
Toler Financial Group is a financial services business located in Silver Spring, providing financial planning, investment strategies and insurance evaluation.