The Cause: The LGBT Movement is a social justice movement in which lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) people and their straight allies work to bring about equity and well-being to LGBT individuals in various capacities all over the world. For years, nonprofit organizations have been helping to achieve those goals in various ways.

The Scope: Experts working in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) sector were asked recommend up to four nonprofits making significant contributions in LGBT equality and support on the national level and up to three nonprofit making a significant contribution at the state and local level. Experts were encourage to consider a range of nonprofits including those working in policy and advocacy, research, public education, legal support, health and human services, community centers, social organizations and more. Nonprofits recommended cover a wide range of issue areas within the case including health, marriage and family recognition, youth, elder support, transgender equality, anti-discrimination, and racial and economic justice.

110 Local LGBT Equality and Support experts recommended the following 12 outstanding nonprofits.
Meet the experts and read more about this research.

	Top Nonprofit	Mission
1	L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center	Since 1971 the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has been building the health, advocating for the rights and enriching the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Our wide array of services and programs includes: free HIV/AIDS care and medications for those most in need; housing, food, clothing and support for homeless LGBT youth; low-cost counseling and addiction-recovery services; essential services for LGBT-parented families and seniors; legal services; health education and HIV prevention programs; transgender services; cultural arts and much more.
2	Basic Rights Oregon	Basic Rights Oregon will ensure that all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Oregonians experience equality by building a broad and inclusive politically powerful movement, shifting public opinion, and achieving policy victories.
3	Pride Foundation	Pride Foundation inspires a culture of generosity that connects and strengthens Northwest organizations, leaders, and students who are creating LGBTQ equality.
4	BAGLY	The Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth (BAGLY, Inc.) is a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization committed to social justice, and creating, sustaining and advocating for programs, policies, and services for the GLBT youth community.
5	MassEquality	MassEquality is the leading statewide grassroots advocacy organization working to ensure that everyone across Massachusetts can thrive from cradle to grave without discrimination and oppression based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We do this by partnering across issues, identities and communities to build a broad, inclusive and politically powerful movement that changes hearts and minds and achieves policy and electoral victories.
6	Empire State Pride	The Empire State Pride Agenda's mission is to win equality and justice for LGBT New Yorkers and our families. We recognize that while significant cultural, legal and governmental advances have led to greater equality for LGBT New Yorkers, we and our families remain highly vulnerable without the vast majority of rights and protections that most New Yorkers take for granted.
7	Equality Utah	The mission of Equality Utah Foundation is to secure equal rights and protections for LGBT Utahns and their families.
8	Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition	Founded in 2001, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is dedicated to ending discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. We envision a world where persons of all genders are treated with respect and fully participate in all areas of society, free from fear of prohibition, harassment or violence based on their gender identity and/or expression. To that end we educate the public, advocate with state, local, and federal government, engage in activism, and encourage empowerment of community members through collective action.
8	One Colorado	One Colorado is a statewide advocacy organization dedicated to securing and protecting equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Coloradans and their families.
9	Equality Illinois	The Mission of Equality Illinois is to secure, protect and defend equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Illinois.
10	EqualityMaine	Experts would like to see Equality Maine connect more with their surrounding communiy. They could do so by shareing knowlagem and best practices. The organization could also look to expand their focus in order to connect with the larger socia justice movement.
11	San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Community Center	The mission of the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Community Center is to connect our diverse community to opportunities, resources and each other to achieve our vision of a stronger, healthier, and more equitable world for LGBT people and our allies. The Center’s strategies inspire and strengthen our community by: • Fostering greater opportunities for people to thrive. • Organizing for our future. • Celebrating our history and culture. • Building resources to create a legacy for future generations.

Check out all nonprofit reviews for Local LGBT Equality and Support (Local).

Have questions about these results? Review our methodology.