Fabulous Colorado LGBTQ Nonprofits to Support this Holiday Season
While many of us exchange gifts and spend time with our family and friends this holiday season, we should always be aware that there are plenty of people out there who are not as fortunate. The spirit of generosity is always especially strong during this time of year, and if you want to do something to help out, consider supporting a variety of nonprofit organizations and charities that are passionate about giving back to the Colorado communities. Below are some opportunities to make someone’s holidays a little bit brighter this year.
Black Pride Colorado
Black Pride Colorado is a program that was created to celebrate, liberate, and engage the Black LGBTQ community by building resiliency, honor and preserving history and culture. It is through the organization’s fellowship and gatherings that they provide aid, dismantle the oppressive ideals behind mental health and wellness, community engagement, and showcase where Black LGBTQ individuals thrive and create in arts and culture.
Colorado Health Network
Founded in 1983, Colorado Health Network (CHN) has sought to meet the evolving needs of individuals in Colorado living with and at risk of HIV and other health conditions. CHN is a statewide organization and currently serves over 5,250 individuals living with HIV by providing a broad spectrum of holistic support services including medical and oral health care, case management, behavioral health services, housing assistance, nutrition services, and emergency financial assistance. Each service is strategically designed to help empower people eliminate barriers to treatment and care and to make healthy choices leading to increased stability and healthier lives. CHN also works to prevent the spread of HIV through testing, promoting treatment as prevention and providing PrEP services.
Envision:You
Envision:You is an LGBTQ mental health and substance abuse disorder initiative that aims to support, educate, and empower members of Colorado’s LGBTQ community who are living with mental health and/or substance use disorders. Committed to improving the mental health of Colorado’s LGBTQ community with a multifaceted approach in collaboration with partners from around the state, the organization seeks to close gaps in behavioral health outcomes for LGBTQ individuals through co-created community programming, advocacy engagement, public awareness campaigns, and evidence-based training.
One Colorado
One Colorado is the state’s leading advocacy organization dedicated to advancing equality for LGBTQ Coloradans and their families by lobbying the General Assembly, the executive branch, and local governments on issues like safe schools, transgender equality, relationship recognition, and health and human services. One Colorado also works to change the hearts and minds of everyday Coloradans on LGBTQ issues through public education efforts such as telling stories about the barriers LGBTQ Coloradans face every day.
PFLAG Denver
PFLAG Denver is one of nearly 500 local chapters in the U.S. that belong to the larger PFLAG National organization, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C. By meeting people where they are and collaborating with others, PFLAG Denver realizes its vision through support for families, allies, and people who are LGBTQ, education for ourselves and others about the unique issues and challenges facing people who are LGBTQ, and advocacy in our communities to change attitudes and create policies and laws that achieve full equality for people who are LGBTQ. PFLAG Denver envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
Project Angel Heart
Project Angel Heart was founded in 1991 to address a major challenge for Coloradans who are ill: getting the nutrition they need to get stronger, heal, and remain at home. Many are too sick to get to the grocery store or unable to cook for themselves and others find they have to choose whether to buy food or medication to make ends meet. That’s why Project Angel Heart prepares and delivers medically tailored meals to people living with severe illnesses. Each week, their professional chefs and registered dietitians prepare thousands of delicious meals, from scratch, and tailor them to meet the medical and dietary needs of those who are ill.
Transgender Center of the Rockies
The Transgender Center of the Rockies provides holistic gender-affirming services to support transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals in Colorado. Their goal is to empower people to live their most authentic lives, and they provide social-emotional support and substance use treatment for the Colorado trans community with clinical groups, individual counseling, peer-led support groups, PrEP case management, and community events. The Transgender Center of the Rockies also provide programs for queer and transgender teens and young adults at the NXT Queer Youth program.
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