The staff of the Center for LGBT Education, Outreach and Services knows that being back at home - or where ever your summer destination - can be wonderful, but sometimes stressful. The list of resources below can provide information, support, and diversion for you. We wish you a safe and happy break!
Want to find support close to home or your summer break destination?
Find support in your community with this directory of local LGBT community centers.
Many have support groups, social happenings, mental and physical health services onsite or by referral, volunteer opportunities, and more.
Need to prepare?
These sites have information about family relationships and tips for interacting with family and friends:
HRC guide for coming out to your family and friends
Encuentre recursos que le ayuden a vivir abiertamente en el hogar, el trabajo y su comunidad
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Need some simple things to relieve holiday stress? Need a distraction? Bored? When social media loses its allure around day 3 of break, try this fun site: http://www.sporcle.com/
Traveling?
Here's some helpful information for LGBT travelers, to consider if your plans will take you abroad during the break.
Traveling can be stressful for everyone, but can be even moreso for folks whose gender identity or presentation may conflict with gender markers on their legal documents or with what people expect. Before you travel, know your rights and what to expect as a passenger when passing through airport security. This government page provides information about some of the screening procedures transgender air passengers may encounter, as well as information about booking a flight and packing luggage while transgender. In the event that you do experience discrimination, the above link provided by the National Center for Transgender Equality also provides a number of contacts for filing a complaint.
If you are traveling and think you may be subject to additional searches due to the presence of medical prosthetics (or any other reasons, including the presence of a service animal, a disability or medical condition, or medication), you can feel free to fill out and present a 'TSA Notification Card,' presenting the TSA officer with additional information and documentation. For more information about traveling through TSA where use of this card may be applicable, please check out the TSA 'Special Procedures' sub-page. At any time during the screening process you may request to speak with a supervisor and/or have a private screening. If you are traveling internationally, you may want to specifically research that location's screening and security procedures before flying.
While You're There...
You might be spending some time this break in a place that all of your legal identity documents hang out. If you're thinking of changing any of your identity documents to a correct or more-correct gender marker or name, consider taking some time to flip through PPSFL Out For Health's comprehensive booklet on how to update your documents and see what you need to begin the process! This booklet is specific to changing your documents in Tompkins County, but the National Center for Transgender Equality maintains an awesome guide on how to do it everywhere else, too!
Need someone to talk to? Need some help? Need some support?
Access information about emergency resources
Free Hotlines
The Trevor Project: (866)488-7386
This is a national suicide prevention helpline that operates 24 hours, 7 days a week. The hotline is aimed at helping LGBT and questioning youth. A live chat feature is also available.
The GLBT National Hotline: (888)843-4564
This line provides confidential peer-counseling, information and local resources. The line operates Monday through Friday from 4pm to midnight and Saturday from noon to 5pm, Eastern Time. You can also email them at glnh@GLBTNationalHelpCenter.org
The GLBT National Youth Talkline: (800) 246-7743 (youth serving youth through age 25)
This line provides confidential peer-counseling, information and local resources specifically to youth up to age 25. The line operates Monday through Friday from 4 pm to midnight and Saturday noon to 4 pm Eastern Time. You can also email them at: youth@GLBTNationalHelpCenter.org
The TransLifeline Transgender Crisis: (877) 565-8860
This line provides confidential peer-counseling, information, and resources specifically to transgender/genderqueer/agender/other non-cisgender persons. The line operates seven days a week, and the times are included on the provided website: http://www.translifeline.org
Crisis Text Line: 741-741
Crisis Text Line Serves anyone, in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support and information via text. Simple text 741-741 from anywhere in the USA, anytime, about any type of crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds quickly, helping you "move from a hot moment to a cool moment." Please note that this Crisis Text Line is not specific to LGBTQ+ people.