Political / Legal Rights / Representation

Want to add your group to this page? Metro Weekly is accepting information for new Community Directory listings. Your group must be not-for-profit and provide services of interest that are Gay, Gay-Inclusive, or Gay-Friendly. Please e-mail you organization's Name, Public contact information, Web site address, and a brief Description to the Webmaster or fax it to (202) 638-6831.

If your organization is already listed and needs to be changed or removed, please contact us and let us know.

Also, see the Community Calendar for specific event listings happening this week.

BUSINESS / WORKPLACE

Gay and Lesbian Attorneys of Washington (GAYLAW)
Washington, DC 20043
''GLBT Attorneys of Washington. Works to advance the interests of the GLBT community, to be their voice within the legal community, and to improve their professional lives.''

Maryland Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MGLCC)
Baltimore, MD
"We are in fact the Maryland Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans and Straight Chamber of Commerce. Anyone interested in advancing the cause of inclusive business, of promoting and supporting business and business leaders of these communities are welcome here!"

National Lesbian and Gay Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
Washington, DC 20036
Dedicated to expanding the economic opportunities and advancements of the LGBT business community.

National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA)
Washington, DC 20005
An organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students who work within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues.

Out for Work
Washington, DC 20002
''Annual National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Ally Student Career Conference & PRIDE Career Fair''

FAMILY / YOUTH

Advocates for Youth
Washington, DC 20036
Dedicated to creating programs and advocating for policies that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. Includes info for GLBT Youth.

Family Pride
Washington, DC 20006
''Committed to securing family equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer parents, guardians and allies. Our work consists of strategically linked initiatives—broad in scope, but simple in vision—love, justice, family, equality.'' Mailing: PO Box 65327, WDC 20035

Gay and Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
New York, NY 10004
Chapters in Rockville, MD, and Northern Virginia (2007). ''A national education organization working to ensure safe schools for ALL students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.''

National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC)
Washington, DC 20009
''A social justice organization that advocates for and with young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) in an effort to end discrimination against these youth and to ensure their physical and emotional well being.''

Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays - DC (PFLAG-DC)
Washington, DC 20005
Promotes the equality and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons, their families and friends through support, education and advocacy.

Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays - National Headquarters (PFLAG)
Washington, DC 20036
We, the parents, families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, celebrate diversity and envision a society that embraces everyone, including those of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Numerous offices throughout the DC/MD/VA area and across the USA.

Wanda's Will Project
Washington, DC 20009
A national awareness and empowerment program that empowers lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBT) to execute final and living wills that are legally binding.

HIV / AIDS

AIDS Action
Washington, DC 20036
A national organization dedicated to the development, analysis, cultivation, and encouragement of sound policies and programs in response to the HIV epidemic.

DC Fights Back
Washington, DC
"A network of people living with HIV/AIDS and their allies working to engage ourselves and our communities in every aspect of HIV advocacy to ensure the best possible treatment and care for people living with HIV/AIDS; and the best possible science-based HIV prevention"

National Minority AIDS Council
Washington, DC 20009
Dedicated to developing leadership within communities of color to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS.

The National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD)
Washington, DC 20001
"Represents the nation’s chief state health agency staff who have programmatic responsibility for administering HIV/AIDS healthcare, prevention, education, and supportive service programs funded by state and federal governments."

LOCAL

Alexandria Gay and Lesbian Community Association
Alexandria, VA 22320
''Organization based in Alexandria, Virginia, that strives to enhance the quality of life for the local gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community through social activities, political awareness, and community service.''

Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance (AGLA)
Arlington, VA 22210
''Strives to improve the quality of life and meet the needs of the Gay and Lesbian community throughout Arlington, Virginia.''

DC Coalition of Black Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Men and Women
Washington, DC 20013
Founded in 1978, the D.C. Coalition seeks to abolish discrimination against, and build a strong political and economic base for the black LGBT community.

DC OutFront
Amnesty International
Washington, DC
LGBT people are entitled to the full range of human rights protections afforded to anyone else, and that governments have an obligation to protect and promote the basic human rights of LGBT people. Amnesty International considers people imprisoned solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity to be prisoners of conscience.

Equality Fairfax
Vienna, VA 22183
''Established to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the county of Fairfax, Virginia.''

Equality Loudon
Leesburg, VA 20178
"Working since 2003 to make Loudoun County, Virginia a welcoming place for all its residents - gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight."

Equality Maryland
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Works to secure and protect the rights of LGBT Marylanders by promoting legislative initiatives on the state, county and municipal levels.

Equality Montgomery County
Montgomery County, MD
''Dedicated to promoting equality and full participation for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered people in Montgomery County, Maryland through advocacy, education, community outreach and partnership.''

Equality Prince William
Manassas, VA 20108
"Anon-partisan organization formed to address equal rights issues for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals (GLBT) from a local, Greater Prince William County perspective"

Equality Virginia
Richmond, VA 23219
''A statewide, non-partisan lobbying, education and supprt network for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight-allied (GLBT) communities in Virginia.''

Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA)
Washington, DC 20013
All-volunteer, non-partisan, non-profit political organization founded in 1971 to advance the equal rights of gay men and lesbians in Washington, DC.

Gertrude Stein Democratic Club
Washington, DC 20009
''The voice of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Democrats in the District of Columbia.''

Pride Legacy Project
Baltimore, MD 21203
''Dedicated to Improving the Lives of LGBT Marylanders.'' Collects local personal histories on videotape, also seeks memorabilia and photographs to include in a permanent display.

Rainbow History Project
Washington, DC 20005
''Collect, preserves, and promotes an active knowledge of the history, arts, and culture relevant to sexually diverse communities in metropolitan Washington DC.'' Also produces brochures for walking tours.

The Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club
Arlington, VA 22206
''Serves as a channel for the participation and involvement of gays and lesbians in the Democratic Party in the Commonwealth of Virginia.''

MILITARY

American Veterans for Equal Rights
Washington, DC 20033
''Promotes the growth and recognition of GLBT Veterans; to promote the involvement of GLBT Veterans in the broader GLBT Community; and to promote the involvement of GLBT Veterans within the broader Veterans community.''

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN)
Washington, DC 20035
Legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' and related forms of intolerance.

Servicemembers United
Washington, DC 20006
Servicemembers United is a non-partisan and non-profit organization whose primary goals are 1) to engage in education and advocacy on issues affecting gay and lesbian troops and veterans; 2) to serve as an associational organization for the gay and lesbian military, veteran, and defense community; 3) to represent the voice of Iraq/Afghanistan-era gay and lesbian troops and veterans; and 4) to forward and inform public debate on the U.S. military's ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy.

NATIONAL

Binet USA
Arlington, VA 22203
A network of groups, projects and individuals, encouraging dialogue and participation as a way of creating and maintaining a cohesive bisexual community and empowering individuals to feel proud of their bisexuality.

Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
Washington, DC 20036
America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality.

Lambda Legal
New York, NY 10005
Site's states section includes DC, MD and VA's current legislation related to gay, gender-based, and same-sex couples' rights. ''We pursue impact litigation, education and advocacy to make the case for equality in state and federal court, the Supreme Court and in the court of public opinion.''

Log Cabin Republicans - National Headquarters
Washington, DC 20006
''Works within the Republican Party to advocate equal rights for all Americans, including gays and lesbians.'' Numerous local chapters across the USA.

National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)
Washington, DC 20006
''A civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black same-gender-loving, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people. The Coalition works with our communities and our allies for social justice, equality, and an end to racism and homophobia.''

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF)
Washington, DC 20005
Builds the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up, by training activists, organizing broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and by building the organizational capacity of our movement.

National Lesbian and Gay Law Association
Washington, DC 20005
''A national association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, activists, and affiliated lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender legal organizations. NLGLA promotes justice in and through the legal profession for the LGBT community in all its diversity.''

People for the American Way (PFAW)
Washington, DC 20036
''An energetic advocate for the values and institutions that sustain a diverse democratic society.'' Mission includes progressive views on gay and lesbian civil & equal rights issues -- hate crimes, military ban, etc.

Victory Fund
Washington, DC 20077
Dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT elected officials at all levels of government.

Woodhull Freedom Foundation and Federation
Washington, DC 20005
''Works to affirm sexual freedom as a fundamental human right by protecting and advancing freedom of speech and sexual expression. WFF promotes sexuality as a positive personal, social and moral value through research, advocacy, activism, education and outreach.'' Includes GLBT-related projects.

TRANSGENDER

DC Trans Coalition
Washington, DC
''Transgender people and allies united to improve the lives of trans people in our nation's capital.''

GenderPAC
Washington, DC 20009
Works to ensure that classrooms, communities, and workplaces are safe for everyone to learn, grow, and succeed - whether or not they meet expectations for masculinity and femininity.

National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC)
Washington, DC 20013
"Works for the advancement of understanding and the attainment of full civil rights for all transgender and gender variant people in every aspect of society and actively opposes discriminatory acts by all means legally available."

The National Center for Transgender Equality
Washington, DC 20007
''Dedicated to advancing the equality of transgender people through advocacy, collaboration and empowerment.''

TS-Si
Springfield, VA 22150-0096
''Dedicated to the acceptance, medical treatment, & legal protection of individuals who are in the process of changing their anatomical sex and supporting their transition into society.''

Note: These dynamic community groups can grow, switch leadership, move or disband quickly. Locations and information may have changed since this Directory database was last updated. See their official web site and contact them before visiting their locations for participation. Information may have been culled from multiple public sources, and Metro Weekly assumes no affiliation with or responsibility for the organizations themselves.