In this time of great change, uncertainty, and hope, we at the LGBT Health Resource Center wanted to offer a list of resources to support black members of our communities who may be in need of healing, support, therapy, and self-care. Our Center is here for you as well – visit Resourcecenter.lgbt to learn more.

Asterisked items are explicitly LGBTQ / Same Gender Loving-focused services.

 

Healing

Yoga with Jessamyn Stanley (Jessamynstanley.com) – Jessamyn Stanley is a black queer fat femme yoga teacher and writer who works to make the practice accessible to all bodies and people of all means. Free videos for beginners available on YouTube.

The Rooted Collective (Bemorerooted.org) – A local black LGBTQ / SGL transformational healing collective which hosts events and sacred-space rituals. Keep alert for its next triumphant and transcendent virtual gathering.

Baltimore and Beyond: Mindfulness Community* (Baltimoremindfulnesscommunity.space) – Hosts weekly virtual meditation sits for two groups – one for black and indigenous people of color, and another session for activists that deliberately limits the number of white attendees in “an attempt to balance the energies that occur when there is a majority white space … to co-create a mindful, safe space for all to heal, not just some.”

Black Lives Matter Meditation for Healing Racial Trauma* (Drcandicenicole.com/2016/07/black-lives-matter-meditation) – A 17-minute guided meditation from Dr. Candice Nicole. “As a counseling psychologist, a healer, and a black woman with a love ethic to my activism, this project is one of my contributions to the Movement for Black Lives.”

BEAM: Black Emotional and Mental Health* (Beam.community) – A collective committed to black healing and wellbeing. BEAM holds regular “Heart Space” gatherings to “Vent. Connect. Meditate. Sing. Share.” body-mind healing events and dialogues on topics such as “toxic masculinity” and dealing with depression and while black.

 

Community

Star Track Adolescent Health Program (Startrackhealth.org) – A community clinic that provides “health care, community leadership development, and kick-ass programming for youth and young adults 12 to 26 years old” is offering a “venting space” for black same-gender loving, queer, and trans youth. Its other community-building events – such as vogue practice, makeup artist tutorials, and youth chat sessions – have also moved online.

Baltimore in Conversation (Baltimoreinconversation.com) – Hosts of a black LGBTQ Artists’ Showcase, the next installment in the group’s powerful storytelling events that “foster a more holistic sexual health for queer people of color in Baltimore, through their shared stories and lived experiences.”

Hawn Therapy and Consulting (Hawntherapyandconsulting.com) – A justice-focused team of non-binary, trans, and queer-identified therapists of color has recently offered a free “healing space” group for “black voices to process feeling surrounding black lives lost to police brutality, hosted by a black clinician,” as well as a process space for non-black Latino individuals finding their way in racial justice movements. Check out their groups, therapists, and trainings, and stay tuned to see what’s coming next.

The City Star (Tinyurl.com/thecitystar) is an all-volunteer community group created by a black woman in Baltimore. Its primary function is helping empower other activists to have a platform for cross-communication. The City Star offers an easy platform to view and add upcoming events such as webinars, protests, and training. It’s created a national pro bono lawyer list, and is looking for volunteers to help compile information to flesh out a national free and affordable therapy list.

Rest for Resistance (Restforresistance.com) – A beautiful online zine made to uplift and create healing space for “LGBTQIA+ individuals, namely trans & queer people of color, as well as other stigmatized groups such as sex workers, immigrants, persons with physical and/or mental disabilities, and those living at the intersections of all of the above.”

Ally.wiki (Ally.wiki) – An extensive directory of information and resources on where to sign a petition, join a protest, or donate to support the Movement for Black Lives. Includes a special section boosting LGBTQ-focused organizations. Though aimed at white anti-racists, it may be helpful for black people to have a comprehensive resource list at hand, everything laid out in one place to give to white people who have selective memory.

 

Therapy

Chase Brexton Health Care (Chasebrexton.org/services/therapy) offers culturally sensitive, LGBT-affirming behavioral health therapy. Currently taking new clients for telehealth services. Call 410-837-2050.

National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) (Nqttcn.com) – A specialized directory of providers and other mental health resources for queer and trans people of color in North America.

Inclusve Therapists (Inclusivetherapists.com) is a directory specializing in helping black, indigenous, people of color, the LGBTQ community, neurodivergent folks, and people with disabilities to find a “culturally responsive, social justice-oriented therapist.”

Black Mental Health Alliance* (Blackmentalhealth.com) – Based in Baltimore, but with online and virtual resources, this directory of mental health providers also offers workshops and classes for both consumers and professionals.

Therapy for Black Girls* (Therapyforblackgirls.com) – An online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of black women and girls with a nationwide directory of mental health providers. Also features a popular podcast that focuses on mental health and therapy: Therapyforblackgirls.com/podcast.

Safe Place App* – Developed by Jasmin Pierre, a black woman who survived a suicide attempt, the Safe Place app is designed to reach black users with information about mental health and self-care tips and resources. The app is free and available at the Apple Store (Apps.apple.com/us/app/the-safe-place/id1349460763) and Google Play (Play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.he6ecb72aef1&hl=en_US)

Self-Care Guides

Radical Self-care in the Face of Mounting Racial Stress* by the Psychology of Radical Healing Collective (Psychologytoday.com/us/blog/healing-through-social-justice/201911/radical-self-care-in-the-face-mounting-racial-stress)

Self-care Tips for Black People Who are Struggling with This Very Painful Week* by Rachel Miller for Vice (Vice.com/en_us/article/g5pgmq/self-care-tips-for-black-people-struggling-from-painful-week)

Family-care, Community-care and Self-care Toolkit: Healing in the Face of Cultural Trauma* by the Community Healing Network and the Association of Black Psychologists (Abpsi.org/pdf/FamilyCommunitySelfCareToolKit.pdf) 

*Not explicitly LGBTQ / Same Gender Loving-focused services