Organizations

Chicago has a long and proud LGBTQ+ history. There are many local organizations involved in promoting rights, providing education, and hosting events. These include:

• Affinity Community Services is a social justice community organization serving the needs of the Black LGBTQ community.
• Association of Latinos/as Motivating Action (ALMA) advocates for fairness and equality and affirms Latino/a LGBTQ culture.
• Brave Space Alliance is a Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ Center located on the South Side of Chicago.
• Bisexual Queer Alliance of Chicago seeks to educate, empower and provide resources to bisexual and queer persons through programming, educational seminars and partnerships.
• Black Alphabet encourages storytelling, dialogue and education about the cultural and social contributions of Black LGBTQ-identified people.
• Center on Halsted is the largest LGBTQ community center in the Midwest.
• The Chicago LGTB Hall of Fame honors LGBTQ individuals and groups.
• Equality Illinois secures, protects, and defends the basic civil rights of LGBTQ individuals since 1991.
• Gerber/Hart Library is the largest circulating library of LGBTQ titles in the Midwest.
• Howard Brown Health offers LGBTQ wellness and health care.
• Illinois ACLU fights civil liberties violations wherever and whenever they occur.
• Illinois Eagle covering LGBTQ and social justice issues across Illinois.
• Leather Archives and Museum collects and exhibits artifacts related to LGBTQ leather subculture.
• Legacy Walk is an outdoor public display celebrating LGBTQ contributions.
• Windy City Times is the Voice of Chicago's Gay, Lesbian, Bi and Trans Community since 1985.

Scholarships

Several forms of financial aid are available through CSU. Check out detailed information on scholarship opportunities. Additionally, Acorn Equality Fund offers scholarships for students from downstate and PFLAG Deerfield offers the Jean Paul Ohadi scholarship annually to Illinois residents. National awards such as the Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship, open to all current high school seniors, and college freshman, sophomores and juniors (ages 27 and younger) who demonstrate an active commitment to end HIV/AIDS and taking on roles of public service and leadership are also available. STEPS also maintains a listing of scholarships. 

Do you know of other resources or are you interested in supporting CSU students with a gift? Contact lgbtq@csu.edu.