LGBTQIA+ Resources

WPS LGBTQIA+ Family Advisory Council

The Worcester Public Schools (WPS) LGBTQIA+ Family Advisory Council is open to WPS parents/caregivers who identify themselves or their children as LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, or another identity on the Queer spectrum), along with straight, cis-gendered allies.

The LGBTQIA+ Family Advisory Council (LGBTQIA+ FAC) is a safe space to bolster engagement and feedback to support the experiences of LGBTQIA+ students and families. Participants must be willing to respect various viewpoints and the privacy of others.

Please fill out the LGBTQIA+ FAC participation interest form if you would like to get involved. The meeting locations will be provided to interested parties who fill out the form. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided.

Resources for Information Purposes Only

The Worcester Public Schools recognizes the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and caregivers. We welcome and affirm all LGBTQIA+ members of our district.

This page contains various local and national resources for LGBTQIA+ youth and adults that provide information on support, connection, and literature that can help LGBTQIA+ people understand their identities.

These links are being shared for information purposes only. These organizations are not affiliated with the Worcester Public Schools. The district does not endorse any of these organizations.

Local Resources

  • The Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth (BAGLY) is a youth-led organization providing social, support, and educational programs for LGBTQ+ youth. BAGLY offers safe spaces, mental health resources, and community building opportunities for youth across Massachusetts.

  • Love Your Labels is a program focused on empowering LGBTQ+ youth by promoting self-love, self-expression and confidence. Through a variety of workshops, events, and mentorship opportunities, the organization helps young people embrace their unique identities and navigate the challenges they may face. 

  • Love Your Labels Parents & Caregivers Group is being created to facilitate connections, support, community and activities for you and your kids in an affirming and supportive space

  • New England Transgender Healthcare Consortium consists of providers from more than a dozen healthcare facilities in New England who are dedicated to improving access to gender-affirming care.

  • Out MetroWest offers free programs for LGBTQ+ and allied youth ages pre-K through age 29. Our programs connect youth with supportive peers and LGBTQ+ adult role models. Our programs are outside school hours and provide social connection, emotional support, and resources that meet the unique needs of LGBTQ+ youth.

  • PFLAG Greater Boston is a longstanding group that supports parents and family members of LGBTQ+ youth through support meetings, parent-to-parent conversations, confidential phone help lines, scholarship programs, the safe schools program, and more.

  • Safe Homes of Worcester and Fitchburg is a program supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) young people, and their straight allies, between the ages of 14 and 23. The group is led by youth peer leaders, professional staff, and volunteers who offer support, resources, and opportunities for socialization in a safe and nurturing environment.

  • SWAGLY: Supporters of Worcester Area GLBTQ+ Youth is a social club for LGBTQIA+ youth and allies who are 18 years old and under. Since 1984, SWAGLY programs have helped countless youth in the Greater Worcester area.

  • Youth On Fire(operated by The Home for Little Wanderers) is a daytime drop-in center dedicated to supporting unhoused and unaccompanied youth in Greater Boston. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this welcoming program provides a judgment-free environment where members can find safety, enjoy a homemade meal, access showers or a place to nap, receive referrals, and work on their personal goals.

National Resources

  • It Gets Better Project is a national organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth around the globe. The organization’s website includes many affirming stories about the coming out journeys of LGBTQ+ people – teens and adults – and the impacts it had on their lives.

  • The Trevor Project offers crisis support for LGBTQ+ and questioning youth. Counselors are available 24/7 by online chat, phone, or texting. The organization also offers an online support space for LGBTQ+ people between 13 and 24 years old.

  • The National Resource Center for Reaching Victims provides resources and support to help organizations and individuals better serve victims of crime, with a particular focus on underserved and marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals. 

  • PFLAG National is the first and largest organization for LGBTQ+ people, their families, and allies. They offer support, education, and advocacy through local chapters, with resources for parents, allies, and LGBTQ+ youth on how to create safe, inclusive environments.

  • LGBT National Help Center is a resource offering free, confidential peer-support services for LGBTQ+ youth. The center provides a helpline, online chat, and email support, as well as resources on topics such as coming out, mental health, and finding LGBTQ+-friendly services.

  • Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)works to ensure safe and inclusive schools for LGBTQ+ students. The organization provides educational resources, advocacy, and training to promote policies that prevent discrimination and support LGBTQ+ students in K-12 schools across the country.

Arts & Literature

Worcester Public Schools logo with rainbow colors