QTBIPOC
QTBIPOC people often experience discrimination due to their gender identity and skin color. This discrimination can also be encountered when it comes to mental and physical health care. The following directory of resources provides access to care for a variety of issues.
QTBIPOC Addiction & Mental Health Support
The QTBIPOC community encompasses Queer and Trans Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. When discussing this community, we must acknowledge intersectionality. Defined as a person’s overlap of social identities, intersectionality is a combination of gender identity, sexuality, class, race, and mobility. The QTBIPOC community stands at the intersection of race, gender identity and sexuality. Because of this, their experiences and their treatment needs are unique. Access to culturally competent mental health and addiction care is vital for members of this community.
Mental Health In the LGBTQ Commmunity
39% of LGBTQ+ people struggle with mental illness. The prejudice many of them face, from their own families and outside sources, contributes largely to mental illness. Suicide rates for LGBTQ+ high schoolers of color in the United States currently stands at 27%. This is disproportionate to white LGBTQ+ high schoolers at 22% and non-LGBTQ+ high schoolers at 5%. LGBTQ individuals face unequal health care services due to societal stigma and discrimination. This is not only a violation of human rights, but it correlates to high rates of mental illness, substance abuse, and suicide.
The widest disparity exists between the QTBIPOC community and their access to adequate mental health care. Various instances of providers denying care have been recorded. Clients may receive a misdiagnosis due to discrimination, and inadequate care may even lead to death. Fear of this may cause individuals in need to avoid seeking care altogether.
Some helpful organizations, resources, and communities that are working to improve the mental health care of QTBIPOC individuals include:
Crisis Lines
Some extremely helpful crisis hotlines for LGBTQ people of color include:
US 877-565-8860
Canada 877-330-6366
Adults 1-888-843-4564
Youth Talkline 1-800-246-7743
1-866-488-7386
Organizations and Foundations
Some extremely helpful organizations for LGBTQ people of color include:
YMSM + LGBT Center of Excellence
This organization provides services for both treatment and prevention for individuals of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations that may be struggling with dual diagnosis substance abuse and mental illness.
The Lesbians of Color Symposium (LOCS) Collective
As a nonprofit, they provide LBTQ+ women and non-binary people of color with services and programs that help provide education and a variety of other resources and events.
This national organization emphasizes crisis intervention and suicide prevention for all LGBTQ+ youth through extensive online resources.
In order to combat the global crisis faced by Black Trans people, The Okra Project seeks to deliver home-cooked, nutritious meals and resources to their client’s homes.
Treatment Directories
Some mental health resources for LGBTQ people of color include:
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network
This organization works to positively impact the mental health of queer and trans people of color.
LGBTQ Psychotherapists of Color
A directory that matches LGBTQs of Color with licensed psychotherapists that are also a part of the same community. They also provide support, networking, leadership development, and community-building opportunities for LGBTQs of Color in psychology, social work, and counseling.
A mental health platform that connects BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people to teletherapy services.
Therapy for Queer People of Color
A directory designed to connect QPOC with services from providers who work to create unique and all-inclusive treatment plans that touch on the specific needs of each client.
Online Platforms and Communities
Some online community resources for LGBTQ people of color include:
An online community intended to give Native American young people a safe place to congregate and speak about race, sexuality, gender, and other types of issues.
Lazarus Letcher’s blog is used as a platform to discuss race, sexuality, and he provides a QTBIPOC perspective on current affairs.
An LGBTQ community forum that is based out of Toronto, Canada, YOHOMO provides a voice to the queer communities of Toronto.
A resource guide for Native LGBTQ and Two Spirit people to find like-minded individuals and mental healthcare providers that are experienced with Native and Two Spirit issues.
A hub for discussions about LGBTQ-specific issues that covers a wide range of topics.
A mutual aid fund for women, trans, or otherwise non-binary people who live in Minnesota and are younger than 30 who have experienced hardships.
An LGBTQ blog that highlights issues of race, gender, sexuality, and wellness through a non-binary lens.
Podcasts
Some media resources for LGBTQ people of color include:
Hosted by Gabby Rivera, this podcast is directed toward discussing issues of race, gender, and sexuality with a focus on Latinx issues.
Black, Queer, and Trans Excellence
A podium for members of Toronto’s LGBTQ community to discuss current affairs in the city, and the world at large.
A podcast hosted by bi-racial, non-binary individuals, they discuss a wide range of issues that are specific to LGBTQ communities.
Dalia Kinsey’s podcast focuses on self-care, a healthy diet, exercise, and some ways that you can improve wellness practices to be the best version of yourself.
Articles
Some articles and publications for LGBTQ people of color include:
An article about farms run by queer BIPOC published by Teen Vogue.
An article about how non-profits have helped Black trans people throughout the COVID pandemic.
An article from Talkspace spotlights PoC doing mental health and social work within their communities.
A guide that details the experience of coming out as an LGBTQ Black person.
A tool developed by MHA and the HRC to aid the QTBIPOC community in finding culturally competent mental health treatment and practitioners.
Videos
Some videos for LGBTQ people of color include:
Mental Health in Queer & Trans BIPOC Communities
A video from the Human Rights Campaign.
The Urgency of Intersectionality
A Ted Talk with speaker Kimberlé Crenshaw.
This is a Youtube channel that highlights LGBTQ stories and covers the experience of coming out to friends and family.
When the Chant Comes Anniversary Video
Dr. Sarika Persaud reads from ‘Poems About a Song’ and talks about her life as a Caribbean LGBTQ woman.
Social Media
Some social media pages for LGBTQ people of color include:
Served Up & Sober
An Instagram page for women of color who are sober, or interested in sobriety.
Sans Bar
An alcohol-free bar in Austin, Texas that hosts events, gatherings, and a range of alcohol-free events.
Sober Black Girls Club
An Instagram page that is for sober Black girls, by sober Black girls.
Speqtrum Hamilton
A youth-focused organization based in Canada, their Instagram page acts a a hub for all things LGBTQ+.
Paper Street Press
Based in Detroit, Michigan, this Instagram page is focused on QTBIPOC and disabled QTBIPOC issues.
Blk Boy Shine
Darryl DeAngelo Terrell is a visual artist and uses his skills to bring BIPOC and LGBTQ issues into the spotlight.
Minaa B
Minaa is a therapist and wellness coach who uses her Instagram page to promote health and wellness among QTBIPOC.