LGBTQ+ services
Where LGBTQ+ people in New York can find protection, doctors, help with asylum, documents and housing, and community, including if you've just arrived.
This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.
LGBTQ+ means lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other people.
QARAVAN does not provide legal services: we tell you where to go.
Start here
- If you are in danger, call 911 and say "Russian" to get an interpreter. If you were attacked or threatened because of your orientation or gender identity, fill in the Anti-Violence Project (AVP) form at avp.org/get-help/report-violence: a counselor contacts you within 48 hours. AVP's hotline, 212-714-1141, is in English and Spanish.
- After a possible HIV exposure, start PEP within 72 hours: go to a City sexual health clinic or a hospital emergency room (the interpreter there is free; say "Russian"). The 24/7 PEP line, 844-373-7692, is in English.
- If you are under 25 with nowhere to sleep, Ali Forney Center (307 West 38th Street) takes LGBTQ+ young people aged 16–24, and City drop-in centers take young people aged 14–24.
- 1If you were attacked, threatened or discriminated against
- 2Health: testing, prevention and doctors who will see you
- 3If you are under 25: housing, food, care and support
- 4For trans and nonbinary people: doctors, documents, housing and community
- 5If you are seeking asylum as an LGBTQ+ person
- 6Where to find your community: LGBTQ+ centers, groups and food
- 7If faith matters to you: communities that welcome LGBTQ+ people
Sources, checked November 2026
- gaycenter.org
- gaycenter.org/support/community-casework
- gaycenter.org/support/social-groups
- gaycenter.org/tgnc
- lgbtbrooklyn.org/pridecenter
- lgbtbrooklyn.org
- lgbtbrooklyn.org/tgnc
- lgbtbrooklyn.org/event-details/gender-affirming-surgery-suppor…
- destinationtomorrow.org
- destinationtomorrow.org/services
- pridecentersi.org
- callen-lorde.org
- callen-lorde.org/register
- callen-lorde.org/faq
- callen-lorde.org/transhealth
- nyc.gov/site/doh/services/sexual-health-clinics.page
- nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/lgbtq.page
- immigrationequality.org/legal/legal-help
- immigrationequality.org/legal-help-inquiry-form
- immigrationequality.tfaforms.net/wfq7OLd
- cbst.org/ark-services
- cbst.org/contact
- cbst.org
- cbst.org/community/emet
- srlp.org/legal-services
- srlp.org/about/legal-services
- legalservicesnyc.org/resources/lgbtq-rights
- avp.org/get-help
- avp.org/2026/08/03/new-hotline-hours
- nyc.gov/site/cchr/index.page
- nyc.gov/site/cchr/law/the-law.page
- nyc.gov/site/cchr/about/report-discrimination.page
- aliforneycenter.org/get-help
- nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/runaway-homeless-youth/borough-base…
- hmi.org/youth/become-a-youth-member
- hmi.org/about/contact-us
- sageserves.org/what-we-do/new-york-programs/ny-sage-centers
- mccny.org/contact.html
- mccny.org
- mccny.org/mccnycharities.html
- mccny.org/Bulletins/11-01-26%20bulletin-v2.pdf
- dignityny.org/content/liturgy-0
- dignityny.org
- uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-1-part-e-chapter-5
- immigrationequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1.8.Gender-…
- gaycenter.org/event/center-support-wellness-7-2
- gaycenter.org/youth
- smartrecovery.org
- qchnyc.org/qcgs
- qchnyc.org/programs/lgbtq-services/generation-q-youth-center
- sageserves.org/who-we-are
- callen-lorde.org/hott
- callen-lorde.org/trans-health
- nychealthandhospitals.org/services/lgbtq-health-care-services
- health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/resources/adap
- judson.org/worship
- judson.org/about
- mccny.org/about.html
- nyc.gov/site/nypd/services/law-enforcement/hate-crimes.page
- dhr.ny.gov/nohate
- dhr.ny.gov/complaint
- dhr.ny.gov/protected-characteristics
- dhr.ny.gov/protected-places
- ag.ny.gov/coronavirus/reporting-hate-crimes
- nyc.gov/site/cchr/law/legal-guidances-gender-identity-expressi…
- eeoc.gov/contact-eeoc
- door.org/rhy
- door.org/locations
- door.org/legalservices
- door.org/transgender-health
- thetrevorproject.org/get-help
- translifeline.org/hotline
- pointofpride.org/free-chest-binders
- srlp.org/resources/namechange
- nyc.gov/assets/dhs/downloads/pdf/dhs_policy_on_serving_transge…
- phr.org/get-involved/participate/request-a-forensic-evaluation
- humanrights.weill.cornell.edu/request-evaluation
- immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory
- rainbowrailroad.org/request-help
- immigrationequality.org/legal/legal-help/asylum/application-pr…
- immigrationequality.org/legal/legal-help/asylum/eligibility/on…
- immigrationequality.org/legal/legal-help/asylum/eligibility/ph…
- nyc.gov/site/cchr/enforcement/complaint-process.page
- nyc.gov/site/cchr/law/biased-based-profiling.page
- nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/post-exposure-prophylaxi…
- health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/resources/adap/eligibility…
- nycourts.gov/help/name-change-andor-sex-designation-change/nam…
- nycourts.gov/help/name-change-andor-sex-designation-change/pri…
- nycourts.gov/help/name-change-andor-sex-designation-change/sex…
- dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/change-information-on-dmv-photo-docu…
- avp.org/get-help/legal
- avp.org/get-help/get-support
- dhr.ny.gov/node/6206
- nyc.gov/site/hra/help/accesshra.page
- nyc.gov/site/hpd/services-and-information/find-affordable-hous…
- avp.org/get-help/report-violence
- forms.ny.gov/s3/DHR-Bias-Incident-Form
- webapps.dhr.ny.gov/discrimination-report
- nyc.gov/ReportDiscrimination
- publicportal.eeoc.gov/portal
- nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/abortion.page
- pridecentersi.org/youth-services
- door.org/membership
- legalservicesnyc.org/get-help-with-a-legal-issue
- comptroller.nyc.gov/wp-content/uploads/documents/SZ22-067AL.pdf
- nyc.gov/site/cchr/about/contact-us.page
- nyc.gov/site/doh/about/about-doh/language-services.page
- nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/language-access/language-acce…
- health.ny.gov/publications/1449/section_1.htm
- eeoc.gov/time-limits-filing-charge
- nyc.gov/assets/nypd/downloads/pdf/hate-crimes/russian.pdf
- 988lifeline.org/interpretation-services/russian
- uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-589instr.pdf
- ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-208/subpa…
- uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/refugees
- uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/usrap
- humanrights.weill.cornell.edu/request-evaluation