Five Organisations That Can Support You Coming Out
Coming out can be daunting and with it comes emotional highs and lows – excitement, fear, anxiety, and relief to name a few. It can also be scary depending on your own unique circumstances, but thankfully you don’t need to do it alone. We’ve pulled together a list of resources and organisations available to guide and support you.
Twenty10
Twenty10 is an organisation that works with young people aged 12-25 across Sydney and New South Wales who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse, non-binary, intersex, questioning, queer, asexual and more (LGBTIQA+) and others of diverse genders and sexualities, their families and communities.
The organisation provides a broad range of specialised services including housing, mental health, counselling and social support. For adults they provide social support and for people of all ages and offer telephone support and web chat as the NSW provider for the national QLife project.
Phone: 02 8594 9555 Email: info@twenty10.org.au Website: www.twenty10.org.au
Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue is a national organisation that provides mental health support including for the LGBTIQ community. It also provides support for families of young LGBTIQ people and those who are questioning their sexual or gender identity.
The organisation also runs campaigns to reduce the impact of discrimination on mental health and to encourage the LGBTIQ community to take action against depression and anxiety.
Phone: 1300 22 4636 Website: www.beyondblue.org.au
The Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is a US based LGBTIQ rights organisation that provides multiple resources that can help you come out, particularly the downloadable Resource Guide to Coming Out. The guide offers advice on a number of topics including the development of a coming out plan and tips for telling family and friends.
Website: www.hrc.org
Inside Out Youth Services
The US based Inside Out Youth Services allows LGBTIQ youth to freely express themselves and build their self-reliance. Among their services are support and discussion groups, supervised drop-in centres, community outings, leadership development, sex health education, suicide prevention education and counselling referral.
If you’re coming out in college, grad school, or high school, it’s worth reading Know Your Rights: A Guide For Trans And Gender Nonconforming Students, an educational resource on Inside Out’s website compiled by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN).
Website: www.insideoutys.org
Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is an international organisation that provides services to the parents, family and friends of people from the LGBTIQ community. An iconic institution its goal is to keep families together through acceptance and greater knowledge.
PFLAG has many resources including an extensive library with downloadable books, brochures and information to help people understand the issues faced by the LGBTIQ community. Website: Australia www.pflagaustralia.org.au US www.pflag.org UK www.pflag.co.uk
